A very popular summer getaway, the quaint hill station of Mussoorie, in Uttarakhand, remains shrouded in mist, and when it clears, it reveals a pleasant view of the snow-capped Himalayas and therefore the green Doon Valley. Fondly mentioned because the queen of hill stations, Mussoorie’s landscape boasts spectacular natural sights like waterfalls and hills, and also invites adventure lovers and thrill seekers to explore its terrain with paragliding, trekking, camping etc. Mussoorie is dotted with temples that bring peaceful spiritual retreats. the luxurious locals of Capitol Hill station provide great avenues for nature walks.
Mussoorie is additionally reputed for brewing fine alcohol. In fact, during British era, it had been home to many well-known breweries like McKinnon’s brewery that exported wine to England within the early 1880s. it’s said that as English officers flocked to its cooler climes, they brought with them their beer and wine. And then, a couple of of them found out breweries here, supplying to cantonments across the country. A legend says even Ghalib, a noted Urdu poet, was a connoisseur of wine from Mussoorie.
Today, while these breweries may not exist, Mussoorie may be a good place to relax by a fireplace and sip a fine wine.
Mussoorie was established by British in 1823 and imprints of colonial architecture can still be found in its various structures like churches, libraries, hotels and summer palaces. Legends say the name Mussoorie springs from ‘mansoor’, a shrub that grows here. The scenic locales and pleasant weather of Mussoorie invited many to form it their home, Sir George Everest, who helped British measure the peak of the world’s highest peak Everest (later named after him), being one among them.
After British rule ended, Mussoorie became popular when Indian personalities, including political leaders, authors, artists and Bollywood superstars, made Mussoorie their home. the foremost noted among these is author Ruskin Bond, who still lives here and may often be spotted taking long walks in forested glades.