Mussoorie

Mussoorie was founded in 1823 as a British hill retreat and grew along a ridge at about 2,000 metres, so it looks south over the Doon valley and north toward the Himalaya. The Mall runs the length of the ridge, closed to most traffic in the evenings, with the Camel's Back Road looping round the back past a rock formation of that shape and an old cemetery. A ropeway climbs Gun Hill. Landour, the older and quieter cantonment above the town, keeps colonial cottages, a church and steep lanes, and has long been associated with the writer Ruskin Bond.

What you actually see

• The Mall - the ridge promenade with valley views on both sides.
• Camel's Back Road - a quiet loop past the rock formation and cemetery.
• Landour - the older cantonment above town with colonial cottages.
• The valley lights - Dehradun and the plains lit below after dark.

When to go

March to June and September to November; the monsoon brings heavy rain, fog and landslides. May and June are peak season and extremely crowded. Winter occasionally brings snow.

Honest expectations

Summer crowds and traffic on the hill road are severe. Haze frequently hides the Himalayan view. The Mall is commercialised, and quieter walking means going up to Landour.

Nearby

Dehradun lies below; Rishikesh is southeast.