The name Mussoorie is often attributed to a derivation of 'mansoor', a shrub which is indigenous to the area. The town is in fact often referred to as 'Mansoori' by locals.
It was due to the conquest of the Garhwal and the Dehra in 1803 by the Gurkhas, under Umer Singh Thapa that, indirectly, Mussoorie came into being. It was natural after that, that at some point of time the interest of British security would have clashed with the expansionist policies of the Gurkhas. The inevitable war, broke out on November 1, 1814, and Dehradun was evacuated of the Gurkhas by 1815 and was annexed to the district of Saharanpur by the British by 1819.
On the present site of the town of Mussoorie, before the British came, there were only shepherds whose animals grazed on the 'Mansur' shrub which gives the town its name. The first house erected on the ridge of Mussoorie was a small hut built on the Camel's back as a shooting box by Mr. Shore, the then Joint Magistrate and superintendent of revenues of the Doon, and Captain Young of the Sirmur Rifles in 1823. Soon Captain Young built his large residence called 'Mullingar' as his residence as the Commandant of Landour. The splendid climate and the good sport obtainable gradually attracted other Europeans. As the Doon and the hills to the north became better known in 1827, the Government established a convalescent depot for European soldiers at Landour. The town grew rapidly and, a hundred years on, it had grown into a major settlement of the home - sick British, away from the heat and dust of the plains. Social life had also become hectic. There were balls and parties in Landour cantonment and Polo, fetes and Riding in happy valley where the Charleville Hotel stood.
Mussoorie, as a hill station, was established only as back as in 1823, it has quite an intriguing past.
Mussoorie was never an official summer capital unlike Shimla - a hill station in the state of Himachal pradesh which was the summer capital of the British Indian government-and even unlike Nainital -the summer capital of the united provinces government in British India. Mussoorie always remained unofficial - for the affairs of the heart. It has always been a gossipy place - with an air of informality and a tradition of romance - The Honeymoon capital of India.
