About Mussoorie
Mussoorie rests in the lap of Mother Nature with an awe-inspiring view of snow capped Himalayas and the Garhwal Range in the day time and the glittery Doon valley at night.Standing at an altitude of about 6000ft above sea level, the place is located at a distance of about 250kms from Delhi. Nearest airport is at Jollygrant, which is 60kms away from Mussoorie and is situated nearby Dehradun. Nearest railway station is at Dehradun, about 35kms from Mussoorie. The place is well connected through steadfast bus and taxi services from both, airport and railway station. Mussoorie is also an optional gateway and base camp for the spiritual Yamunorti and Gangotri shrines of Northern India travelers.
Besides its stunning picturesque beauty, Mussoorie has an all season charm, wherein winters bluster bone chilling winds with frequent snow showers, summers are incredibly pleasant with fluctuating temperatures, monsoons make the place all the more romantic with clouds sheathing all over and the greenery is at its full bloom from September to November. The cold climate of Mussoorie demands residents and visitors to be well clad in woolens all the year around. Indeed, one can spot a lot of woolens, raincoats as well as overcoats in the market. The main shopping areas of the Library, Kulri Bazaar and Landour Bazaar sell curious wooden decorative souvenirs and gift items, ethnic jewellery as well as antiques. One can also pick beautifully handcrafted oak wood walking sticks, once been a popular produce at Mussoorie. Mussoorie is further famous for offering some of the world's top rated boarding schools and country's first Indian Administrative Service (IAS) training academy.
History of Mussoorie
Mussoorie gets its name from the local shrub 'mansoor' found in abundance in the region. Mussoorie was one of the first hill stations to have its local self government. It was, however, after the conquest of a part of Garhwal and Dehradun in 1803 by the Gorkhas, under Amer Singh Thapa, that Mussoorie came into existence. The place was discovered by a British army officer, Captain Young who laid the first foundation in 1827 .This tiny wooded inhabitation fast turned into a resort, with its central Mall Road, a Public Library and an Anglican Church which later emerged as a popular summer destination for the high British and Indian class.
During 1959, Tibetan Rebellion, The Central Tibetan Administration of the 14th Dalai Lama was at first established in Mussoorie before being moved to its present location in Dharamsala, Himachal Pradesh. The first Tibetan school was established in Mussoorie in 1960. Tibetans settled mainly in Happy Valley in Mussoorie. Today, some 5,000 Tibetans live in Mussoorie. Since then it is being frequented by a growing number of tourists every year. Mussoorie is an ideal holiday destination as it carries on a platter a beautiful blend of all activities for all kinds of tourists. Those who come looking for serenity and peace harassed by the urban jet age, there is no dearth of such places and those avid travelers who love to explore the unexplored there are numerous such lonely roads that lead to untouched and virgin destinations. For those tourists who only enjoy when there is adventure in the air and adrenalin gushing in their veins there is a plethora of activities for such tourists too.
