MUSSOORIE AND ITS HISTORY
Mussoorie, lovingly known as the ‘queen of hills’ is a bewitching hill station and one of the most sought after holiday destination in North India. Nestled at the foothills of mighty Himalayas in Uttaranchal state of India, Mussoorie is perched at an altitude of 2000 m above sea level and is about 35 km from the beautiful hill station of Dehradun.
HISTORY
The origin of this beautiful town of Mussoorie is dated back to 1827 when an adventurous military officer named Captain Young was lured by the unexceptional beauty and charm of the place. He further decided to construct a shooting lodge there accompanied by Mr. Shore, the Superintendent of Revenues at Dehradun and also explored other nearby places. Soon the magical natural wealth and majestic landscapes of Mussoorie converted this place into a popular tourist destination. In the year 1827, a sanatorium was constructed at Landour which then turned into a large cantonment.
The word ‘Mussoorie’ was derived from a shrub called ‘mansoor’ which is abundantly found here. That’s why the place is also known as ‘Mansoori’ by the locals.
In earlier times, Mussoorie was accessible from Saharanpur (93 km) via road but after the beginning of railway in Dehradun in 1900, the distance decreased to 34 km. And now Mussoorie is easily accessible through all the means of transportation. It also serves as a gateway to Gangotri and Yamunotri.