Mussoorie, Uttaranchal, India
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Popularly known as the Queen of Hills, this charming hill station, 34 kms from Dehra Dun is situated at an altitude of 2003 meters above sea-level in the Garhwal hills. Mussoorie provides excellent respite to people who want relief from the hot sultry conditions of the plains, especially since it is close enough to the capital to make just weekend trip. Also, major Hindu pilgrimage sites like Kedarnath, Badrinath, Gangotri, Yamunotri, Haridwar and Rishikesh are not far from this place.
In 1820, Captain Young of the British army was influenced by the beauty of this place and made it his residence. 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 centre of education, business, tourism and beauty.
When to visit
Mussoorie is a hill station which has pleasant climate around the year. It is a very cool place with greenery at its full bloom during September to November. The best time to visit Mussoorie is between April to June and again during September to November when the plains of North India experience heat waves, Mussoorie provides a welcome break. September – November is spring time here. During this season Himalayas are clearly visible. It’s best to avoid monsoons as the roads to Mussoorie are in bad shape. Same thing applies for the winter when roads are blocked due to snowfall.
Festivals
The year starts with the popular Magh Mela on the occasion of Makar Sankranti. This event is marked by huge crowds, both local and tourists, who come from different regions of Kumaon, Garhwal and Uttar Pradesh. The Siddha Fair is a local religious fair held every Sunday. However, it attains special importance on the last Sunday of April, when people turn up in large numbers and offer prayers to the Samadhi here. Kunjapuri Fair is held in October every year during Navrataras. This fair is attended by over fifty thousand people and showcases a vibrant display handicrafts and local handmade articles. Surkhanda Devi Fair: Surkhanda Devi Fair is held on the Ganga dussehra day at Surkhanda Devi temple, located at a distance of 33 km from Mussoorie. The temple is dedicated to Goddess Durga and is an important pilgrimage center. It can be reached by trekking about 2 km from Kaddukhal via Dhanolti on the road to Chamba. The worship of the Goddess is the main attraction of the fair. Besides folk music and dance, the traditional handicrafts are also on display. Lakhwar Mela is a village fair held during September or October and is a manifestation of the customs and traditions of the Garhwalis. A must visit – this unique fair presents a great opportunity to experience the culture and lifestyle of the people of Uttaranchal.
For more information on the following topics, please see our Mussoorie travel guide below:
- Getting there
- Sights & Sounds
- Excursions
- Accommodation
- Shopping
- Useful Information
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Mussoorie, Uttaranchal Popularly known as the Queen of Hills, this charming hill station, 34 kms from Dehra Dun is situated at an altitude of 2003 meters above sea-level in the Garhwal hills.
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