Mussoorie

Mussoorie rewards a modest amount of altitude with a predictable checklist of views, tea‑shops and the never‑ending whiff of colonial nostalgia, but it also sprinkles the itinerary with a few genuine high‑altitude perks. Arrive early from Dehradun via the winding NH 107 and lodge in Barlowganj or the quieter Jharipani stretch; the Mall Road hotels are cramped, overpriced and forever battling a herd of street vendors hawking aloo tikki. Day 1 should be Gun Hill for a panoramic shot of the Doon Valley at sunrise, then a brisk walk to Camel’s Back Road for the best‑still‑water view of the Himalayas before the crowds swell. Lunch at Char Dukan in Landour—three chaats, a jalebi and a cold lassi—offers cheap comfort and a glimpse of the cantonment’s restrained charm. Spend the afternoon at Lal Tibba, the highest point in the town, and descend via the old British‑era pathways to the tea‑garden ruins at George Everest House; the trek is short but the clouds are often worth the slip‑on of a pair of sturdy shoes. Day 2 is the only time to justify a trip to Kempty Falls; go before 10 am to avoid the throng of day‑trippers and bring waterproof shoes, because the spray will soak the nearest shopfronts. If you have a spare half‑day, a gentle trek to Benog falls offers tea at a roadside stall that actually tastes like tea. September to February is the safe window—monsoon months turn the roads into mudslides and July‑August brings a mosquito siege that no amount of citronella can fix. Two days is honest; three lets you linger in Landour’s quiet lanes and skip the obligatory but overrated Mussoorie Lake, which is better viewed from a distance than paddled in.

Source · Wikipedia · Mussoorie · CC-BY-SA