If you are planning to go to a pleasant wintry hill station amidst the rolling hills and sun-kissed greens, then Mussoorie might just be the perfect choice for you. The beautiful hill station nestled in the foothills of the Garhwal Himalayan Ranges in the lap of Uttarakhand & is among the best places to visit in Uttarakhand, boasts of a wonderful weather and has a lot to offer, making it a memorable experience in all seasons. Mussoorie, situated at a height of 2005 meters from sea level, offers a picturesque and delightful view of the Himalayan Ranges and Doon Valley, irrespective of the month you choose to visit. In the yester years, the place served as the summer retreat during the British era, and this can be observed from the multitude of British remnants engulfing the city, and the colonial architecture of the structures dotting the entire terrain. It is not only an important historical hub but also famous for Mussoorie tourism.
The hill station is evergreen and the perfect place to unwind and celebrate your vacation amidst the beauty of nature and several attractions like hills, museums, adventure parks, art galleries, clock towers, and waterfalls, all vying for your attention. Mussoorie has seen a growing population as well as development leading to an increase in Mussorie tourism. With so much to offer, it doesn’t really call for much to be a little more planned and cautious in charting out your trip during the best season so that you can experience the most of this stunning destination. Read on to figure out the opportune time to visit Mussoorie.
Mussoorie witnesses long summers and it is considered to be extremely pleasant to go out, relax, and appreciate the scenic beauty and the amazing sunsets and sunrises. Like most other Himalayan hill stations, the sub-tropical weather means that the summers are marked by a stinging heat in the afternoons followed by chilling breeze and cool nights. It is advised to carry a pair of winter clothes or light jacket as only during the day time its sunny otherwise early morning and late evening it tends to get a bit chilly.
Despite seeing an average temperature around 37 degree Celsius during summers, the weather remains moderately cool and pleasant during the day, offering a respite from the scorching heat, and makes it just perfect for sightseeing at Cloud’s End, Lal Tibba, and Gun Hill. March till June are the best months to visit Mussoorie for a pleasant sightseeing tour and to enjoy the spring and flower bloom and cool summers.
Visitors can avail of the cable car ropeway ride to Gun Hill, which offers a captivating view of the surrounding Himalayan Mountains. You can also enjoy several exciting activities like skywalk, zip swings, paragliding, rapelling, and zip lining at the Mussoorie Adventure Park or try your hand at river rafting in the stimulating rapids along the Dhauliganga and Alaknanda Rivers. Summer is also the ideal time to pursue all sorts of thrilling adventure activities like trekking, camping, and rock climbing across the countryside. It’s a treat for adventure lovers who are looking forward to take a plunge into the world of fun and adventure with their friends and family.
You can also participate in the Summer Festival, which presents a multitude of different educational and academic events like colloquiums, debates, contests, cultural processions, and other interesting events like treasure hunt, drawing competition, folk dance performances, magic shows, and celebrity night. With so many activities going around, you will see Mussoorie all together a different place around.
The summer heat that melts the snow covered peaks and glaciers high in the mountains, gives rise to cascades and magnificent water falls below. The surrounding areas have many waterfalls that one can visit, such as Kempty Falls, which is the perfect weekend picnic spot for the adventure-loving tourists, and is surely a sight to behold. The base of the waterfall is surrounded by small streams merging into one single large pool, and a lush green valley surrounding it, which gives the place its scenic beauty and makes it just picture perfect. This peaceful waterfall is one of the must see places in Mussoorie. Food and water are easily available from small shops located near the fall, that also serve refreshing chai and samosas or other quick snacks. The Jharipani Falls and the Mossy Falls are other places to hangout with friends, where one can enjoy the amazing views of waterfalls and can relax for hours in the river water and lush green surroundings. Nature lovers can also visit the Benog Wildlife Sanctuary and Gun Hill Point to enjoy the most invigorating weather of Mussoorie.
The popularity of Mussoorie during summers also makes it the peak season, which brings with it a huge influx of tourists and fewer tranquil places to enjoy. Summers are the time the hilltop town receives huge rush and is overcrowded with tourists who come from across the country to admire its beauty. This can likely result in loads of traffic jam and make the road route to Mussoorie a bit tedious. The hotel room fares also go up and most of the prominent resorts and vacation rentals might already be booked and not be available on weekends.
Though the hill station enjoys a pleasant climate year-round, the best time to go Mussoorie is during the summer season when the weather conditions are perfect to traverse the charming town. So beat the summer heat by planning a holiday here as the months of March till June are full of refreshing breeze and are the best months to visit Mussoorie.
Mussoorie Monsoon (July to Mid-September)
Monsoons in Mussoorie are fraught with danger as the state of Uttarakhand is often prone to landslides during this season and it is not an ideal time to visit or engage in any activity outdoors. But if you like misty and peaceful hill stations, this is the best time for you to head to the hill town of Mussoorie. Even though most tourism options like adventure sports activities will be closed during the season, it’s still a good choice for those seeking solitude in the hills or a romantic escapade away from the rat-race of the city. The monsoons may deter your sightseeing plans, but the mist and fog covered hills makes up for it and the sceneries look better than they would on a typical day. After the rainfall, you get to enjoy the clean and green Mussoorie, as if the rain has washed away all the dirt.
The heavy to moderate rain showers during the rainy season, causes the soil layer covering the hills to become slackened, giving rise to various problems like landslides and slippery roads, which cause the motorways to shut down and the town goes into complete exile sans tourists.
You can also partake in the Autumn Festival, which is one of the most important festivals celebrated with grand vigor throughout Mussoorie and lasts for 10 days. The juncture draws all the high city officials including the Chief Minister of the State. One can witness numerous happenings like fireworks, theatre plays, roller skating shows, and sporting events. Bhadraj Fair, which is organized by the Bhadraj Temple in the third week of August (or on Shravan Sankranti) every year, also draws a great number of locals as well as tourists and visitors from neighbouring hill towns.
You can also splurge at the many local shops in Kulri Bazaar and Landour Bazaar, where you will see sellers vying for your attention in selling everything from antiques, oxidized jewellery and footwear to artefacts, trendy knick knacks, and fancy sweaters and stoles.
Mussoorie is popularly known for its pleasant weather, scenic views, and numerous trekking and hiking trails. If you want to travel with the clouds and a little drizzle then Monsoon is the best time to go Mussoorie.
Mussoorie winters (October to February)
Winters in Mussorie stretches from October till end of February and is characterized by chilly weather conditions and snowfall and the beauty of the place increases manifold. The entire hill station is covered in a sheet of shiny white snow and the weather remains chilly during this time. The temperature at night can stoop down to sub-zero levels and roads leading to Mussoorie usually get obstructed by snow. The snow-clad deciduous forests around, of Pine, Cedar, Spruce, Oak, Rhododendron, and Deodar, take on their best form and glow green.
This is an ideal time to visit Mussoorie if you would like to see snow or engage in other activities like skiing in the winter showers or snow. Most adventure enthusiasts prefer winters as the sparkling snow allows many adventure spots and breath taking sights not available during the rest of the year. Revel in the snow covered hill station and play with snowballs in the winter season with your loved ones.
Over the years, Mussoorie has experienced very turbulent snowfall, owing to unfavourable climate change due to rampant construction and deforestation. So, make sure you look for signs of windy weather and accompanying rainfall in and around Mussoorie and Dehradun, which is the best way to predict whether it is going to snow there too or not. It is highly recommended to carry super warm woolens as the temperature drops below freezing point and the hills are covered with thick blankets of snow.
The winter months experience a decent amount of snowfall and attract its share of footfall too. In fact, winters bring the Merry Christmas celebrations during which the entire town is illuminated with strings of lights and colourful decorations, perfect to put you in a gala mood.
However, as the days are a little sunny, you can plan to explore popular tourist attractions such as Bhadraj Temple, Christ Church, Happy Valley, Tibetan monasteries, Sir George Everest’ home, and other landmarks during this time. Or you can simply sit back and sip hot tea and shovel down a plate of Maggi while soaking up the golden sunshine peeping through the majestic snow clapped hills. Don’t forget to take a bite of some of the local dishes like Kappa, Bhang Ki Khatami, Sisunak Saag, and Aloo ke Gutke, most of which star heavy resemblance to Tibetan and Garhwali cuisine.
You can choose to spend some quiet quality time in one of the many well set up affordable or luxury hotels and resorts, which cater to all types of tourists. You can book a hotel that is closest to most of the excursions from Mussoorie.
Impeccably described by noted author Ruskin Bond in his enduring novels and short stories, this amazing town of Mussoorie is a haven for you to marvel at the untouched natural beauty. The hill station remains an ideal getaway for all those seeking respite from the scorching heat and overcrowded city life and continues to enthral its visitors with open hands round the year. Take a leisurely stroll through the meandering mountain roads of the Mall Road and make some amazing memories to treasure forever while in Mussoorie! Without much ado, start planning your next vacation; your wonderland is waiting for you!
April 15, 2024 
