Delhi → Mussoorie Weekend Escape

Mussoorie is the hill station most Delhi crews do first, and it still works for a weekend. Skip the crowded Mall Road weekend and spend most of your time up in Landour, where the pace is slower and the deodar forest comes right up to the road.

Getting there

By road, the Delhi–Dehradun Expressway has cut the drive to Dehradun considerably. From there it is a 35 km climb up to Mussoorie. If any expressway section is closed when you travel, the older NH334 route via Meerut, Muzaffarnagar, and Roorkee works fine. Leave Delhi by 5 am on Saturday to beat both the city traffic and the weekend queue on the Dehradun–Mussoorie road.

By train, the Shatabdi and Vande Bharat services to Dehradun take around 5 to 6 hours, and shared or private cabs run up the hill from the station.

Day 1: Mall Road and the viewpoints

• •Check in and walk Camel's Back Road for an easy first stroll with valley views
• •Take the ropeway or walk up to Gun Hill for a panoramic view of the Doon Valley and the snow peaks
• •Spend the late afternoon on Mall Road and the Library Chowk end
• •Watch the sunset from the Mall Road railings as the lights come on in Dehradun far below

Day 2: Landour and George Everest's House

• •Start early with a walk up to Landour and the Char Dukan cluster for pancakes and chai
• •Loop past Lal Tibba and Sister's Bazaar for Himalayan views on a clear morning
• •Drive out to George Everest's House at Park Estate for a short hike and wide views on both sides of the ridge
• •Head down by early afternoon to avoid the Sunday evening jam heading back towards Dehradun

Where to stay

Landour has the best mix of heritage cottages and quieter homestays, though it costs a little more. Hotels around Mall Road and Library Chowk are convenient for walking but can be noisy on weekends. Book ahead for summer weekends and the Christmas–New Year week.

What to eat

• •Pancakes, bun omelettes, and Maggi at Char Dukan in Landour
• •Fresh bread and baked goods from the Landour bakeries
• •Bun omelettes and quick bites along Mall Road
• •Momos and thukpa at the Tibetan eateries near Library Chowk

Good to know

• •Vehicles are restricted on Mall Road. Use the paid parking lots and walk.
• •Kempty Falls is about 15 km away and gets very crowded on weekends. Visit early or skip it.
• •December and January can bring snow on the higher ridges, which slows the roads considerably
• •Avoid long weekends unless you are fine with bumper-to-bumper traffic up the hill

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