Plan your trip · Mussoorie
What's on in Mussoorie
Mussoorie's calendar follows its holiday crowds more than any single festival. The biggest event is the Winterline Carnival at the end of the year.
Nothing dated is confirmed for Mussoorie right now, so here is the year instead — the fixtures that come round annually, and what each one means for a visit.
The year in Mussoorie
Mussoorie's calendar runs through most of the year, with the busiest weeks in the clear, comfortable months and a quieter stretch in the heaviest rain. Broadly, Oct – Mar and Apr – Jun is when visiting is most comfortable here, and that is when the calendar is busiest — which also means accommodation is most expensive and books furthest ahead.
Most of these follow lunar calendars and move by weeks from year to year, so treat the windows below as the season rather than the date, and confirm the year’s dates before you book around one.
Nationwide
Diwali
🗓️ October–NovemberThe biggest holiday of the year — lamps, sweets, fireworks and a week of visiting family. Cities are lit up and markets stay open late.
Holi
🗓️ MarchColoured powder and water, thrown at anyone within reach, mostly through the morning.
Navratri and Dussehra
🗓️ September–OctoberNine nights of fasting, music and dance, ending with Dussehra. What it looks like changes completely by region — garba in Gujarat, pandals in Bengal, processions in the south.
Eid al-Fitr
🗓️ shifts ~11 days earlier each yearThe end of Ramadan. The old quarters of Delhi, Hyderabad, Lucknow and Bhopal are at their best in the evenings through the preceding month, when food streets run past midnight.
Makar Sankranti and Pongal
🗓️ mid-JanuaryThe harvest turn, marked with kites in the west and north and four days of Pongal in Tamil Nadu.
Winterline Carnival: late December
The district holds the Winterline Carnival on the Mall in the last week of December, named after the band of colour that can appear on the horizon at sunset in winter. It usually runs for five or six days before New Year, with music, Garhwali folk dance, food stalls and parades. In 2025 it ran from 24 to 29 December. Entry has been free. Check the year's dates before you book.
Christmas and New Year
Mussoorie is one of the busiest places in north India for New Year's Eve. Hotels book out weeks ahead, and police bring in traffic diversions and parking plans on the Dehradun road. If you are coming for it, book early and plan to stay put once you arrive.
Diwali
Diwali, in October or November, brings lights to the Mall and a rush of weekend visitors from Delhi. It falls in one of the clearest seasons of the year.
Losar
The Tibetan New Year, usually in February or March, is marked by the Tibetan community in Happy Valley and in Landour. It is a family and religious festival; watch respectfully and ask before taking photos.
Summer holidays
From May to June, school holidays in the plains fill Mussoorie. It is not a festival, but it shapes the town more than any festival does. Expect crowded viewpoints, long queues at the Gun Hill ropeway and at Kempty Falls, and slow roads.
Monsoon fairs
Some hill temples around Mussoorie hold fairs in the rainy season, including one at Bhadraj. Dates follow the local calendar and roads can be difficult, so ask locally.
Planning around the calendar
For festivals and a lively Mall, come in late December. For calm and clear views, pick a weekday in October or November. The best time to visit page explains the seasons.
Questions
Mussoorie — FAQ
When is the Mussoorie Winterline Carnival?
Usually in the last week of December, ending just before New Year. In 2025 it ran from 24 to 29 December. Check the year's dates before booking.
Is Mussoorie good for New Year?
It is lively, but very crowded. Book your hotel early, expect traffic diversions, and do not plan to drive up on 31 December.
Are there Tibetan festivals in Mussoorie?
Yes. Losar, the Tibetan New Year, is marked in Happy Valley and Landour, usually in February or March.