The town of Dhanaulti is a beautiful hill station which is situated is beyond Mussoorie Chakrata, another major nearby hill station which 80 km away. The town is the home to Paonta Sahib, the pilgrimage place for Sikhs. There is also a historic Gurudwara located here on the banks of the River Yamuna. It is the ideal place to reach the nearby pilgrimage cities of Haridwar and Rishikesh.
Geography:
The town of Dhanaulti is one of the most beautiful mountain retreats located in the Garhwal Hills. The town is about 2 hours from the capital city of Dehradun and is a wonderful holiday getaway. The town lies on a ridge at an altitude of 2286 m. It is secluded from the main roads and is tucked away in the midst of deep forests. These forests have thick tress like deodar, oak, conifer, rhododendron and flame. The region is a woody paradise. Dhanaulti is located at 30.45° N 78.25° E with an average elevation of 1,988 metres.
Climate:
The temperatures in this town are cool through out the year. The summer months are cool with the bracing mountain breeze cooling the mind and the body. The winters here are not very freezing but provide a misty view of distant mountains. The summer temperatures range from 31° C to 7.5° C while the inter temperatures range from 7° C and 1° C. Woollen garments are required through out the year with heavier jackets in the winters.
The small town of Dhanaulti basically operates on tourism and forestry. The dense forests here provide the ideal options for both flora and fauna. Different kinds of wood are exported from here. Tourism is a popular source of income through out the year. The monsoons are the only exception.
Tourism:
The township is a blissfully secluded one and the serene beauty of the place can simply bowl you over. Compared to the energetic town of neighbouring Mussoorie and over crowded places there, Dhanaulti is like a secluded retreat. Walking in the shady meadows and lying on the grass are probably the best activities for those who come in search of peace. There are various trekking paths here which lead to the snow-capped Himalayas. The Tehri region of Garhwal is the most popular one. There are dense forests to enjoy here apart from the regular tourist attractions of Surkanda Devi, Chandrabadni and Kunjapuri, which are also the three sacred goddesses here. Aaloo Khet which is a Potato Farm operated by the government Potato Farm is a good sunrise point. The monsoons should be avoided for visiting the town since trekking and other activities are restricted along with land slides.
Dhanaulti is 325 km from Delhi and 25 km from Mussoorie by road. The nearest airport is the Jolly Grant, Dehradun which is about 82 km away. The closest railhead is also at Dehradun. There are various tourist taxis operating from nearby cities on a regular basis along with buses.
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