What is the difference between Kanatal and Dhanaulti?

Kanatal is 12 km further from Mussoorie and 300 m higher than Dhanaulti. It is cooler, quieter and dominated by tent-camp resorts rather than hotels. Dhanaulti has eco-parks and a more developed bazaar; Kanatal is more forest and orchard.

Is Tehri Lake worth the 25 km detour from Kanatal?

Yes if you want water sports — the reservoir is the only place in the Uttarakhand hills for jet-skiing and serious bungee jumping. The scenery of the lake against the surrounding mountains is also striking. Allow half a day for the round trip.

Does Kanatal get snow?

Yes, more reliably than Dhanaulti given the higher altitude. December–January typically brings 30–80 cm on the ridge. The NH-123 road can become icy; check conditions before driving up after heavy snowfall.

Kanatal Travel Guide

Apple orchards and camp resorts on the Chamba–Mussoorie road, with Tehri Lake below.

Altitude: ~2,590 m
Best season: Year round
From Dehradun: ~75 km
Category: Camping

Why visit Kanatal

At 2,590 m it is the highest of the Mussoorie-region destinations — reliably cooler than Dhanaulti and considerably quieter
Apple orchards surround the village, and the orchard paths with a Himalayan backdrop are among the more underrated walks in Tehri Garhwal
Tehri Lake, 25 km below, offers jet-skiing, kayaking and bungee jumping at Asia's highest bungee platform — accessible as a half-day excursion
Surkanda Devi temple (15 km, 2,750 m) is closer from Kanatal than from Dhanaulti and makes an excellent morning trek
The dominant accommodation model is luxury tent camps in the forest — appealing to travellers who want glamping without driving far from Delhi

Kanatal is camp country — orchards and deodar slopes on the Chamba–Mussoorie road where most stays are tent resorts rather than hotels.

The Kodia forest jeep track and a day trip down to Tehri Lake's boating are the two usual add-ons.

Explore around

Places near Kanatal

Surkanda Devi Temple15 km

Shakti Peetha at 2,750 m; 2 km forest trail from Kaddukhal; panoramic Himalayan view from the temple ridge

Tehri Lake25 km

Reservoir behind Tehri Dam at 830 m; boat rides, jet-skiing, kayaking, bungee jump at New Tehri; contrasting lower-altitude half-day

Kodia Jungle6 km

Dense forest patch off the highway; bird walks in the morning; no formal infrastructure — ask camp operators for the track entry point

Dhanaulti12 km

Eco-parks, Snow World and slightly lower altitude; good for a day excursion from Kanatal

Chamba17 km toward Tehri

Modest market town; access to Tehri Lake activities; fuel and ATMs

What to do

Activities at Kanatal

Apple orchard walks

Most of the farmland around Kanatal is under apple cultivation. The orchard paths between rows of trees, with the Chaukhamba group visible on clear mornings, are a pleasant 45-minute walk. Harvest season (August–September) sees the trees loaded with fruit.

Surkanda Devi trek

From Kaddukhal (15 km by road), the trail to the temple is 2 km through rhododendron and oak. The climb gains 300 m; allow 50 minutes each way. The temple at 2,750 m has a panorama extending from Kedarnath to the Gangotri peaks.

Tehri Lake excursion

The 25 km descent to Tehri Lake drops nearly 1,800 m in altitude and takes about 50 minutes by car. Water sports at the reservoir include kayaking, speed boats, jet-skiing, and at New Tehri a bungee jump at 83 m (claimed to be among Asia's highest). Return is uphill on the same road.

Kodia jungle birding

The forest patch at Kodia, 6 km from Kanatal, has productive bird walks especially in the early morning. The tracks are unmarked; local camp guides know the entry points. Oak woodland species including tits, warblers and nuthatches are the primary draw.

Camp activities

Most Kanatal resorts are large tent camps with structured activity menus — rock climbing walls, rappelling, Burma bridge, archery and nature trails within their grounds. These are the primary activities for families and corporate groups.

Before you go

Kanatal travel tips

At 2,590 m, evenings and nights at Kanatal are cold even in May — carry a proper fleece or down jacket regardless of daytime warmth
NH-123 between Mussoorie and Chamba is narrow in sections; driving at night is not advisable
Most accommodation is glamping/camp resorts — confirm whether your preferred camp is operational, as some close October–February
Surkanda Devi at Kaddukhal fills with pilgrims on Sundays; Tuesday–Thursday visits are quieter
Tehri Lake water sports are weather-dependent; choppy conditions in monsoon and January–February make activities impossible
Carry cash — ATMs are at Chamba (17 km) and Mussoorie (38 km); Kanatal village has none

Getting there

How to reach Kanatal

By air

Jolly Grant Airport, Dehradun (~100 km, 2.5 hrs via Mussoorie). Taxi direct to Kanatal or via Mussoorie.

By rail

Dehradun Junction (78 km). Taxi to Kanatal via Mussoorie (2.5 hrs). The Mussoorie–Dhanaulti–Chamba road (NH-123) is the route.

By road

Delhi → Dehradun → Mussoorie → Dhanaulti → Kanatal (355 km, 8–8.5 hrs). Alternatively via Haridwar → Rishikesh → Chamba → Kanatal (320 km, 7.5 hrs). The Chamba approach avoids the Mussoorie tourist traffic.

Where to stay in Kanatal

Camp Kanatal and Soulitude Mountain Hideaway are among the better-established luxury camp resorts
The Apple Orchard Resort is a more conventional hotel style on the Kanatal ridge
Accommodation is almost entirely pre-paid packages including meals and activities — walk-in options are rare
Book at least 6–8 weeks ahead for May, October and December weekends

Food & dining

All meals are served within the resort/camp packages; there are no independent restaurants in Kanatal village
Camp kitchens generally produce competent north Indian food; request Garhwali dishes (chainsoo, mandua ki roti) in advance
The Chamba bazaar (17 km) has dhabas and basic restaurants for those driving through

Background

History of Kanatal

Kanatal is a small ridge settlement on the ancient trade and pilgrimage route between the Tehri Garhwal hills and Mussoorie. For most of its history it was a seasonal orchard and grazing hamlet, its apple trees planted by Tehri state orchardists in the mid-20th century as part of horticultural development schemes.

The modern identity of Kanatal as a glamping and adventure destination emerged in the 2000s when Delhi-based camp operators, priced out of Mussoorie, discovered that the ridge 38 km further offered similar climate and views at a fraction of the land cost. The resulting proliferation of tent-camp resorts transformed a quiet agricultural settlement into one of Uttarakhand's most popular short-break destinations for the NCR market.

Plan your trip

Suggested Kanatal itinerary

Day 1Drive from Dehradun or Mussoorie. Check into camp resort. Afternoon camp activities (rappelling, Burma bridge). Campfire and dinner. Night at camp.
Day 2Early morning orchard walk and sunrise. Drive to Surkanda Devi (15 km); trek to the temple (2 km, 50 min). Return for lunch. Afternoon Kodia jungle bird walk or Tehri Lake excursion (25 km).
Day 3Morning at leisure in the orchard. Checkout and drive to Dhanaulti (12 km) for eco-parks before heading back to Dehradun.

Common questions

Kanatal FAQ

What is the difference between Kanatal and Dhanaulti?: Kanatal is 12 km further from Mussoorie and 300 m higher than Dhanaulti. It is cooler, quieter and dominated by tent-camp resorts rather than hotels. Dhanaulti has eco-parks and a more developed bazaar; Kanatal is more forest and orchard.
Is Tehri Lake worth the 25 km detour from Kanatal?: Yes if you want water sports — the reservoir is the only place in the Uttarakhand hills for jet-skiing and serious bungee jumping. The scenery of the lake against the surrounding mountains is also striking. Allow half a day for the round trip.
Does Kanatal get snow?: Yes, more reliably than Dhanaulti given the higher altitude. December–January typically brings 30–80 cm on the ridge. The NH-123 road can become icy; check conditions before driving up after heavy snowfall.

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