Mussourie is a hill station in the Dehradun district of Indian state of Uttarakhand. Situated in the foothills of Garhwal Himalayan ranges, it is also fondly coronated as the Queen of Hills. And indeed, Queen it is! With its regal aura, beautiful and scintillating weather and exquisite shawls of snow, Mussourie manages to leave you breathless.
Raised at an elevation of 1,880 meters, Mussourie has lush green and varied flora accompanied with its rich fauna. Daunting snow ranges of the north-east, shimmering views of the Doon Valley and Shiwalik ranges in the south, the town was once said to present a ‘fairyland’ atmosphere to tourists.
History- The name Mussourie is often attributed as a derivation of ‘Mansoor’, a shrub which is indigenous to the area. The locals often call it is ‘Mansoori’.
The hill stations (including Mussourie), in pre-independence India was under a so-called propreitory of British. It was founded ‘by and for’ the British. Derogatory remarks like ‘Dogs and Indians are not allowed’ were very common and taxes were imposed if a trespasser was prosecuted.It is said the Moti Lal Nehru (an imminent lawyer and politician of his times and father of Jawahar Lal Nehru) would deliberately break these rules and pay taxes.The 14th Dalai Lama was at first established in Mussourie before being shifted to Dharmshala eventually.It is also called the “Gateway” to Yamunotri and Gangotri.
Fascinations-
How to reach Mussourie:-
By Air-The nearest airport is the Jolly Grant Airport in Dehradun, which lies approximately 54 kilometres away, and offers daily connectivity with New Delhi.
By Road-Being a popular tourist destination, Mussoorie is well-linked with a network of bus services, which includes private tour operators as well as state transport corporations. Also, the proximity to Dehradun, the capital city of Uttarakhand makes Mussoorie all the more accessible.
By Train-There are numerous trains connecting New Delhi with Dehradun, such as the Shatabdi Express (as well as the Jan Shatabdi Express), the Mussoorie Express, and the Nizamuddin AC Special. The latter two trains are overnight trains. The journey lasts approximately 5.5 hours, depending on the train chosen. All the above mentioned trains pass through Haridwar.
Accommodation at Mussourie :- There are hundreds of hotels both budget and luxury class for all kinds of visitors. There are both Government and corporate guest houses available as well. Several lodges and dharmasala are available at a very affordable price. Food is very affordable for all kinds of visitors.