Cloud End Forest Resort

Built 175 years ago, in 1838, this resort has undergone a major upgrade recently. The resort, spread over a sprawling 400-acre private estate, includes 4 Heritage Deluxe suites in the Swetenham block, 6 deluxe rooms in the Annexe block, an independent log cottage with 2 cabins, and 10 huts. The in-house restaurant – Rose’s Diner, offers a breathtaking view of the snow capped Himalayan range to the East; the Doon Valley to the South; the Winter Line to the West and the Benog Wildlife Sanctuary to the North.

Cuisine: Regional, Indian and International

Weather:

Summer – Min 12°C, Max 25°C
Winter – Min 0°C, Max 15°C
Monsoon – Min 12°C, Max 20°C, 150-200 mm of rainfall

By Air: Jolly Grant Airport, Dehradun (65 kms, 2.5 hrs)

By Rail: Dehradun Railway Station (40 kms, 1.5 hrs)

By Road: Dehradun (40 kms, 1.5 hrs); Delhi (300 kms, 7-8 hrs)

Camel’s Back Road – This place offers a picturesque view of the sunset and a life like structure resembling a seated camel. One can also enjoy long walks and horse rides here.

Lake Mist – About 5 kms before Kempty Falls on the Mussoorie-Kempty road, is a lovely picnic spot with accommodation and boating facilities. With the Kempty river flowing through it, Lake Mist has many small but beautiful waterfalls. Nature is truly at its best here.

Gun Hill – One can enjoy a thrilling rope-way ride to Gun Hill, the second highest peak in Mussoorie (2,122 m). This peak also offers a panoramic view of the Himalayan ranges.

Mussoorie Lake – This lake offers a newly developed picnic spot situated on the Mussoorie-Dehradun road, including activities such as paddle-boating. There’s an enchanting view of Doon Valley and nearby villages, most notably at night.

Vinog Mountain Quail Sanctuary – 11 kms to the south of Library Point lies an old sanctuary established in 1993 and covering an area of 339 hectares. It is famous for having been the home to extinct bird species like The Mountain Quail (Pahari Bater), which was last spotted in 1876.

Kempty Fall – 15 kms from Mussoorie, on the Yamunotri Road, lies the fascinating Kempty Waterfall – the biggest in the valley.

Dhanaulti – Dhanaulti is located 24 kms from Mussoorie and provides a breath-taking view of the valleys and the Himalayan peaks. The long wooded slopes, cool caressing breeze, lovely weather and fabulous view of snow covered mountains make it an ideal retreat for a relaxed holiday.

Surkanda Devi – Situated at an elevation of 3,030 meters above sea level, 33 kms from the village Kaddukhal, lies the temple of Surkanda Devi. One has to trek for about 2 kms in order to reach the temple. The temple is situated on the top of the mountain and is of great religious significance. A fair is held every year on “Ganga Dussehra” during May-June, during which thousands of people participate.

Lakha Mandal – Lakha Mandal is situated on the Yamunotri road, past Kempty Falls. The site is home to hundreds of idols of archaeological importance, which are preserved by the Archaeological Survey of India. According to a legend, the Kaurvas made a shellac house and conspired to burn the Pandavas alive here.

Bhadraj Temple – Bhadraj Temple is dedicated to Lord Bal Bhadra, brother of Lord Krishna. About 15 kms from Mussoorie, this is an ideal spot for trekking. Situated on the extreme western region of Mussoorie town, Bhadraj offers a commanding view of the Doon Valley. The Chakrata ranges and Jaunsar Bawar areas can be viewed from here.

Yamuna Bridge – About 27 kms from Mussoorie on Chakrata-Barkot road, the Yamuna Bridge is an ideal spot for fishing.

George Everest House – The George Everest House is the estate of Sir George, once the surveyor General of India. The highest peak of Mount Everest is also named after him.

Jwalaji Temple – The Jwalaji Temple is situated on the top of Benog Hill and has an idol of Mata Durga. The temple is surrounded by thick forests and offers a panoramic view of the Himalayan peaks, Doon valley and Yamuna valley.

Bhatta Fall – Bhatta Fall is an ideal spot for bathing and picnics.  It is located about 7 kms from Mussoorie on the Mussoorie-Dehradun road. The spot can be accessed by car or bus up to Balta village from where the fall is 3 kms away.

Jharipani Fall – This spot is located about 8.5 kms from Mussoorie on the Mussoorie- Jharipani Road. Visitors can go by bus or by car to within 7 kms of Jharipani, from here the fall is 1.5 km, by foot.

Nag Devta Temple – This is an ancient temple dedicated to Lord Shiva, situated on Cart Mackenjee road. It is about 6 kms from Mussoorie on the way to Dehradun. The temple is easily accessible with motorable roads. This place affords enchanting views of Mussoorie and Doon valley.

Sri Chamunda Peeth Temple – This temple setup in 1998 in the premises of Kashi Devasthanam, is an ideal venue for yoga, meditation rituals and religious practices. It incorporates the Shiva and Shakti temples as these mighty and majestic Himalayas are said to be the abode of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati.

Mall Road – The Mall Road is one of the most crowded places in Mussoorie. The structure of the road takes you back to the colonial period of The British. There are numerous restaurants, hotels and shops on this road. The Methodist church is situated on the Mall and is around 100 years old.

Lal Tibba – Lal Tibba is located in Landour area which is the oldest inhabited place in Mussoorie. Lal Tibba exemplifies the highest point in Mussoorie. There’s a 20 meter tall tower situated at the edge of the cliff. The tower has an old telescope. You can take a close look at the tempting Himalayan range from it.

Nag Tibba – Nag Tibba, is a trekker’s delight. It presents stunning views of the Bandarpoonch peak, the Gangotri group of peaks, the Kedarnath peak in the North, the Doon valley and the snow peaks of Chanabang. Nag Tibba which is also known as Serpent’s Peak, is the highest peak (3,022 m) in the Nag Tibba ranges of the Garhwal Himalayas. This range is said to be the abode of Nag Devta. The Nag Tibba trek takes you through dense mountainous forests, rich in flora and fauna. It is a 2-day trek from the base of the range to the top up to an altitude of just under 10,000 feet.

Jabarkhet Nature Reserve – This reserve is spread over 300 acres and is an unspoiled jungle just 5 kms from Landour Cantt. This privately owned nature reserve has approximately 50 species of ferns, 70 species of mushrooms, a wide inventory of flowers with orchids and medicinal plants, meadows and black berry bushes. Leopards and the endangered black bear have been spotted here – one bear with two cubs. Barking deer, goral, wild boar and porcupine have been caught on camera as well. However, these animals do not come in conflict with humans as they have plenty of food and water in the forest. The reserve is a community investment project, as the support staff is hired from the local villages.

Upper Chukkar – An old bridal trail, which circles the three summits of Landour ridge, is known as the Upper Chukkar. This part also remains the most secluded and beautiful area of town, with its cobbled paths and spectacular views of the snow clad Great Himalayas, dense Deodar forests, and peaceful slopes.

Sister’s Bazaar – Sisters Bazaar is a small market with only three shops – a bakery, a grocery shop and a handicraft shop. But your visit to Landour is not complete without a visit here. Stop here for homemade peanut butter, jam & cheese or simply a cup of coffee.

Chaar Dukaan – Chaar-Dukaan are four shops which stand next to St. Paul’s Church. This spot is the proverbial village square. Chaar-Dukan is a laidback place where you can enjoy culinary delights like hot parathas, bun omelets, pizzas, pastas, noodles, pancakes, different kinds of juices, aromatic tea and coffee. Bask in the sun and enjoy the crispy breeze.

Landour bazar – One can find woollens and antiques in the Landour Bazar. Not to be missed are the custom made shoes available here.

Himalayan Weavers – Located on the Mussoorie Dhanaulti Road is ‘Himalayan Weavers’ which produces hand-woven shawls, stoles, scarves and throws using only natural dyes and wool, eri silk and pashmina. Their aim is to produce high quality handloom products, popularize the use of environmentally friendly natural dyes and provide a market for craft products made in the Himalayan region, thereby generating local employment. Located only 8 km away, a day excursion can be organized.

Pari Tibba – This hill top has a multitude of sulphur deposits. When lightning strikes, from a distance, it looks as if sparks are coming off a witch’s wand. That’s why it’s called ‘The Hill of the Fairies’ or ‘Witches’ Hill’. Pari Tibba stands on the Eastern flank of Mussoorie and is surrounded by thick Oak and Deodar forests. Walking this circuit in April is particularly special, with Rhododendrons in bloom and the Oak in purple new leaf. From October onwards, you get a front seat view of the spectacular Mussoorie winter line.

The Benog Wildlife Sanctuary – This haven lies on the outer most ridge of the Himalayas, 2,150 m to 2,800 m above sea level. Set up in 1993 and known as much for the Kempty falls as for its widlife, this sanctuary lies within the catchments of the Aglar River, a tributary of the Yamuna. The sanctuary was set up primarily with the objective of protecting the area’s dwindling bird population and diversity, especially the Himalayan pheasant and the Monal (the state bird of Uttarakhand) which are becoming rare. The white crested Kaleej pheasant, snow partridge, bush quail, blue rock pigeon, fire tailed sun bird, and the whistling thrush are some of the other birds found her. The now extinct mountain quail was last sighted in the Binog forests in 1986.

Bhadraj Forest – Bhadraj is situated at the extreme Western end of Mussoorie. The trekking trail of Bhadraj forest and temple leads you through the densely forested northern slopes and southern slopes which are covered with barren grasslands. You pass through extremely contrasting terrain. On one side, the majestic Himalaya overlooks the trail, and on the other side Indian plains emerge. Bhadraj Temple is dedicated to Lord Bal Bhadra, brother of Lord Krishna. The summit provides a panoramic view of the Doon valley, Himalayan peaks, Shivalik ranges, Dakpather and Asan Barrage. The Chakrata ranges and Jaunsar Bawar areas can also be seen from here. Every year a three day fair is held at Bhadraj temple starting from 15th August to 17th August.

Kellogg’s Memorial Church – a Presbyterian church that was built in 1903. The church was named after Rev. Dr. Samuel H. Kellogg. He ran the Landour Language School where the British were taught Hindi. The grey stone building with its interesting Gothic design and stained glass windows is an important attraction of Mussoorie.

Private Wildlife Estate – The private 400 acre Wild Life Estate is home to an exquisite variety of plants, birds and animals such as Pheasants, Leopard, Himalayan Black Bear, Barking Deer, Mountain Goat, etc. Over 104 species of fauna and 44 species of flora. Could be the last home of the elusive Mountain Quail.