A Travel Guide To The Queen Of Hills: 23 Places Everyone Must-Visit In Mussoorie

A novel feature of all Indian hill stations is the mall road. A base camp for all trips, this is where all trips begin and end. A hotspot for maggi, momos, cutesy cafes, and views for days, the Mussoorie mall road has cutesy benches and lamp posts at every viewpoint. It’s a core memory for each of us just simply strolling on this mall road (or similar mall roads of Shimla, Manali, or Nainital) late at night, hand in hand with our bestest friends, after eating a dozen momos, and giggling uncontrollably. Then finally sitting on a bench and taking in the quiet town and the sea of stars. That or shopping for local goodies, doing cafe and local street food hopping, taking in the chirpy crowd — just the best!

Other than the very popular and very crowded Kempty Falls, Mussoorie also has a bunch of other lesser known waterfalls that you can visit. These are Mossy Falls, Jharipani Falls and Bhatta Falls, all a little secluded from the main city. To reach the Mossy Falls (which get their name from the moss-laden rocks surrounding the gushing waterfalls) you will have to hike up a little bit (it's a slightly rough terrain) as they are also veiled from the view with a cleft in the hillside. Mossy Falls also have a shivlinga hidden in the fall, which is continuously drenched by the flowing water. You can also visit the Jharipani falls to take in the pristine, scenic beauty dotted with wild flowers, and make a cute picnic out of it! 

Surrounded by the Oak and Deodar forests, Clouds End is a landmark to the geographical end of Mussoorie. Located at around 7 kms from main Mussoorie city, Clouds End is known for pleasant scenic views of the hills with an enjoyable climate. A beautiful heritage bungalow built by Major Swetenham in 1838, which is one of the oldest buildings of Mussoorie, now converted into a heritage hotel called Clouds End Forest Resort — which is also a tourist destination at Clouds End. Nature walks in the nearby forest are something to look forward to. 

For all those of you who want to visit Mussoorie for a kick of adrenaline and a little bit of adventure, you can trek the Nag Tibba peak. Nag Tibba which translates to the serpents peak, is the highest peak in lower Himalayas of Garhwal region near Mussoorie. A comparatively easy trek which is also suitable for beginners, the trek is an easy weekend trek, which will take you approximately 2 days. You can book a tour package that will plan the itinerary for you and guide you for the trek. There’s a temple on the way and from the top you can take in the spellbinding  views of some of Doon valley’s most beautiful peaks. The views obviously appear much sweeter because of the amount of hard work you’ve put in to enjoy these.

Believe it or not, Mussoorie’s a hot destination for bibliophiles. The city is home to Ruskin Bond, and the famous Cambridge Book Depot on the mall road is where the author greets his fans every weekend he’s in town. The bookshop in itself is a dream for bookworms, and many authors and writers like Mulk Raj Anand, Gulzar, William Dalrymple, Shakuntala Devi, Atal Bihari Vajpayee who have also frequented the bookstore. Stop by to grab your favourite read!

Walking is much more fun when we’re so high up the sea level and surrounded by greenery all around you. Waking up early or a late night stroll with your beau is totally worth it when in Mussoorie. A popular destination for these walks is the beautiful camel’s back road, which is a 4 km long stretch that starts from Library Point to Kulri Bazaar. The slope adjacent to the road has a 180 year old colonial cemetery which you can see as you walk on the road. The road is the perfect spot to witness mesmerising views of the sun rising and setting in the hills. 

One of the few private natural reserves in India, Jabarkhet Natural reserve is where you should go if you want to experience 'ecotourism.' This is where you can hop on one of the easy to moderate walking trails, spend some time taking in fresh air, hike, do birdwatching, wildlife photography, draw, or just cherish the moment's peace and solitude. This is what is an ideal vacation to many, just walking in a forest trail with their partner, and being as close to nature as it gets. The people at JNR also organise guided walks, mushroom identification, butterfly trails, meditation, art or writing, and more activities for tourists. Sounds like a must-do!

One of the most prominent landmarks of Mussoorie is an old Victorian style library, which was built in 1843 during the colonial rule. Even though the library is not open to general public, its ornate balcony/verandah features beautiful cast-iron lacework which can be viewed from the outside. Otherwise, it's a functional, lending library but only card-carrying members are allowed beyond the foyer, a point till which general public can wander. The bazaar in front of this old library is called the Library Bazaar, also known as Gandhi Chowk because of a Mahatma Gandhi statue that's at one end of the bazaar. It's the busiest part of mall road and a good spot to get some pictures in! There's another library in town called the Tilak Library, which is even older (built in 1841) than this one. Located at the beginning of Kulri Bazaar, this library is actually open to the general public.

Mussoorie is a great place for a cultural walk, for there are a huge number of temples, churches, and religious centres for you to visit, admire, and meditate at. Built in 1836 and situated very close to the Library Bus Stand, the Christ Church is known to be the first catholic church in the entire Himalayan region. Surrounded by thick Oak and Deodar trees, Jwala devi temple is flocked by pilgrims and nemophilists alike. 

Around 3 km from Library Bazaar, Happy Valley is the place where the 14th Dalai Lama took refuge in Mussoorie for an year, before moving to Dharmshala. Since then, the place has become home to approximately 5,000 refugees rendering to the common name, 'mini Tibet.' You can visit the area for some beautiful Tibetan Monasteries, relish Tibetan food and more. The magnificent Shedup Choephelling Temple, which is situated at the highest point of the Happy Valley on a cliff, and offers some of the most scenic views of the hill station. A Buddha statue, the Company Garden, the Clouds End point, all of them lie here in the area. The Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy Of Administration is also in this area only. 

This one is for those of you who like gazing at and losing yourself in art, whether for introspection or to really delve into the story it tells, or even if you just look at it for the beauty. Soham Heritage & Art Centre is a unique tourist spot. Its a private enterprise which aims at displaying the diversity of Himalayas through varied art forms! It showcases the cultural diversity of the Himalayas through paintings, murals, scrap art, frescoes and artefacts. The art centre also has an exhibition of the traditional jewellery, tools, household goods and wildlife of the Himalayan regions. 

If you’re a fan of ropeways and cable cars, you can take one to Gun Hill, which is the second highest peak of Mussoorie. A crowd-favourite viewpoint to take in picturesque views of the Doon Valley and snow-clad Himalayan peaks.

A tiny shop so popular that it’s almost a tourist attraction now! Chick Chocolate is as close as humanity will get to a time machine — around seven decades old (since 1942), people flock to this historical and nostalgic cafe for their iconic fruit cream, softies, drinks like cranberry ginger fizz and the ice tea, chocolates and chocolate desserts, and their wood fired pizzas. An old school cafe, their humble decor is also noteworthy, with yellow hued walls, music memorabilia and movie posters. Even chef Anahita Dhondy has raved about this cute Mussoorie shop.

Make sure you take out a couple hours from your itinerary to visit this wonderful cafe, for you might just have to wait to find a table at this crowd-favourite spot. After all, who doesn’t like delicious food with some of the best hillside views? As soon as you step into this super cute, three storeyed cafe with wooden interiors, you will be welcomed by the whiff of fresh bakes and food that will make you drool. Baked goodies, momos, burgers, ramen, sushi, coffee, pizza, pasta, hot chocolate, shakes, mezze platters — you name it and you will get it here, and all of it will be so good that you won’t be able to have enough of it. You can click pretty pictures for your Instagram on the rooftop or a windowside seat. The reason that it’s so crowded all the time might just be that no one who comes here wants to leave!

When you’re visiting a hill station, and the sun is setting, the wind is cold and the weather is chilly, that’s when you will most appreciate a piping hot plate of momos and a hot bowl of soup the most. That’s also when you should visit this famous pan-Asian restaurant on Mussoorie mall road, called the Kalsang Friends Corner. Very true to its name, the place is always buzzing with hoards of friend groups, all enjoying the variety of Tibetan, Korean, Chinese, and Thai delicacies presented to them. Even though there are a lot of tables (and floors), you might have to wait a little while to get a table during peak season. The place is almost always filled with a happy chatter of people, devouring their spicy and delectable fare. 

One can’t visit Mussoorie and miss the iconic Landour Bakehouse. Almost everyone has this place stored in their phone galleries or Instagram feeds. The iconic green board of the Landour Bakehouse is recognisable from afar, and people have been visiting since generations to relish the delectable cakes, pastries and sandwiches. Their recipes date back to late 1890s, coming from the 'Landour Cookbook,' (which you can also buy on Amazon as a book by Ruskin Bond), basically, it has recipes that have been collected in early twentieth century by Mrs. Lucas, wife of the pastor of Kellogg Church in Landour and Irene Parker, from the residents of then Landour. It's aptly titled as 'Over Hundred Years of Hillside Cooking.' Anyway, a coffee date in the hills with scones, crepes and stuffed croissants might just take all your troubles away! 

This restaurant in JW Marriott Walnut Grove Resort & Spa is the most idyllic space you’ll probably chance upon. And that’s because it draws all of its beauty from its heavenly location. It’s an outdoor deck that lets you take in the breathtaking beauty around you, as you lounge on a comfy sofa and sip on a glass of fine wine, or coffee. The dishes you can enjoy here are a variety of pasta, wood smoked pizza, a hot bowl of soup and more. We just can’t get the image of us sitting here with our favourite read all day long out of our heads!

Our editor Manya Ahuja swears by this place and we can see why. She says the coffee is too good and we believe her (you should too). The cafe is an artsy kind of place, with sunset orange coloured walls, and is heartily decorated with paintings, photographs, origami, and wall art that makes it really homely. They have a cute outdoor area that’s decked with potted plants, they have books, board games, and a huge variety of beverages you can sip on. They also have waffles that look delicious, while some other items on the menu include pizzas, fries, burgers and more.

Another hidden gem recommended by our editor, she says the place lives up to the name and the momos are soft, juicy, freshly made and flavourful. The place in itself is pretty cute — red bricked walls, Tibetan prayer flags, wooden chairs, all of it giving it a very cosy and authentic vibe. Do try!

Perhaps the most beautiful and popular boutique hotel in Mussoorie, Rokeby Manor is an English-style country estate hotel that has been restored to its original 19th century decor. It stands fully in character with its brick arches, fireplaces, wood floors, and stonewalls with intricate work. You can escape here for a vacation that will not just rejuvenate you, but will also teleport you to a different time. The hotel also has a salon and spa shed, while its cafes Emily’s and Landour Bakehouse have fame of their own. 

If you’re in the mood to really indulge yourselves then, Savoy is where you should be. There’s not much that matches the grandeur of The Savoy in Mussoorie. It is an elegant and historic hotel, built in the style of English Gothic architecture. The hotel brings an old-world charm to new-age conveniences, offering a lot of experiences like storytelling soiree, the forest trail and the Savoy post office that you shouldn’t skip. 

This homestay is best if you plan to visit with a group of people. You can book the entire villa that has 3 rooms and accommodates around six to nine people. You can book the villa for your  family or a group of friends. The property is surrounded by majestic snow peaks but the cosy wooden furniture and slate floors don’t let you feel the chill. The villa is tastefully decorated and blessed with scenic views and plenty of outdoor spaces, where you can savour a delightful picnic spread, read your favourite book, sip on some hot coffee or enjoy a bonfire under the sea of stars! 

LBB-tip: Read more about it here. 

Pro Tip: Win A Stay Here For Free. 

Another 19th century heritage hotel turned hotel, The Pine Retreat is the perfect romantic getaway that you were dreaming of with your S.O. Our favourite part about this hotel is the magical views of the Dehradun valley that it offers. The entire scene transforms into a beautifully lit up fairyland at night, covered by a blanket of shining stars.