Kanatal and Dhanaulti are two small hamlets between Mussoorie and Chamba that offer dense deodar forests, snow views, and genuine quiet — without the tourist crowds of larger hill stations.
Kanatal (8,500 feet) and Dhanaulti (7,500 feet) sit on the Mussoorie–Chamba road in Tehri Garhwal. Both are tiny — Kanatal is barely a village — but the deodar cedar forests are extraordinary, the Himalayan views rival anywhere in Uttarakhand, and the tourist density is a fraction of Mussoorie.
Getting There
Dehradun to Dhanaulti: 62 km, approximately 2 hours. Mussoorie to Dhanaulti: 29 km, 1 hour. Kanatal is 12 km further from Dhanaulti on the same road. Delhi to Dhanaulti: 340 km, 7.5 hours.
Dhanaulti Eco Park
The Eco Park is a 3 km walking area through dense deodar forest. Snow views of Gangotri and Bandarpunch peaks on clear days. Simple, peaceful, free of commercialisation.
Surkanda Devi Temple
6 km from Kanatal, a 2 km trek leads to a hilltop Durga temple at 2,757m. One of the finest viewpoints in Garhwal — on clear days, the entire Himalayan arc from Yamuna to Kedarnath is visible.
Best Time
October–November for autumn colours and clear views. December–February for snowfall. March–April for rhododendron blooms. Avoid July–August monsoon (fog and slippery roads).