Mussoorie, like other hill resorts in India, came into existence in the 1820s or thereabouts, when the families of British colonials began making for the hills in order to escape the scorching heat of the plains. Small settlements grew into large stations and were soon vying with each other for the title of "queen of the hills." Mussoorie's name derives from the Mansur shrub (Cororiana nepalensis), common in the Himalayan foothills; but many of the house names derive from the native places of those who first built and lived in them.

Connectivity
Air : The closest airport is the Jolly Grant but it does not have regular flights.

Rail : The closest railway station is Dehra Dun which is 36 kms from Mussoorie. Dehra Dun is connected by rail to all the metropolitan cities. From Dehra Dun to Mussoorie one can go by bus or taxis.

Road : Tourism Departments of various states like Punjab, Haryana, Delhi etc. operate tourist buses to Mussoorie.

Visit These
The Mall : The Mall besides the series of shops offers wondrous vistas of the surrounding hills and the Doon Valley below. You must be at the Mall while in Mussoorie especially as the evening falls. The tourists come together to enjoy the spectacular sunset. The sunset is followed by the view of the twinkling lights that shine one by one in the valley below. You just can't skip the Kulri Bazaar and the Library Chowk of the Mall. The Kulri Bazaar offers several items of Indian fare.

Gun Hill : From the Mall you may take a ropeway and visit the Gun Hill. The Gun Hill derives its name from the fact that in the old days a gun was kept atop the hill and was fired at mid-day to denote the time. From the Gun Hill you can experience the magical view of the great Himalayan peaks and a bird's eye view of Mussoorie.

Camel's back road : Then you must check out the Camel's back Road in Mussoorie. The road owes its name to its shape that is curved like the back of the ship of the desert. On the road you will rest spot of Hawa Ghar. While holidaying in Mussoorie you may picnic at the Lal Tibba.

The Municipal Garden : The Municipal Garden or the Company Bagh and the Cloud End are the other sites worth visiting in Mussoorie. The hill resort of Mussoorie is renowned for its academic institutes too. The Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration, Waverley Convent, Wynberg Allen School, Saint George's, Woodstock, Hampton Court, Indo-Tibetan Border Police Academy and the Defense Institute of Work Studies are few of the institutional landmarks in Mussoorie.

Options to unpack
In order to make the summer travel tour to Mussoorie even more joyful you need to choose just the right kind of accommodation for you and your family or friends in Mussoorie. The various hotels packages in Mussoorie offer the best of facilities. You may take your pick from a range of luxury and budget hotels and lodges in Mussoorie besides the star categorized accommodation hotels around the landmarks of Mussoorie offer excellent view of the landmarks through their suites. Most of the places to stay in Mussoorie are strategically located in the tourist centers.