Landour

Landour is a cantonment town sitting above Mussoorie at more than 7,000 feet. The British laid it out for the British Indian Army, and its name comes from Llanddowror, a village in southwest Wales. Its first sanatorium, built in 1827, is now used by DRDO, and the first house, Mullingar, was put up by Captain Frederick Young, who led the first battalion of Gurkhas that the British raised. Colonial-era churches add to its European look.

Most visitors gather at two spots. Lal Tibba has a telescope point, snack stalls and a Savoy café facing the mountains. Char Dukan, beside St Paul's Church, began as four shops serving snacks and drinks; more have opened since, but the name stuck. Ruskin Bond's house lies on the road up from Mussoorie.