Fair
Mussoorie in December
Uttarakhand, India
December Mussoorie is a snow gamble wrapped in Christmas packaging. Early December (1-20) is a cold, grey continuation of November: 3-7Β°C days, near-freezing nights, and sparse visitors. Then Christmas week transforms the town. Delhi weekenders pour in β 25,000-35,000 over the holiday stretch β hotel rates triple, and Mall Road gets its only winter buzz. Snowfall odds are 25-35% for any given December week. When it hits, Mall Road under fresh snow with colonial-era lampposts is one of North India's most photographed scenes.
The December story
The December calculation depends entirely on your flexibility. If you can monitor weather forecasts and drive up from Dehradun (50 minutes) when snow is predicted within 24 hours, December Mussoorie is spectacular: fresh powder on the ridge, deodar branches heavy with white, and Lal Tibba looking out over a fully white Himalayan panorama. The Landour walk after snowfall β crunching through fresh snow on the path to Sisters Bazaar with smoke rising from cottage chimneys β is a scene from a different century. But if snow does not fall during your visit, you get an expensive, grey, cold version of November with Christmas lights as compensation. Mall Road's Christmas week has fairy lights, live music at a few hotels, bonfire evenings, and overpriced hot chocolate at every second stall. New Year's Eve draws a young Dehradun-Delhi crowd and the party runs until 1-2 AM around Kulri Bazaar. The Dehradun road can ice over after sunset on snow days β carry chains or leave before 4 PM. Dhanaulti (30 km away, 2,250m) gets heavier, more reliable snow than Mussoorie proper and is worth the detour.
Why December scores 3/5
Weather
December Mussoorie is a snow gamble wrapped in Christmas packaging.
Roads & Access
Safety & Emergency
Safety: 4/5. rescue: SDRF Uttarakhand (1070). helpline: Tourist helpline: 1364. ambulance: 108. police station: Mussoorie Police Station (0135-2632083). nearest hospital: Mussoorie Government Hospital (0135-2632040)
Network
JIO: Yes, BSNL: Yes, AIRTEL: Yes
Kids
Kid-friendly (4/5) β
Elevation
2,005m β Moderate altitude
Who should go
- βFirst-time travelers
- βSenior citizens
- βSnow hunters with flexible dates who can commit when forecasts confirm snowfall
- βChristmas and New Year celebrators wanting a cold-weather mountain party atmosphere
- βDhanaulti-bound travelers using Mussoorie as a base for more reliable snow
- βCouples wanting the bonfire-and-snow romantic clichΓ© β December delivers it when conditions align
Who should think twice
- βBudget travelers during Christmas week β rates triple and availability vanishes
- βFamilies with children under 5 β sub-zero wind chill at night is harsh on young kids
- βVisitors who need guaranteed snow β odds are against you on any specific date
- βDrivers without hill-road winter experience β black ice above Library Chowk is dangerous after dark
All 12 Months
| Month | Score | Note |
|---|---|---|
| January | 3/5 | January Mussoorie is bone-cold and nearly deserted. |
| February | 3/5 | February is January with slightly better odds. |
| March | 4/5 | March is Mussoorie waking from hibernation. |
| April | 5/5 | April in Mussoorie is warm, clear, and increasingly busy. |
| May | 2/5 | β |
| June | 2/5 | β |
| July | 2/5 | β |
| August | 2/5 | β |
| September | 4/5 | September is monsoon's slow retreat from Mussoorie. |
| October | 5/5 | October is Mussoorie's finest month. Monsoon is done. |
| November | 4/5 | November is Mussoorie powering down for winter. |
| Decemberviewing | 3/5 | December Mussoorie is a snow gamble wrapped in Christmas packaging. |
Practical Details
How to reach
Contact local transport
Elevation
2,005m
Difficulty
easy
Budget tier
mixed
Nearby in Uttarakhand scoring high in December
The Window β every Sunday
Best score this week, the honest skip, road intel, and what changed. Free. No spam.
One email per Sunday. Unsubscribe anytime.