Kanatal Uttrakhand

We never miss a vacation around new years’, this has become like a ritual for us. To bid goodbye to 2016, we decided to go on a road trip and explore the Garhwal Himalayas, plus it had been a long time since we visited hills during winters. Our itinerary was Gurgaon – Lansdowne - Rishikesh - Kanatal - Chamba/Tehri - Haridwar- Gurgaon.

This trip taught me that hills are always a better choice for road trips during winters. While the Northern Plains of India are choking with fog during winters all day long, the hills are basking in the bright sun! Also, as the hills are fog free, it is always a very safe and enjoyable drive.

Kanatal is a scenic village tucked away in the majestic Garhwal Himalayas. Thankfully not many people visit this place. This could be because it is located quite close to famous tourist spots like Mussoorie, Rishikesh etc. so most people would prefer the known spots over quiet places like Kanatal or Chamba. May Lord bless them for sparing such places for us solitude lovers!

Kanatal is around 350 km from Gurgaon but as we went there from Rishikesh, for us it was a 3 hour drive (around 80ish km).  We crossed Chamba to reach there, but decided to halt at Kanatal first and then come back to Chamba for the New Year’s Eve. We stayed at the Club Mahindra Resort in Kanatal which in itself is a little hamlet. We had left quite early from Rishikesh and reached our resort in the morning, super fresh from the amazing drive. It would snow anytime, we were told. Our 2 days in Kanatal were totally laid-back. It was very relaxing to stroll around the village and visit nearby places.We also came to know that Kanatal is emerging as a favorite camping spot.We did not know this prior to our trip, perhaps next time

I woke up very early in the morning. The room was warm and cozy. How would it feel to be outside, I thought to myself. With trembling hands I opened the balcony door. A chilly breeze numbed me – It felt as if an ice bucket was suddenly poured on my head. I shrieked and jumped. That was frenetic - I couldn't stop laughing. The sun had started to beam above the beautiful Garhwal peaks- It was a sight to behold. I closed my eyes, trying to capture that moment in my memory forever. It was absolutely blissful.

Places I visited:

Kodia Jungle: The Kodia forest range is just opposite the resort. Jeep safari into the jungle is available but we did not opt for it. It was a great experience to wander around leisurely. The trek is very easy with tremendous beauty. It is a great place for photographers.

Surkanda Devi, Kaddukhal Village:  A drive of around 10 km led us to Kaddukhal village where we halted for tea on our way to Dhanaulti. From Kaddukhal, a trek of around 2 km would lead to the famous Surkanda Devi temple. Dedicated to Goddess Parvati, this temple is revered as a legendary shaktipeeth. As we were with our 15 month old baby, we decided not to hike up this time. I have trekked to this temple before. The panoramic view from the top is just breathtaking and makes up for all the lost calories. It provides a 360 degree view of the Himalayas. A paradise for nature lovers!

Dhanaulti: We drove to Dhanaulti for lunch, just for old times’ sake. It had snowed there 2 days back and the last traces of snow had begun to fade. The freezing breeze brought back fond memories of childhood picnics and college bunking. Even though there is not much to do here, I would anytime prefer Dhanaulti over Mussoorie to spend some quiet time. The lush green deodar forests provide some excellent hiking trails. There are some nice camping spots as well. There are two Eco parks at Dhanaualti and they arrange for some adventure activities.

Chamba/New Tehri: Chamba is just adjacent to Kanatal. It was our wish to stay in Chamba as well so we drove back to Chamba after Kanatal and visited New Tehri from there.

My 2 Cents:

1.       For a weekend trip, we could stay either in Chamba or Kanatal. It doesn’t really matter as both these places are just adjacent to each other and offer the same feel- only 20ish km apart. There are many resorts and hotels in both these places, so choose a place with the best deal. Roads are in good condition so it’s very comfortable to drive around.

2.       If you are fond of camping, here is another place to head for.

3.       Do read my Tehri blog, you wouldn’t want to miss it!