Several travellers from Delhi say the pleasant weather was the biggest reason they chose to visit Mussoorie this weekend. As a strong heatwave grips parts of North India, especially the capital, many people are heading to the hills for relief from the rising temperatures.
Mussoorie, one of Uttarakhand’s most popular hill stations, is seeing a noticeable rise in visitors from Delhi and nearby areas as the heat in the plains becomes increasingly difficult to handle.
On April 25, 2026, Delhi recorded 42.8°C — its hottest day of the year so far. With temperatures expected to remain high, authorities have issued a yellow alert and activated a heatwave action plan to reduce health risks.
Videos shared by ANI on April 26 showed a steady flow of vehicles on the Dehradun-Mussoorie route. While traffic heading uphill has clearly increased, there were no signs of major jams in the footage.
Expressway Boosts Weekend Travel
Improved road connectivity has also helped increase tourist movement toward Uttarakhand. The Delhi-Dehradun Expressway has made road trips to Mussoorie and nearby destinations faster and more convenient.
The approximately 210-kilometre expressway has cut travel time between Delhi and Dehradun from around 6.5 hours to nearly 2.5 hours. This means travellers can now reach Mussoorie in roughly 3.5 to 4 hours, making it a practical choice for weekend getaways.
However, some travellers say delays still continue after entering Dehradun city. Social media users noted that while the Delhi-to-Dehradun journey is now much quicker, traffic inside Dehradun can still add close to two more hours to the trip.
Dehradun Bypass Under Construction
To ease congestion, the National Highways Authority of India is building a 12-kilometre, four-lane access-controlled bypass around Dehradun. The new route is expected to improve traffic flow and reduce pressure inside the city.
The bypass will connect Jhajhra to the Paonta Sahib-Ballupur stretch of National Highway 7 and link with the Delhi-Dehradun corridor near Asharori check post. Built at an estimated cost of ₹716 crore, the project has reached around 44 per cent completion and is expected to be ready by April 2027.
Once completed, it is expected to divert non-essential traffic away from Dehradun city, reduce pollution, and improve connectivity to areas such as Selaqui, Vikasnagar, Herbertpur and Paonta Sahib.
For now, as temperatures continue to rise in Delhi, Mussoorie and other hill destinations in Uttarakhand are likely to stay crowded with tourists looking for cooler weather and a quick escape from the summer heat.
