Dehradun · Uttarakhand
Mussoorie
The 'Queen of Hills' above Dehradun — Kempty Falls, Gun Hill, Camel's Back Road and the Mall.
Mussoorie is an easy hill destination in Dehradun, Uttarakhand, reaching 2,290 m. The best time to go is March to June and September to November. Plan 2 to 3 days on the ground from Dehradun and about ₹3,000 per person per day.
What to do in Mussoorie
The one thing not to miss
Camel's Back Road
A level 3 km walk, best early or at sunset.
- 2Landour and Char DukanThe quieter cantonment above the town; walk the loop under deodars.
- 3Gun HillBy ropeway from the Mall for the view north.
A sample plan: 3 days
Day 1
Dehradun to Mussoorie
About 1–1.5 hours on the road. Check in and take a short walk to get your bearings.
Day 2
Camel's Back Road · Landour and Char Dukan · Gun Hill
Details for each are under What to do, above.
Day 3
Mussoorie to Dehradun
Leave after breakfast; hill roads are slower than the map suggests.
A starting point built from the things to do above. Move days around to suit your pace.
When to go
- ❄︎Jan
- ❄︎Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
Why go
The quickest full-service hill station from Delhi, open all year.
Why not
Heavy weekend traffic and crowds; Landour next door is far calmer.
Before you go
- Permits
- None.
- Guide
- Not needed.
- Safety
- Kempty Falls area gets slippery and crowded; supervise children.
- Phone & internet
- Excellent.
Permits, food and festivals in Uttarakhand →
These details haven't been field-verified yet. Confirm permits, road status and weather locally before you travel.
If something goes wrong
Main hospitals in Uttarakhand: Base Hospital, Haldwani; Community Health Centre, Munsiyari; District Hospital, Bageshwar.
All emergency contacts for Uttarakhand →What to pack for Mussoorie
Worked out from its season, altitude and terrain. Tick things off as you pack; tap a name to find it in a shop.
Clothing
10 items
- Fleece or light sweater Evenings turn cold in the hills even in summer.
- Thermal inner wear (top and bottom) Nights drop below freezing in the snow months.
- Down or padded jacket Your main warm layer for mornings, evenings and high points.
- Woollen cap that covers the ears Most body heat is lost from the head.
- Woollen socks, 2–3 pairs Dry woollen socks for the night matter more than you expect.
- Waterproof gloves You will be touching snow; ordinary woollen gloves get wet.
- Neck gaiter or balaclava Covers nose and neck in wind and on cold mornings.
- Hand warmers A small, cheap comfort at camp and on early starts.
- Compact umbrella Showers are frequent in the rainy months.
- Rain jacket or poncho The season here overlaps the rains.
Footwear
2 items
- Comfortable walking shoes with grip Hill towns mean slopes, steps and wet stone.
- Waterproof snow boots Ordinary shoes soak through in snow. Often rentable on the spot — check before buying.
For day outings
2 items
- Day pack, 20–30 litres For day outings: water, a layer, a camera.
- Water bottles, 2 litres in total Refill rather than buying plastic bottles.
Health and sun
6 items
- Sunscreen, SPF 50 UV is much stronger at altitude and on snow.
- Small first-aid kit and your own medicines The nearest chemist may be hours away.
- UV-protection sunglasses Protects against snow glare and strong high-altitude light.
- Lip balm with SPF Cold, dry air cracks lips within a day.
- Motion-sickness bands or tablets The approach roads are long and winding.
- Insect repellent Mosquitoes and midges at lower altitudes and in the wet months.
Documents and money
3 items
- Government photo ID and two photocopiesAsked for at hotels, check posts and permit counters.
- Enough cash for the whole tripATMs are scarce and often empty beyond the gateway town.
- Permits and registrationsNone.
Phone and power
2 items
- Power bank Charging is limited, and cold drains batteries fast.
- A SIM that works thereExcellent.
For what you're going for
3 items
- Light travel tripod For sunrise, night skies and long exposures.
- Spare memory card and camera battery Cold drains camera batteries; there is nowhere to buy spares.
- Extension board with surge protection Few sockets per room, and voltage dips are common in the hills.
Read before you go
1 item
- A guidebook for Uttarakhand Worth reading before you go, and it works without a signal.
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Homestays in Uttarakhand
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Getting there
The nearest gateway is Dehradun.
Directions open in Google Maps with today's road time. In the mountains, add a third to whatever it says.
- Normal car?
- Yes, any car can make it. Traffic and parking are difficult on summer weekends.
By road
From
Dehradun
- Distance
- about 35 km
- Drive time
- 1–1.5 hours
- Dehradun
- Rajpur
- Mussoorie
From
Delhi
- Distance
- about 290 km
- Drive time
- 6–7 hours
- Delhi
- Meerut
- Muzaffarnagar
- Roorkee
- Dehradun
- Mussoorie
From
Dehradun airport
- Distance
- about 60 km
- Drive time
- about 2 hours
- Jolly Grant
- Dehradun
- Mussoorie
Buses and shared taxis. Trains and flights reach Dehradun; buses and shared taxis to Mussoorie leave from near the railway station.
Pickups & drivers
From Dehradun. Call or WhatsApp the driver directly.
No drivers listed for Mussoorie yet. Drive this route? List your cab.
Mussoorie: questions people ask
What is the best time to visit Mussoorie?
The best months for Mussoorie are March to June and September to November. December to February and July and August are possible but not ideal. Snow is likely in January and February.
How difficult is Mussoorie?
Mussoorie is rated easy. No trekking is needed, starting at 2,005 m and reaching 2,290 m.
How many days do you need for Mussoorie?
Plan 2 to 3 days on the ground, counted from Dehradun. Add travel days to reach the gateway from your city.
How much does a trip to Mussoorie cost?
Expect about ₹3,000 per person per day for a mid-range trip (stay, food and local transport). That is roughly ₹9,000 for 3 days, before the cost of getting to Dehradun.
How do you reach Mussoorie?
By road: from Dehradun it is about 35 km, 1–1.5 hours (Dehradun → Rajpur → Mussoorie); from Delhi it is about 290 km, 6–7 hours (Delhi → Meerut → Muzaffarnagar → Roorkee → Dehradun → Mussoorie); from Dehradun airport it is about 60 km, about 2 hours (Jolly Grant → Dehradun → Mussoorie). Trains and flights reach Dehradun; buses and shared taxis to Mussoorie leave from near the railway station. The nearest gateway is Dehradun.
Do you need a permit or a guide for Mussoorie?
Permits: None. Guide: Not needed.
Is Mussoorie suitable for children and senior citizens?
With children it is great; with seniors it is good. It is busy in season. Kempty Falls area gets slippery and crowded; supervise children.
What should you pack for Mussoorie?
Pack fleece or light sweater, thermal inner wear (top and bottom), down or padded jacket, woollen cap that covers the ears, woollen socks, 2–3 pairs, waterproof gloves, neck gaiter or balaclava, hand warmers, compact umbrella. Also carry a government photo ID, enough cash and any permits. The full list is on this page.
Is there mobile network and internet at Mussoorie?
Excellent.
Who should not go to Mussoorie?
Mussoorie suits most travellers, including children and senior citizens. The one drawback to know about: Heavy weekend traffic and crowds; Landour next door is far calmer.
Close to Mussoorie
Within about 35 km in a straight line. Hill roads are a good deal longer, so check the drive before you combine two.
- Landourabout 3 km
- Nag Tibbaabout 15 km
- Kanatal & Dhanaultiabout 23 km
- Chakrataabout 33 km