Mussoorie, India

By Betsy Burlingame

Last updated on Sep 17, 2022

Summary: Expats, digital nomads and retirees talk about what it is really like living in Mussoorie, India. They offer advice about meeting people, cost of living, finding a home and more.

What do I need to know before moving to Mussoorie?

When we asked people what advice they would give someone preparing to move to Mussoorie, they said:

"Mussoorie is a hill station--and because of that, most directions include "up from" or "down past", and they're meant in the vertical sense. Be ready and able to walk, or get yourself a driver's license for a car, motorbike or scooter if you're not going to want to walk. Except for the monsoon, the climate is pretty mild. You can buy just about everything you'll need here or down the mountain in Dehradun, so pack your personal sentimental things - furniture, clothing, pots and pans, etc. are all readily available," explained one expat living in Mussoorie.

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How do I find a place to live in Mussoorie?

We asked expats how they chose their neighborhood and found a place to live. They answered:

"We had a residence provided for us, however there are *lots* of real estate agents in town," remarked another in Mussoorie.

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What is a typical expat home or apartment like in Mussoorie?

"We live in an apartment that is part of an older house. Many expats in the area seem to do something similar, renting from locals or residing in guesthouses, long term," explained one expat.

What should I bring when moving to Mussoorie?

People living in Mussoorie were asked what three things they wish they had brought and three they wish they had left behind. They wrote:

"Three things I wish I had brought: a good pair of winter slippers, because houses here are uninsulated, so the winters can be cooler inside than out; another set of good kitchen knives, since ones we have found here are not of very good quality; another pair of indestructible sandals from some of the big name brands, since here you can get cheap sandals custom-made...but they also require resoling, and have no arch support! Thee things I wish I had left at home: electric blanket, because even despite a transformer & converter, it still blew and now the fancy function doesn't work; our queen-size fitted sheets that we were told to bring, because you can't get fitted sheets here--only to find out that 'queen size' is really closer to king, it being two single beds pushed together; my winter coats, because you can manage just fine with a sweater and t-shirt, silk underwear and normal clothes, and so on - winter coats are a waste of space and it's not cold enough," said another expat in Mussoorie.

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What do expats in Mussoorie appreciate most about the local culture?

"There is a cheerful religious freedom that I have never seen anywhere else - Sikh gudwaras next to Muslim mosques, Buddhist temples, Christian churches, Hindu temples. The variety of food, particularly vegetable-based, is great: even if you're not vegetarian, it's worth trying and usually tastes better than the meat dishes," said another expat in Mussoorie.

What do expats find most challenging?

"The status of women - despite equality being spoken about, it's clearly not reached everywhere and every strata of the society. I've been harassed in Delhi and here in Mussoorie, and the fact that as a white woman I'm stereotyped, and thus don't feel safe walking alone, is awkward. Wearing local clothes and speaking some Hindi helps, but not always enough," said another expat in Mussoorie.

What are the schools in Mussoorie like?

"Provided you are happy with the idea of a boarding school, Woodstock is a good choice. Residences are well-staffed and students are well cared-for. Academic standards are high, and almost all graduates obtain places in further education in the US, UK and elsewhere," remarked another parent with kids at Woodstock School in Mussoorie.

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