Mussoorie – a scenic hill station cosily nestled in the Garhwal Himalayas of Uttarakhand, is dotted with a string of colonial buildings, and Leisurely Stroll along the Mussoorie Mall Road, in the summer mornings and evenings is like walking back into history truly re-living as they say the ‘old world charm’.
A leisurely stroll from Picture palace down the Mall via Kulri Bazar crossing the Juhla Ghar and passing the Hackman’s onto the Library side is a daily routine of most of the old timers visiting Mussoorie for the Summer break.
Known as the ‘Queen of the Hills’, Summer in Mussoorie lasts from March to June and the temperatures ranges from 15 degree Celsius to 25 degree Celsius, and therefore, visiting Mussoorie in summer is the best option to avoid the scorching and humid weather of rest of India.
Being the favourite tourist spot for summers, the whole place is crowded with visitors packing the numerous budget hotels in Mussoorie and specially the Hotel in Mussoorie Mall Road. During summers, visitors can witness tranquil flowing streams and magnificent waterfalls. Also the added advantage is all the adventure sports and trekking activities can be enjoyed during these months with many hotels offering good weekend Hotel packages in Mussoorie. GlenVilla Cottages Mussoorie happens to be one of the Best affordable hotel in Mussoorie and also the Best family hotel Mussoorie.
Mussoorie enjoys three seasons -summer, monsoon and winter. The summer season lasts from March to June. With an average temperature is around 37° C, the weather is quite pleasant during this time of the year. Monsoons are experienced during July to mid-September. Most tourists avoid monsoons as unexpected showers and landslides can disrupt the plans. Winter begin in October and goes on till the end of February. Temperatures during winter are really low, accompanied by moderate snowfall. Even less than 0° C temperature can be experienced. September to June is considered to be the best time to visit Mussoorie and enjoy the pleasant summer weather.
Things To Do In Mussoorie
Mussoorie hosts a lot of activities for tourists to indulge in. Here are a few things that you can do in Mussoorie in summer on your vacation.
1. Leisurely Stroll along the Mussoorie Mall Road
Mall Road is the heart of Mussoorie, which extends from Library Bazaar to Kulri Bazaar. The best way to enjoy this area is to stroll around it to enjoy its carnival-like atmosphere. The road has a number of shops and restaurants. The main attractions are Jawahar Aquarium, Mussoorie Library, Writer’s Bar, Cambridge Book Depot at the Kulri Bazaar. The great author Ruskin Bonds is present here every Saturday between 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. to meet his fans and sign autographs.
2. Take a plunge at the Kempty Falls
Located about 8 miles northwest of Mussoorie, Most tourists enjoy swimming in the man-made swimming pool at the bottom of Kempty Falls.It has the capacity to accommodate hundreds of tourists. The swimming pool has changing rooms ,lockers and options to hire swimwear and equipment at a nominal cost.
3. Cable Car Ride to Gun Hill
Gun Hill is situated at at 6,800 feet above sea level and is the second highest peak of Mussoorie. Visitors love to take the cable ride from Mall Road to Gun Hill to get a bird’s-eye view of Mussoorie and the Doon Valley.Doon valley got its name from the cannon that the British fired everyday at noon to help people know the time. The area is crowded with hodgepodge of food stalls, souvenir shops, amusement rides, and local costumes to dress up and be photographed in.
Timings: The cable car runs from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. in summer.
Duration of journey: 5 minutes, one way.
Location: The ticket office and boarding point are at Jhula Ghar, about midway along Mall Road.
Tickets cost: 125 rupees per person.
4. Treck up to the Lal Tibba
Lal Tibba is the highest peak in Mussoorie, with an altitude of over 2,290 meters above sea level. From the hilltop, the visitors can view the mountains that house the holy shrines of Kedarnath and Badrinath. A Japanese telescope has been installed at the edge of the cliff, to give its visitors a clearer view of the picturesque surroundings. The tourists visit this place to enjoy trekking, sunset & sunrise views and view the nearby peaks.
Famous for: Nature, Peaks, Photography
Tickets: No entry fee
Opening Timings: Open all days from 8am to 7pm
Duration: 30 mins.
5. Rickshaw Ride to the Happy Valley
Happy Valley is the centre of the Tibetan settlement in Mussoorie. This is the place where Tibetans first arrived in India when they fled from Lhasa in 1959, led by their spiritual leader dalai lama before he moved to Dharamsala. The place is lined with oaks and deodars and has several small hotels and cafeterias. The tourists visit this place to eat Tibetan cuisines, shop for souvenirs and visit the Buddhist monastery and is one of the best places to visit in Mussoorie in summer.
Famous for: Tibetan culture, Buddhism, Viewpoints
Tickets: No entry fee
Opening Timings: Open all days at daytime
Duration: 2-3 hours
6. Morning walk along the Camel’s Back Road
Located at a distance of about 3-4 kilometres from Kulri bazaar, Camel’s Back Road gets its name from the rock which is shaped like a camel’s hump on its back. The tourists stroll on this road to get amazing views of the valley and the mountains.
Famous for: Nature, Adventure, Photography
Tickets: No entry fee
Opening Timings: Open all days at daytime
Duration: 1 hour