Weekend Getaway: Mussoorie

Mussoorie, popularly known as the queen of hills is unmistakably one of the most blissful hill stations of India. Just around 300 kms from Delhi, the city week.

Once you are there, you can either relax and enjoy the breathtaking view of valley while sipping a cup of coffee or start discovering mussoorie. The city of Mussoorie is dotted with Hotels and lodges of various quality & pricing, but prior booking is must during peak season. Tried and tested ones are Jaypee Residency Manor, The Green Castle and the The Country Inn with valley facing rooms.

For sight seeing, you can start with a dip at the Kempty Falls, or the Mussoorie Lake. From there you can have a romantic drive till the Yamuna Pool, where river Yamuna gushes amidst the Doon Valley. Later in the day one can take the cable-car/ walk till gun-hill / head to the Camel-back loop. The evening can be reserved for shopping at the Mall Road or visit the temples & monastaries around.

Other attractions for the romance lovers are the Landour road, the Lal Tibba - Sister’s Bazaar area. It's the place to feel the nature while enjoying a cool, serene walk and passing by the homes of Ruskin Bond and Victor Bannerjee. For the adventure lovers, there's plethora of activities like para gliding, trekking, river rafting. While for the shoppers, there's both expensive & cheap export surplus stuff available in the market.

Among the offbeat attractions, are the nearby places like Dhanolty, Shahasra Dhara, Ponta Sahib and some more for which you would need another day's time. Everytime you visit, you will keep discovering the Queen of Hills.

Without good food the trip remains imcomplete. There are plenty of food joints and also the hotels offer some sumptous dishes. Though for local food lovers the place might be a little dissapointment these days as it's difficult to find the spicy Garwali food - the local cuisine. If one can, Garwali chicken, Dal Tadkas are must haves. The spicy appetizing dishes are definitely a food lovers' delight. Besides this, the yummy Veg Maggi near Kempty Falls is a treat by itself.

Driving 300kms isn't that very difficult. If you haven't visited the place yet, plan it for the next weekend!