Two days — Dehradun's monastery and institute, then up to Mussoorie
Two days that link Dehradun with Mussoorie. The first day covers the Mindrolling Monastery, the Forest Research Institute and the Guru Ram Rai Darbar Sahib. The second drives about 39 minutes up to Gun Hill and Landour, and the night is spent in Mussoorie. For a single day in Dehradun with the cave instead, see the one-day plan.
Photos: DesiBoy101 (CC BY 4.0) · DesiBoy101 (CC BY 4.0) · Harshanh (CC BY-SA 3.0) — via Wikimedia Commons, resized.
Who this is for
Visitors arriving at Dehradun by train or air who want a day in the city before the hills, in any month outside the heaviest monsoon.
Day by day
Day 1Dehradun — monastery, institute and darbar
3 stops · 30 min on the road
Dehradun — monastery, institute and darbar
The Tibetan monastery near Clement Town, the brick institute, and the old town's darbar.
- 09:30Mindrolling MonasteryThe Nyingma monastery re-established in 1965, with its 190-foot stupa, about 18 minutes from the centre.
- ↓ 20 min by road · 12 km11:30Forest Research InstituteThe 1929 brick landmark and its six-section museum, about 10 minutes from the centre.
- ↓ 10 min by road · 6 km14:30Guru Ram Rai Darbar SahibThe 17th-century darbar tied to the city's name; see the old murals and gates.
Day 2Up to Mussoorie
2 stops · 12 min on the road
Up to Mussoorie
Drive about 39 minutes up the hill road; the cable car, then Landour.
Getting there
Dehradun is about 217 km from Delhi by road, and Mussoorie is about 21 km and 39 minutes beyond it on our routing. See the hub guides for the arrival tables.
Where to stay
The first night in Dehradun, the second in Mussoorie. We have no verified lodging, prices or booking rules.
Know before you go
- Heavy monsoon rain can cause slips on the Mussoorie road; leave early on day two.
- The monastery and darbar are places of worship; dress modestly and ask before taking photographs.
- We have no verified opening hours for the cable car or the museum; check before you go.
Places on this route
Going together
No one has started a group going on this plan yet. Start one and other travellers can ask to come along.
Other ways to do it
All Dehradun itineraries →
More places nearby
All of Dehradun →
Nearby destinations
All destinations →
Questions people ask
How far is Mussoorie from Dehradun?
About 21 km and 39 minutes by road on our routing, up the hill road from the Doon valley. In the monsoon, rain can cause slips and slow traffic, so leave early on the second day. Rishikesh is about 40 km and 45 minutes from Dehradun in the other direction.
Is it worth spending a night in Dehradun before Mussoorie?
It is a good way to split the journey. Dehradun has its own temples, a monastery and a heritage institute, and the morning drive up to Mussoorie is short. If you arrive late by train or flight, you avoid driving the hill road after dark.
Can this plan be done by public transport?
Broadly yes: Dehradun has city buses, auto-rickshaws and shared vehicles, and the Uttarakhand Transport Corporation runs buses from the bus terminal. We have no verified timetables, so ask locally. A hired car makes the day-one order, which is not in a straight line, far easier.