Established by a British Army Officer as a resort around 200 years ago, Mussoorie’s strategic geographic location played an important role in gaining prominence among all the other hill stations of India. This town serves as a halt for pilgrims embarking on the sacred Char Dham Yatra, as well as for adventure followers and trekkers who are heading to scale the trek routes of higher mountains beyond. Situated on a ridge at an altitude of 6,580 feet, the surroundings of the town boasts rich flora and fauna.Mussoorie is known for being one of the two destinations in the world from where the Winterline can be seen .In the evenings of mid winters(December and January) it appears in the sky , a straight horizontal line dividing the sky into two colours getting sharper and sharper as the sun sets.
Anyone who loves spending time with nature, going for a hike or long walks, and taking glimpses of stunning mountains will doubtlessly feel at home in no time with Mountainiax’s first timer’s guide to Mussoorie.
Bird watching and spotting wildlife at Benong wildlife Sanctuary
If you are a birdwatcher or a nature lover or would like an opportunity to spot some wildlife, then this is a must-visit place in Mussoorie. Benog Wildlife Sanctuary is renowned for its varieties of uncommon and native species of birds. It is also home to endangered Himalayan quails among other Himalayan wild animals like sheep, deer. A point worth mentioning here is that this wildlife sanctuary will only be explored by walking and hiking. It is a three to four hours round trek from Cloud’s End. You can easily spend a full day exploring Benog Wildlife Sanctuary.We can set our night camp here for which special permission will be needed which you will get from the forest department by paying the Camping charges.
Trek to Bhadraj Temple
Also known as the milkman’s trail, the remarkable feature of Bhadraj Temple trek is an infinite diversity between lush green forest and bare grasslands on northern and southern slopes. Bhadraj Temple Trek is a one day hike near Mussoorie. It begins from the place known as Cloud’s End but soon transforms into a thrilling and adventurous mountain hike. Dudhli Village en route Bhadraj Temple offers some grand panoramic views of Himalayas & Doon Valley. Bhadraj Temple trek has an easy to moderate gradient with dense forest trail.
Happy Valley and Hike to Dalai Hills
Dalai Hills is yet another immensely beautiful place located in Mussoorie. Dalai Hills can be reached by a small hike of approximately 400 meters, starting from a Tibetan Monastery situated in the Happy Valley. At the top, Dalai Hills has a statue of Lord Buddha with numerous Buddhist Prayer Flags spread all over the hill. On a bright clear sunny day, one can easily get the glimpses of magnificent greater Himalayas from this place. Happy Valley is not very far from Mall Road and is easily accessible. As we cannot see the sun set from here it is advisable to visit dalai hills in the morning.
The Haunted Lambi Dhar Mines
Mussoorie is also known to be among the most haunted places in India. One such place is the Lambi Dehar or Lambidhar mines, alias ‘The mine of death.’ These notorious abandoned mines are known for the deaths of hundreds of Laboure’s working in these mines, making it one of the most haunted places in Uttarakhand. These desolated spooky mines are situated before Mussoorie towards the Hathi Paon, at a distance of about 10 km from Library Chowk. If you have a strong liking for paranormal activities, then do this place. You can search a lot of stories related to lambi dhar mining incident on google.
Landour – A walkers paradise
A quaint British era cantonment, at an altitude of 7000 feet, surrounded by dense Deodar trees with panoramic views of the mighty Himalayas to the north and the bustling Doon valley to the south, Landour is a place with an entirely different character from its downstairs neighbour, Mussoorie. Landour is a peaceful place with its slow pace, calm, and cosy environment, yet compelling enough to keep you engrossed in its surroundings. It is located at a distance of just 6 kilometres from the queen of hills, and yet unaffected by Mussoorie’s noise and chaos. Landour has the charm of a fairy-tale town of the British era. It has churches with Greco-Roman architecture, houses with colonial charm, and cobblestone streets that will make you relive the forgotten era. There are a few good cafes and bakeries in the area where you can enjoy the views with delicious food.
Mall Road
Mall Road is the most vibrant and happening street in Mussoorie. It is always full of people; the street has some of the exceptional cafes, bakeries, and restaurants serving great food with amazing views. With so many shops on this busy boulevard, you can even buy a souvenir for your loved ones. It is recommended to look out for local wooden handicrafts, jewellery, Garhwal paintings, and woollen clothing items.There are some attractions in the mall road like the ropeway,Camel back road,Picture Palace. The place holds history in itself and has lots of heritage houses and hotels.After spending your day with nature you can take a walk on the mall road and have your dinner as you get many options for dining.
George Everest Estate
Located on a cliff looking down the Doon Valley, the Estate of Sir George Everest near Mussoorie is undoubtedly one of the most serene places to visit. This Estate was the home and observatory of the Surveyor General of India, Sir George Everest. In honor of Sir George Everest’s contribution to the completion of the Great Trigonometric Survey of India, the world’s highest mountain peak, then known as Peak XV, was renamed as The Mount Everest. The Estate is located approximately 9 km from Mussoorie and is a short drive away.
Barlowganj
Barlowgunj is a quaint town which is mentioned in many stories of Ruskin Bond.It is situated in mussorie but it is aside from the crowd of the city. A tranquil road passes between the town with beautiful buildings with an alluring Architectute and a mesmerizing view of the shivaliks on the backdrop.There are many road side spots(some with the benches) where you would love to stop and completely lose track of time. Evening is the best time to spend in Barlowgunj as we get a beautiful view of city Dehradun below and Mussoorie above us,you can take a walk or you can get your ride here and grab a spot to spend your evening.
If you want to give this place your whole day you can go to the Jharipani falls in the afternoon. It is a place surrounded by trees and rocks with a waterfall about 30 ft high which gives you an opportunity to take a bath in the lapse of nature. To reach Jharipani, there is a downhill descent of about 500 meters with a motorable road. You can get your ride but the road is narrow and has sharp curves so be careful.It will be better if you do a hike till there.
Mountainiax’s guide to Mussoorie will assist you in planning a memorable weekend in the queen of hills.
