Dhanaulti Rocks
Dhanaulti is a one street Himalayan hideaway snuggled in the embrace of the surrounding mountains which are draped with aromatic pine forests and fruit orchards.
It is also an important stop on the pilgrim trail in India. Devotees on the char dham circuit of Badrinath, Kedarnath, Gangotri and Yamnotri use this little outpost town, 6,000 ft above sea level, as a base to visit Surkanda Devi temple, a short drive further down the trail.
Map of Dhanaulti
Dhanaulti falls in east central Uttarkhand in the Garwal region of the state. It lies 28 km to the east of the popular hill station Mussoorie and 59 km north of the Dehradun, the state capital.
Why Dhanaulti
Here is a lazy Himalayan retreat where you can get away from civilization and chill out. And definitely include it in your itinerary should you be on a Garwal tourist circuit.
What to see and do in Dhanaulti:
Embrace Nature… decked out in her finest robes: a sea of terraced fields sweeping like waves up the mountains; the blush of rhododendrons; dense pine forests… It’s the ideal place to go on rambling walks and gaze out at the snow capped Himalayan peaks which etch the far horizon.
Local Languages:
Hindi and English
Best time to visit:
April to July. Located at 6,000 ft above sea level in the foothill of the Himalayas, Dhanaulti is an ideal getaway from the summer heat in the plains.
During the monsoon months (July – September) Dhanaulti takes on a magical mood as the mountains and forests around it are draped in mist.
Winter means snow and temperatures ranging from -1*C to 8*C. Getting here during this time of the year can prove a problem as the mountain roads are treacherous.
Travel to Dhanaulti
AIR:
The nearest airport is Jolly Grant (82 km) outside Dehradun
RAIL:
The nearest station is at Dehradun (59 km)
ROAD:
Distances from major cities in the region:
- Delhi 323kms
- Rishikesh 84kms
- Haridwar to Dhanaulti – 107kms
- Dehradun 59kms
- Tehri 44kms
- Mussoorie 28kms
- Chamba 27kms
Excursions from Dhanaulti:
NOTE: Dhanaulti is not exactly the ideal base for excursions in the region as the twisting mountain roads are narrow and uneven. It is however, a recommended stop on the Garwal tourist circuit which would include the pilgrim towns of Rishikesh and Haridwar; Dehradun, the district capital; the planned mountain city of New Tehri; Mussoorie, once the summer retreat of the British, and the apple orchards of Chamba
SURKANDA DEVI TEMPLE 3 km
Once you get to the base of the mountain on which the shrine is locate you trek another 3 km to an altitude of 9,000 ft to the temple complex at the summit. It is believed that the head of Goddess Sati fell here which makes it particularly holy. And though it is relatively ordinary when compared to more elaborate shrines around the country, few however, could match its setting. For the view of the snow draped Himalayas from up here is simply awesome especially as they served as the backdrop to the shrines in which the gods are enthroned.
Hotels in Dhanaulti
The little hill station has a number of small hotels, lodges and restaurants including a tourist complex run by the Garhwal Mandal Vikas Nigam, an arm of Uttaranchal Tourism
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Coorg Travel Packages:
Helpful Tips
- Carry light woolens even in summer as the evenings and morning can be chilly.
- A good pair of trekking shoes is a must as there are quite a few trekking trails in the region.