Mussoorie to Haridwar 90 km by Road · 2.5-3 hours · Cab from ₹2,750

Short as it is, this journey changes character three times. Out of Haridwar the road runs north through the edge of the Rajaji forest to Raiwala and Doiwala, passing Jolly Grant airport, and elephants cross this section at dawn and dusk so we keep the speed down. Dehradun comes next, flat and green in its bowl of hills, and it is worth breaking on Rajpur Road for a proper meal, because from the top of Rajpur Road the climb starts and there is nothing but chai stalls until the ridge. The thirty-five kilometres up to Mussoorie are all hairpins and blind corners, so a good driver honks at every bend. The Doon Valley opens out below at each turn, and the viewpoint near the Picture Palace end is the one to stop at. In January and February there can be snow on the upper bends and the police hold cars at the bottom until it is cleared. From July to September the hillside sheds mud after heavy rain, so we check the road is open before leaving Haridwar.