Magical mountains

Mar 16, 2012 - Dhawal Trivedi |

Age Correspondent

Last year I was planning my Christmas vacation to Mussoorie and around. I had been to Mussoorie a few times and I had this feeling that Mussoorie is going to be a tad too crowded for my liking. So, I searched for a nearby excursion which could give me breathtaking views of nature’s magic as well as some much needed peace and silence. Thereon, I came to know about Dhanaulti.
At about 325 kms from Delhi and 24 km from the popular hill station of Mussoorie, Dhanaulti is a hill station that is located in the Indian state of Uttarakhand at an altitude of 2,286 metres above sea level. The town of Dhanaulti is located in the Tehri Garhwal district and this place can be an ideal setting for your summer vacation if what you’re looking for is a tranquil and serene place where you can connect with nature.
The main tourist attraction of Dhanaulti is the Eco Park. It houses a protected patch of small forest containing Deodar trees. Mussoorie Forest Department is running Eco-huts for tourists to come and enjoy the serene landscapes of Dhanaulti. Aloo Khet, a potato farm, is also a popular sunrise viewpoint.
Go horseback riding in the forest or take a pleasant walk among the Deodar trees. Explore Dhanaulti and nearby places on foot by choosing any of the incredible trekking trails here. The most popular trails take you to Surkanda Devi, Chandrabadni and Kunjapuri temples.
The place is quite small and you won’t find a lot of variety as far as accommodation is concerned. There’s GMVN Tourist Bungalow, Forest Rest House, Dhanaulty Breeze hotel. A couple of guest houses also offer good accommodation. I stayed at Camp Carnival Kanatal. Camp Carnival is located almost on a hill top from where you can have a 360 degree view. Camps are pitched in the midst of deep forests of oaks.
Those who love adventure sports can opt for rock climbing, rappelling, valley crossing, burma bridge, zig-zag bars, tarzan swing, commando net, under drum, monkey crawling, parallel rope, jumaring and spider web.
Dehradun is the nearest railway station, and this station has regular trains from all around the country. Dhanaulti has a major bus station, and many buses run to this place from the cities of Dehradun, Mussoorie, Haridwar, Rishikesh, Roorkee and Nainital.
Buses from major cities like Chandigarh and Delhi ply to Mussoorie, from where buses to Dhanaulti can be easily availed. Bus fares from Delhi will cost around `450 for the basic mode of travel, and air conditioned buses will charge around `625.

The writer is a travel enthusiast

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