Update: Landour is home to charming old houses and estates, often named after the native places of their builders and residents. Notably, Captain Young's Mullingar Mansion stands as Mussoorie's oldest existing building. During the British Raj, many settlers chose nostalgic names reflecting their English, Scottish, Welsh, or Irish heritage, even extending this practice to towns they established. Names inspired by literary figures, like Robert Burns, Sir Walter Scott, Thomas Hardy, and Robert Louis Stevenson, were also common. 
English settlers often named their homes after castles, with examples like Connaught Castle, Grey Castle, and Hampton Court. For a time, The Castle Hill served as a residence for the young Sikh prince, Dalip Singh, before his permanent relocation to England. The Irish also made their mark, naming their homes after familiar places, with residences like Tipperary, Killarnock, Shamrock Cottage, and Tara Hall. The line "The harp that once in Tara's Halls" resonates here, as there’s a Tara Hall in Simla, the old summer capital of India. These historical names reflect a tapestry of cultural influences that enrich Landour’s character.

The Scots played a significant role as pioneers in Mussoorie, skillfully relating the Himalayan landscape to their own homeland. They identified local hills and meadows with terms like glens (valleys), braes (slopes), and burns (streams), naming their houses Scottsburn, Wolfsburn, and Redburn. Interestingly, over a dozen house names in the area begin with 'Glen,' although there are no mountain streams nearby, aside from the distant Kempty Falls, suggesting that the naming might have been more sentimental than geographical.

Sir Walter Scott emerged as a popular author among the British expatriates, evident in the way his literary works influenced the names of residences in Landour and Mussoorie. Many homes echo themes from his novels and romances, with names like Kenilworth, Ivanhoe, and Woodstock (which later became an American mission school), along with Rokeby, Waverley, and The Monastery. Abbotsford, named in tribute to Scott's own estate in England, further highlights his impact on the cultural landscape of the area.

This blend of Scottish influence and literary homage creates a rich tapestry of history and nostalgia, making Landour and Mussoorie uniquely charming. Today, many of the charming old houses and estates in Mussoorie and Landour are owned by astute Indians, who often embrace lifestyles reminiscent of their former colonial residents. This respect for history is reflected in the retention of many original names, preserving the nostalgic charm of the area.

Mussoorie and Landour have been home to several renowned authors and personalities. Notable figures include Ruskin Bond, known for his evocative storytelling, and Vishal Bharadwaj, a celebrated filmmaker. Media personality Prannoy Roy, cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar, and writers like Stephen Alter and Ganesh Saili have also made their mark here. 

Additional notable residents include Bill Aitken, known for his travel writing, and Gopal Bharadwaj, as well as renowned author Anita Desai. The legacies of the late Mr. Tom Alter and the iconic Shri Dev Anand continue to inspire many. This constellation of literary and cultural figures adds a vibrant dimension to the historical landscape of Mussoorie and Landour, making it a unique blend of history, nostalgia, and contemporary life.