Mussoorie -you must have all heard about it -yeah, that’s a natural fantastic summer retreat and cool even in winters. It’s an all-time hill station with an excellent panoramic view. Auli-I can’t explain in words the adventure and beauty it encompasses. In April, you’ll be able to trek as far as you can-so. So start early and get your boots working through the snow to see endless Himalayan beauty and snow-capped mountains-plus a ropeway bonanza worth it-not to forget winter months brings their own set of ice and snow sports!
Reasons why you must visit Mussoorie and Auli:
- Skiing and Auli go in rhyme with one another. Winters arrive, and you must be in Auli to do snow sports, skiing or snowboarding.
- Auli is also famous for religious attractions such as Pandukeshwar, Badrinath, Gopeshwar and peaks like Nanda Devi, Trishul, and Sanjeevani, for which trekking does happen.
- At Auli, you can’t miss a trek to Kuari Pass /Kwani Bugyal/Gorson Bugyal, which offers breathtaking views throughout the trek ranges.
- Not to forget, you get a scenic ropeway ride at 900 INR both ways per head. It’s one of the most beautiful scenic ropeway-so don’t miss out!!
- Gun hill offers a magnificent view of Doon valley from Mussoorie, which you can reach by a mini ropeway ride; even a trail is possible. The night and evening views are lit!
- Dhanaulti and Kempty falls are two famous spots you must make an effort to visit. Dhanaulti offers some splendid views of the lower Himalayas amidst Deodar forests.
- Mussoorie does have a paragliding facility similar to Bir-Billing in Himachal Pradesh. Do check out if you are an adventure junkie!
- Cloud End viewpoint gives a heavenly feel of the Himalayas amidst clouds in the wee hours of early morning. Casually walk to the viewpoint and let the view sink you in!
- Nag Tibba and Har ki dun are some famous treks which you can begin from Mussoorie.
Location: Mussoorie is just an hour from Dehradun, the capital of Uttarakhand state of India, whereas Auli is a long road 300 km haul from Dehradun which takes about a day considering there’s no direct public transport and you need to break your journey!
Tourist Attraction on the Spot:
Auli Ropeway tour/trek in Auli, Dehradun-Tapkeshwar Mandir, Robber’s Cave, Mindroling Monastery, Buddha Temple; Mussoorie: Kempty Falls, Lal Tibba, Company Garden, Gun Hill Point-Ropeway
Tourist Attractions in the Vicinity:
You can visit the Valley of Flowers, Badrinath, Kedarnath, and Mana Pass if close to Auli. All are worth a visit; none of them can be missed out.
Distance Charts:(Mussoorie | Auli)
- Noida:(280 km | 490 km)
- Chandigarh:(200 km | 500 km)
- Delhi:(280 km | 520 km)
- Dehradun:(33 km | 300 km)
- Munsyari:(475 km | 325 km)
- Nainital:(310 km | 280 km)
- Amritsar:(475 km | 720 km)
- Manali:(475 km | 780 km)
- Shimla :(250 km | 520 km)
- Jammu :(550 km | 840 km)
- Jaipur:(560 km | 770 km)
How to Reach Mussoorie/Auli(Ex:Dehradun):
Road Routes:
Dehradun-Mussoorie-Dehradun-Rishikesh-Devprayag-Rudraprayag-karnaprayag-Gopeshwar-Joshimath-Auli Laga
An important note from my experience:
1)Mussoorie and Auli is a year-round destination for tourists except for the June to September corridor, where it rains heavily, and landslides are pretty standard then. So we need to avoid the rains.
2)Auli and Mussoorie both have ropeways, but Auli is a must, whereas Mussoorie is optional-if you can climb upto Gun hill. You’re sorted. The view from Auli ropeway is damn charming-you see snow-capped mountains all over!
3)Mussoorie has several viewpoints- be here at dusk and dawn, and you’ll know the worth of viewpoints, to be honest! The Shivaliks are worth a watch from Mussoorie, plus round-the-year cool weather.
4)Auli is an excellent place to be mainly in winters-you get to skip, do some skateboarding and play all sorts of winter sports here on the lakeside plus, playing with snow is a great way to enjoy in winters! Don’t miss that!
5)Auli is an excellent point to trek to Gorson Bugyal and other minor points from where you get 360 views of Panchchula peaks with gushing cold winds on your face on a sunny afternoon! I am not writing a fiction story- I experienced it- just sharing it with you guys- be here in April-May for that trek, though!
RAIL:Railways is a possibility upto Dehradun or Haldwani
You can watch the below video to get a better idea!Do like and share if you find it worth…
AIR:Jolly Grant Airport, Dehradun it is!
ROAD:Roads are kind of mix of good and bad but yes you’ll need to be reaching Dehradun first followed by Mussoorie and you can get to Auli via Rishikesh,Karnaprayag and Gopeshwar.You can go ahead towards Mana Pass or Govindghat by the same route.UTC may help you reach certain places in Uttarakhand.
Map:
Time to Visit:
All around the year except June to September.
The grand Himalayas, as seen from the top of Auli.
Spend Time With:
Family, Friends, Solo, Couple
Food and Lodging:
Hotels are plenty all over Dehradun and Mussoorie, though; Mussoorie is costlier than Dehradun accommodation-wise.On average, a hotel in Dehradun costs INR 800-1000 bucks. But getting a hotel there won’t be so much of an issue. Joshimath-Rudraprayag will have hotels available except during the Chardham yatra when tourists fight for stay options! (Then you can use Goibibo, Makemytrip or Yatra website.)Food options are plenty in Mussoorie and Joshimath, but at Auli, you will need some water and snacks.
Expense:
For a 3 day trip by state transport to Mussoorie and Auli will cost:
Food:INR 100/person/day(3 times a day)X3
Transport:INR 150 to and from Dehradun-Mussoorie and INR 1000 both ways between Joshimath and Dehradun
Lodging:INR 800/day X3 at Dehradun and Joshimath
Entry Fees includes various places:INR 150 for Mussoorie parks and view points;Joshimath-Auli Ropeway is 900 INR.
Total: 5500 INR (Can be 4500 if you stay at hotel a day less)
Nearby Attractions(Mussoorie | Auli):
- Delhi:(280 km | 520 km)
- Dehradun:(33 km | 300 km)
- Munsyari:(475 km | 325 km)
- Nainital:(310 km | 280 km)
- Manali:(475 km | 780 km)
- Shimla :(250 km | 520 km)
- Almora:(370 km | 250 km)
- Dalhousie:(590 km | 820 km)
- Valley of Flowers:((350 km | 40 km)
- Mansarovar:(700 km | 550 km)
- Kausani:(350 km | 200 km)
- Pithoragarh:(515 km | 330 km)
- Kedarnath:(300 km | 210 km)
- Badrinath:(360 km | 55 km)
- Gangotri:(215 km | 400 km)
- Yamunotri:(410 km | 390 km)
- Lansdowne:(185 km | 260 km)
