Mussoorie

Mussoorie, the Queen of the Hills, sits on a ridge at about 2,000 metres above Dehradun, with the Doon Valley spread out on one side and the snow peaks of the Garhwal Himalaya on the other. It is the first stop on our Uttarakhand circuit, a seven-day journey that combines a classic colonial hill station with the spiritual banks of the Ganga and the lake country of Kumaon.

In Mussoorie you stroll Mall Road and Camel's Back Road, ride the ropeway to Gun Hill, visit Kempty Falls and walk up to Landour, the quieter cantonment above town known for its cafés, old churches and the views from Lal Tibba. Then you descend to Rishikesh, where the Ganga leaves the hills, to raft the rapids from Shivpuri, cross the Laxman Jhula area and join the evening aarti at Triveni Ghat or Parmarth Niketan. In Haridwar you witness the grand Ganga aarti at Har Ki Pauri. The second half crosses to Kumaon for two nights in Nainital, with a boat ride on Naini Lake, the Naina Devi temple, Snow View point and day trips to the quieter lakes of Bhimtal and Sattal.

This circuit suits families, couples and friend groups looking for a balance of thrill and calm, and it is a gentle introduction to the Himalaya for first-timers and seniors. March to June brings pleasant hill weather, and September to November offers the clearest mountain views. Rafting runs outside the monsoon, and weekends in Mussoorie and Nainital can be crowded with visitors from Delhi, so we plan sightseeing early in the day and keep evenings relaxed.