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Uttaranchal - Doon Valley

Uttaranchal experience details

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Prema and Suraj Sharma have a bungalow in the outskirts of Dehradun on the road to Mussoorie. They camp here each summer to enjoy the pleasant climate, and escape the heat of the plains. The beautiful Doon Valley has been a favourite of tourists and travellers since the British times. Starting from the foot-hills at the capital city of Dehradun, one can drive further up to Mussoorie and then to other smaller hill-stations in the region. This area is rich in history, as well as natural beauty, and is a great place to experience Raj nostalgia.

Doon Valley

Dehradun

Dehradun is the bustling capital of the new state Uttarakhand, also known as Uttaranchal. It is the gateway to the Garhwal Mountains. This city has its old peaceful areas, where the retired Army officers and government servants live. It also has a crowded market and office area, where you find the shops, restaurants and hotels. Dehradun has several well-known schools and important institutions like the Forest Research Institute, the Indian Military Academy and the Wildlife Institute of India. The main tourist attractions are all found in Mussoorie, 35 km to the north, where the cool hill-station climate and mountain ambience begins.

Mussoorie

Perched on a ridge, overlooking the Doon Valley, Mussoorie is a charming hill-station. It gets very crowded in the peak summer season, but if you stay away from the bazaar area and explore the outskirts, you can have a pleasant holiday filled with Raj nostalgia.

The Mall, shopping promenade and Mussoorie's main thoroughfare, is the heart of the town. You get awe-inspiring views of the Doon Valley and the snow-capped ranges from here.
Kempty Falls, 15 km away, the waterfall is on the Mussoorie-Yamunotri route. It does suffer from acute tourist bombardment at the height of the tourist season.
Gun Hill is Mussoorie's second-highest point and offers brilliant views of many of the Greater Himalayan peaks, including Nanda Devi, Kedarnath and Badrinath. The hill can be accessed by road through the Mall Road and through a ropeway that operates daily.
Jharipani Fall is another popular waterfall and picnic spot. It is 8.5 km from Mussoorie.
Landour, the old cantonment where battle-weary British soldiers once convalesced, is the only part of Mussoorie that retains its old-world charm. It is home to many writers, including Ruskin Bond.
Mussoorie Lake is a recently-developed tourist attraction that has boating facilities. It is 6 km from the town, down on the road to Dehradun.
Trekking around Mussoorie is pleasurable and visitors can undertake excursions to Dhanaulti, Naga Tibba, Surkhanda Devi, Lakha Mandal and Bhadraj Mandir.