Mussoorie "Queen of Hill Stations"

Mussoorie is located in the Garhwal hills, Uttaranchal at a altitude of 2,000 m. Due to its immense natural beauty, Mussoorie is known as the "Queen of Hill Stations".

History of Mussoorie

In 1820, Captain Young from the British army was influenced by the beauty of this place and made this place his residence. This marked the foundation of a hill station called Mussoorie. The name, Mussoorie, is derived from plants of 'Mussoorie' which were found in abundance here. After its discovery, this hill station gradually developed as a center of education, business, tourism and beauty.


Climate & Best Time to Visit

Summers are pleasant in Mussoorie while winters are characterised bysnowfall and rain. Temperature during the summer season lingers around 30 degrees centigrade. During the winters, temperature drops down to near zero at night and remains around 7 degrees at daytime. Mid March to mid November is the ideal time to make a trip to Mussoorie.


Sightseeing in Mussoorie

The Mall : The mainstay of the hill town of Mussoorie, the Mall is a hub of activities from dawn to dusk. The Kulri Bazaar sells interesting souvenirs to take back home. Here, you can also visit
India's largest indoor skating rink.

Gun Hill : A hill that's flat-topped, Gun Hill happens to be the second highest peak in Mussoorie. The spot can be reached from the Mall either on foot or by taking a pony ride. You can also choose to take the 400 metres ropeway which also gives you heart-stirring views.

Clouds End : It is an impressive English country house which was built in 1838 and was also the among the first buildings to be built in Mussoorie. Today, a holiday resort, it gives panoramic views of the surrounding greenery and the snow-laden peaks.

Image by treesftf via Flickr

Camel's Back Road : The road which spans over 3 km surrounds the base of the Gun Hill. Tourists arrive here to feast their eyes on thedramatic views of the Himalayan sunset. The place derives its name from a camel-back-shaped rock that lies closeby.
Ven Chetna Kendra - 2 kms from Mussoorie on Tehri bypass is a spectacular picnic spot called Ven Chetna Kendra. It also has park. The whole area is covered with Deodar forests and thick undergrowth. The main attraction of this place has been animals in the park. It can
be accessed by taxi or bus. Municipal Gardens - The municipal or the Company gardens was
previously (before independence) was also known as Botanical gardens of Mussoorie. These gardens were laid by famous geologist Dr. H. Fackner in the last century.

Tibetan Temple - This temple is located in Happy valley area of Mussoorie. Both Company gardens and Tibetan temple can be seen in one day. They are located one kilometer from Lal Bahadur Shastri National Administrative Academy. The Tibetan temple is evidence to rich Tibetan cultural heritage. This temple is sure to attract attention of tourists.

Kempty Falls - Kempty Falls are located 13 kms from Mussoorie. This place was developed as a tourist destination by John Mekinan after 1835.
Nearby Places To Visit

Lake Mist - This place is seven kilometers on way to Kempty Falls.There are good accommodation facilities there for the weary tourists.

Lal Tibba - This place is highest point in Mussoorie. Lal Tibba is located in Landour area which is the oldest inhabited place in Mussoorie.
Yamunotri Bridge:This bridge is located 27 kms from Mussoorie on the Chakrata road. This bridge is famous for fishing.

Nag Tibba which is 55 kms from Mussoorie is very good place for trekking. Nag Tibba, as it is called, is the highest place around Mussoorie. It is surrounded by thick dense forests. The actual trekking for Nag Tibba starts some 21 kms away from the place. The 34 kms journey from Mussoorie is done on Taxi or Bus and the rest is covered on foot. This trek has its own charm and fun. The trek starts at Thathyud.

Bhadraj Temple which is 15 kms from Mussoorie is the place of principle deity of Brother of Lord Krishna, Balram. Every year in the third week of August on Shravan Sankranti day a festival is celebrated here.

Dhanoulti is located 25 kms from Mussoorie on Tehri-Mussoorie highway. Here one has got good accommodation facilities. While going towards Dhanoulti, there are lovely green forest of fur and pine trees. These forests cover the Himalayan ranges lending them an unparalleled beauty. The fresh air and lovely surroundings fills you with enthusiasm and energy.

Sarkunda Devi: This place is 35 kms from Mussoorie. To access this place one has to go till Khaddu Khal by vehicle and then cover 2 kms on foot or on ponies.

Jhari Pani Falls are located some 8.5 kms on the Jharipani-Mussoorie road. 7 kms of the road to these falls is covered by taxi and rest 1.5 kilometers has to be covered on foot.

Activities to Do in Mussoorie

Mountaineering, mountain biking, camping, trekking and nature walks are some popular options to fill your days at Mussoorie with fun, flavour and adventure. Horse riding is another good activity to move around and see the scenic landscapes of the town. Tourists can also
indulge in ice skating at Kulri Bazaar that has India's largest indoor skating rink. Shopping at Kulri Bazaar can get you relics for memories.

Where To Stay in Mussoorie

Accommodation at Mussoorie provides you with an experience which is one of its kind. You need to stay at the town's hotels and resorts to soak up the spectacular panorama. A few of the options include Hotel Green Castle, Hotel Country Inn, Hotel Solitaire Plaza, Hotel Savoy and many more cosy places are there.

Reaching Mussoorie

The Jolly Grant Airport of Dehradun is just 24 km from here and has regular flights from Delhi. From the airport, one can take a bus or a taxi to get to Mussoorie. The railway station at Dehradun (34 km) is also well linked with the key destinations of the country.
The connectivity through roads that link Mussoorie to the important places inside and outside the state is quite good.

Khajjiar, Himachal Pradesh

Khajjiar, located at an altitude of 1960 m above sea-level, is often called the Switzerland of India, with its rolling meadows, majestic deodars, bubbly streams, and the sheer opulence of its natural beauty. The snow - line appears above its lush woods, and at the very centre of this divine glade, is a lake fed by countless streams that criss - cross the area.

Also called as 'Gulmarg of Himachal Pradesh', it has been aptly described by Hutchinson as - "Khajjiar is a forest glade of great beauty, 6,400 feet above sea level".

Khajjiar's is located between Dalhousie and Chamba. It is a major landmark is a 12th century, golden - domed temple dedicated to Khajjinag, which houses huge, life size wooden images of the 5 Pandava brothers.

Khajjiar that is located in the north-western part of the state of Himachal Pradesh, India. It is perched at an altitude of 1951 m above sea level. Khajjiar is 22 km from Dalhousie and 24 km from Chamba.

History of Khajjiar

The local Rajput rulers ruled Chamba valley in the 6th century ad and made it their capital city. This region became the part of the Mughal Empire in the medieval period and later came under various Sikh kingdoms. Finally, it was taken over by the British. It became a part
of the state of Himachal Pradesh when it came into being on April 15, 1948.

Places to Visit

The Lake Set in the rolling green turf is a small lake. One gets out of the car to go to the lake but the ground seems to give way. The earth is 'spongy' due to dense growth of weed called 'vacha' over which dust has formed a thick layer of earth.
Khajinag Temple

Khajjiar, known as one of the most charming spots in the Himalayas, derives its name from its ancient, golden-domed temple of Khajinag. The 12th-century Khajinag temple is a small shrine dedicated to the local Goddess or the Devi. This temple is also known as the Golden Devi temple, as it is adorned with a golden dome and spire. Pilgrims visiting the Chamba valley often come to this temple.

Nine Hole Golf course

A nine-hole golf course is an added attraction at Khajjiar.
Climate of Khajjiar

The climate of Khajjiar is alpine Summers (April-June) are mild and winters (November February) are cold and bitter. It experiences southwestern monsoon rains in July-September.

The best time to visit Khajjiar is between March and June

Nearby Sight-seeing Places

Chamba
The town of Chamba is 24 km from Khajjiar. Chamba is located in a picturesque valley, amongst the Shivalik ranges and is famous for its medieval temples.
Dalhousie
The hill station of Dalhousie is 22 km from Khajjiar and is a popular
summer retreat set amongst the lower Himalayan ranges.

To reach Khajjiar, follow the following routes-
By air

The nearest airport is at Gaggal, in Kangra ( 180 km ).
By Train

The nearest railhead is at Pathankot ( 120 km ).
By Road

Khajjiar is connected by road, and is 26 km from Delhi and 24 km from Chamba.

The quiet and tranquil place of Khajjar is located in Himachal Pradesh, near Chamba and Dalhousie. The place serves as the perfect travel destination for those travelers who want some respite from maddening crowd of cities.