About Mussoorie
Mussoorie,
a hill resort also called the ‘Queen of Hills’ is situated in the
foothills of the Himalayas at an altitude of 6000-6500 ft ASL. Mussoorie
derives its name from a shrub ‘Munsur’ which grows wild and in
abundance all over the Mussoorie hills.
Mussorie was established
in the early 19th Century by the British and soon became a popular hill
resort for the British as well as the royal families.
Present day
Mussoorie is a popular and favorite hill resort of north India
attracting a large number of tourists during the peak summer season
which is May and June. It offers great opportunities for trekking,
picnics, and sight seeing.
Mussoorie is also famous for a number
of boarding schools some of which are over a 150 years old imparting
quality schooling to students from all over the world.
History Of Mussoorie
At the beginning of the 19th century the whole region was under the control of the Gurkhas. It was only in 1815 that the British fought and defeated the Gurkhas at the Kalinga fort near Dehradun and became masters of the Doon valley and adjoining areas.
In the year 1823 Mr Shore, the Superintendent of Dehradun and Captian Frederick Young build the first building in Mussoorie. It was just a shooting block but with that Mussoorie was born. Soon afterward Captain Young build his residence at Landour(Mullingar). By 1825 Captain Young had build a convalscence facility for recuperating soldiers in Landour(now known as Sister’s Bazar).
In the year 1942 the first Municipal Board was constituted and was housed close to the Himalaya Club(It is still there). In April 1959, after fleeing Tibet, the Dalai Lama established the Tibetan Government of Exile in Mussoorie. The first Tibetan school was established in Mussoorie in 1960. Tibetans settled mainly in Happy Valley in Mussoorie. The Government of Tibet in exile eventually moved to Dharamsala in Himachal Pradesh. Today, some 5,000 Tibetans live in Mussoorie.