Introduction:

Dhanaulti is a hill station at the base of the Garhwal Himalayan range, 24 kilometers from Mussoorie.

Dhanaulti, located in Uttaranchal’s Garhwal Himalayas, is a place of calmness and tranquillity and is situated about 25 kilometres from Mussoorie on the Mussoorie-Chamba road. Dhanaulti is surrounded by a dense forest of deodar, rhododendron, and oak trees. The tranquillity and peace that is there in the Dhanaulti Hills are one of the most popular attractions in the travel and tourism business. The hill resort of Dhanaulti is recognised for its cool air, mild sunlight, and moderate temperatures, which provide for a pleasant climate.

It’s breathtaking to see the peak covered with the sun and shrouded in the foggy mist. So, if you’re looking for a way to escape the monotony of everyday life, book a trip to this wonderful destination.

Location and Climate:

Dhanaulti is located in Uttrakhand’s Tehri Garhwal District. This little town is situated on the Chamba-Mussoorie highway. It’s almost in the middle. Mussoorie is 24 kilometres away, and Chamba is 34 kilometres away. It takes almost 8-9 hours to travel from Delhi NCR.

 

 

• How to reach:

Because Dhanaulti is a small town, it does not have an airport. Tourists arriving at Dehradun’s Jolly Grant Airport can take a taxi or bus to Dhanaulti, which is only 86 kilometres away. This airport has regular flights to Delhi, Bangalore, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Chennai, Trivandrum, and Lucknow. The primary airlines that fly these routes are Air India, IndiGo, Jet Airways, and SpiceJet. Tourists from all over the world, as well as those from India, can fly into the airport and connect to the country’s major cities.

The distance between Delhi and Dhantualti is around 288 kilometres, with a driving time of 8 to 9 hours.

Dhanaulti by flight:

If you arrive by plane in Dhanaulti, you must fly to Jolly Grant airport, which is around 83 kilometres away. There is no airport in Dhanaulti. It has decent road connectivity because it is located on Chamba-Mussoorie road. This location is easily accessible by taxi from Jolly Grant.

Dhanaulti by Train:

Dehradoon and Rishikesh, the nearest railway stations to Dhanauti, are generally connected to larger places in India. Rishikesh railway station is around 83 kilometres away, and Dehradoon railway station is approximately 60 kilometres away. You can either call a cab or take a local bus or a shared ride from there. Taxis are also available, but you will have to wait a while.

Dhanaulti by road:

The whole distance from Delhi is roughly 280 km, and it’s a smooth trip of around 8 hours to get to Dhanaulti. The road is in excellent condition, with no potholes to be found. The route we took is shown below. There are two paths that you can use to get to this location. To go to Dhanaulti, we used route 1:

Route 1:Delhi-Meerut-Roorkee-Haridwar-Rishikesh-Chamba-Kanatal-Dhanaulti

Route2: Delhi-Meerut-Roorkee-Chutmalpur-Dehradoon-Mussoorie-Dhanaulti

 

Best time to visit:

Dhanaulti is a one-of-a-kind hill station in Uttarakhand.

The months of May and June are ideal for visiting this location.

It is always recommended that hill stations be avoided in the rainy season since the roads are slippery and there is a risk of landslides.

If you enjoy winter, you can visit this location, but be aware that it will be a harsh experience for you as temperatures drop to zero degrees and it is incredibly cold.

Where to stay:

Dhanaulti is a very small place and lies between Kanatal and Mussoorie. So practically this place is less than 2-3 km area. There are not very good properties here as compared to Mussorie but still, you can get some decent resorts here.I have mentioned some of the best ones which are there:
Glamwoord Resort
Groove Garden
The Hillside cottages

What to eat and where to Eat

Because Dhanaulti is such a small town, there are no major restaurants save the hotel where you will be staying. Here are a few basic but nice eateries to consider:

Mehfil restaurant

It is well-known for its non-vegetarian cuisine. You should try sitting on their rooftop. Winters are chilly there, thus it is not recommended. Their phone number is 076174 70376 and their address is Chamba Mussoorie Road.

Hillview Restaurant:

It’s a simple hotel, but the cleanliness and facilities are enough. The view of the valley is the icing on the cake. Their north Indian cuisine is excellent. Rates are a little higher than other places in Dhanaulti, but the quality is good.

Into The Wild Stays:

9761966485 is the phone number for Into The Wild Stays. This is one of the best places in Dhanutiti to eat and have a good time. Overall, the ambience is excellent.

What to buy

 Dhanaulti, being a small town, does not have much in the way of tourist shopping. You may buy Buransh Juice from here, which is something I can suggest. Taste-wise, it’s good, and this is something that Uttarakhand is known for. Furthermore, if you visit the local market, you will find a limited selection of souvenirs and woollen clothing. However, it is not recommended that you go shopping here because you will not be able to locate good selections.

Also if you take 1-day tour to Mussoorie you will find n number of options to buy from there.

 Activities:

Camping In Puskar

Surkanda Devi Temple:

Surkanda Devi is a Hindu temple in Uttarakhand, India, near Kanatal. It is located at an altitude of around 2756 metres, close to the surrounding hill stations of Dhanaulti 8 km and Chamba 22 KM, and is about 3 km walking distance from Kaddukhal.

It is surrounded by deep forests and provides a picturesque view of the surrounding region, which includes the Himalayas to the north and several cities to the south (e.g., Dehradun, Rishikesh) Every year between May and June, the Ganga Dusshera celebration attracts a large number of people. This is a temple surrounded by trees. Most of the year, it is covered in fog.

The location is best approached from the southwest via Dehradun, however, it is a popular day-trip for Mussoorie and Landour visitors. It is situated on a hill and is accessible by a hard 3 km hike from the village of Kaddukhal on the Dhanaulti-Chamba route. About 33 kilometres and 57 minutes from Mussoorie’s Mall Road.

Location: Chamba – Mussoorie Road, Saklana Range, Uttarakhand 249145, India
Timings: Summer:05:00 am to 07.00 pm
Winter:07:00 am to 05.00 pm
Nearest Railway Station: • Nearly 67 kilometres from Surkanda DeviTemple lies the Dehradun Railway Station.
Nearest Airport: Jolly Grant airport of Dehradun at a distance of nearly 97 kilometres from Surkanda Devi Temple.
Important festival:Ganga Dussera and Navratri.
Primary deity: Goddess Durga.

Did you know:  Surkanda Devi Temple is one of the 51 Shakti Peeth.

Eco Parks:

Eco Parks have been recently created twin parks in Dhanaulti, Uttarakhand, approximately 500 metres from Dhanaulti Bus Station. It is one of the most frequented tourist attractions in Dhanaulti as part of Mussoorie Tour Packages and is located on the Chamba-Mussoorie road. Eco Park is separated into two sections, Amber and Dhara, which are 200 metres apart and cover a total area of 13 hectares. Both gardens were created and maintained by the Forest Department with the assistance of local kids in order to provide jobs for the needy. These gardens, which are densely forested with deodar and cedar trees, are ideal for easy strolls and short walks.

The entire area, which is located at a height of 7800 metres above sea level, is made up of a protected population of deodar trees with wildflower hedges. In the park, there is also a practice known as remembrance sapling plantation, as part of which one can plant a sapling in honour of a loved one. In the park, there are little open huts where visitors can sit and relax while taking in the scenery. The park is well-kept and is an excellent location for children to play, with a separate playground for them.

Eco Park is a fantastic site for daring travellers since it offers a variety of adventure activities, such as sky walking, flying fox, rock climbing, and more, to people of all ages, from children to seniors, with enhanced safety measures. There is also a yoga centre and an interpreting centre in the park. As a result, it’s a great area for nature lovers and adventurers alike to unwind and spend some time alone.

The greatest time to visit the park is around sunrise or sunset when the landscape is illuminated by the changing colours of the sky.
Timings: 9 AM – 5 PMEntry: Rs. 50 for Adults & Rs. 10 for Children

Potato Farm:

Potato Farm, located 2 kilometres from Dhanaulti Bus Station, is a farm adjacent to Dhanaulti’s major market. It is one of Dhanaulti’s most popular tourist attractions.

The farm, known locally as ‘Aloo Khet,’ is spread across broad swaths of land controlled by the Uttarakhand government and some private farmers. In a different way, this vast farmland with tiered potato farming is a fantastic tourist attraction in Dhanaulti. Potatoes are produced in large quantities and are shipped to numerous locations outside of Uttarakhand. The Indian government’s effort to alleviate the farmer’s growing pains has evolved over time into a genuinely stunning vista, which combines terraced cultivation with the backdrop of the Himalayas.

Sunsets at the famed Potato Farm are very well-known. A panoramic picture of the Doon Valley is also available. Tourists can have a pleasant stroll over the fields’ beautiful meadows. Tourists can also hire horses to explore this beautiful location.             

Timings: 9 AM – 5 PM
               Entry: Rs. 25 for Adults & Rs. 10 for Children

Camp Thangdhar

Camp Thangdhar is located in the Mussorie Hills at an elevation of 8500 feet, 15 kilometres from Dhanaulti and 14 kilometres from Chamba. Tehri Dam is 35 kilometres from the campsite. Thangdhar Camp, located 14 kilometres from Dhanaulti’s major market, is by far the best adventure camp in the area. The camp, which is located at an elevation of around 8300 feet and is surrounded by pine and deodar trees, also graciously provides sightseeing services to nearby tourist spots. If you’re looking for a rush, try rock climbing, snow camping, trekking, or mountain biking, which are all available at the camp.

The temples, which are located in the Kanali Fort and overlook the Betwa River, provide a well-deserved break from the journey. The beautiful and mesmerising surroundings, as well as the camp life, will let you feel the joy and pleasure of resting in Mother Nature’s lap, and it is also the highest destination closest to Delhi, India’s capital.

The location is practically ideal for an adventurous vacation filled with rock climbing, abseiling, jumaring, trekking, and snow walks, or a peaceful romantic moment with that special someone will undoubtedly be a once in a lifetime experience. Nature and the Himalayan charm are at their most enthralling and unspoiled. Relax in this nature camp, which is located at an elevation of 8300 feet above sea level. And for the brave hearts, we have some fantastic Action Packed Adventure Sports prepared that will ensure you have a good time.

Kanatal Adventure Camp:

One of the nicest camping spots in the vicinity is Kanatal Adventure Camp. The camp also organises bonfires, buffet lunches, attached washrooms in tents, indoor-outdoor games, and barbeque nights, among other activities such as Burma bridge, valley crossing, paintball, and jet skiing.

Dhanaulti Adventure Park:

Dhanaulti has two eco-parks, Amber and Dhara, which are around 200 metres apart. They were produced by the Uttarakhand Forest Department. It has a tiny forest with Deodar trees that is protected. Visitors can walk over the flying fox and Burma bridges, as well as ride horses, as part of the adventure sports facilities. There is also a facility for guests to plant a seedling of a tree species in the memory of a loved one, referred to as a memory sapling plantation.

Tehri Dam:

Tehri Dam is a multi-purpose rock and earth-fill embankment dam at Tehri in Uttarakhand, located 50 kilometres from Dhanaulti. It is India’s tallest dam and one of Dhanaulti’s most prominent tourist attractions.

Tehri Dam, also known as Tehri Dam Reservoir, is India’s and the world’s tallest dam, standing at 260 metres. The Tehri dam, which spans the Bhagirathi River, was completed in 2006 and provides water for energy generating, agriculture, and drinking. It was meant to counterbalance 150 years of sedimentation and has a sediment trap efficacy of 95%. The dam is approximately 575 metres long, with a crest width of 20 metres and a base width of 1,128 metres. The dam generates a 4.0 cubic km reservoir with a surface area of 52 square kilometres and a capacity of 3,200,000 acre-feet. It is the world’s largest hydroelectrical project, supplying over 1,000 MW of power and pulling water from two major rivers.

With stunning views of the hills in the background and pure waterways in front, the dam is a breathtaking and magnificent sight. During the rainy season, tourists and locals throng to this dam to see the spectacular view of the dam’s overflowing water through the spillways. Tourists interested in boating, jet skiing, water zorbing, and rafting go to the dam reservoir, also known as Tehri Lake.
                       Timings: 9 AM – 6 PM
                        Entry: Free

Apple Orchard Resort:

The resort is encircled by a great apple orchard and is set amid stunning vistas of jungle and mountains, filled with wildlife and bathed in clouds and bright sunshine. Throughout the year, it enjoys an excellent view of the magnificent Himalayan Mountain Ranges.

The Royal Family of TEHRI GARHWAL owns this property, which was originally used as a royal hunting lodge.

Mussoorie is 24 kilometres away from the Apple Orchard Resort. It is conveniently positioned at an altitude of 2286 metres on the Mussoorie – Chamba Road. Buraskhanda gives a stunning view of the Himalayan Ranges while passing through a pine and deodar forest on the approach to the resort.

Vista point, which is close by, boasts a mountain view of the Himalayan mountains on one side and the famous Doon valley on the other. Only 200 metres from the resort lies the state forest department’s eco-park garden. The water spring (Bhavru ka Khala) lies 1.5 kilometres from the road and provides a spectacular view of the waterfall.

Choose from Resort Dining on your balcony, the cosy confines of the terrace, or the exquisite cuisine produced by our in-house chef at the Glass House restaurant.

Atm and petrol pumps:

There are no ATMs or fuel pumps in Dhantaulati because it is such a small town. There is a business that sells gasoline, however, the surety is missing. The nearest pumps are in Chamba or Mussoorie.