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Voykit pocket guide · India
Dhanaulti
Spend one night in Dhanaulti on a Mussoorie trip: it's a quiet hill station with two eco-parks and a temple, best as a half-day detour from Mussoorie or a stopover on the way to Chamba.
Dhanaulti is a small hill station in Garhwal, 24 km from Mussoorie, known for its two eco-parks (Amber and Dhara), the Surkanda Devi Temple and a government potato farm that serves as a sunrise viewpoint. Most visitors come for a few hours from Mussoorie or stay one night before heading to Chamba or Yamunotri. The town itself is quiet, with a handful of guesthouses and a small bazaar.
- Country
- India
- Best months
- Mar–Jun, Sep–Nov
- Avoid
- Jul–Aug (heavy rain, landslides possible), Dec–Feb (cold, some closures)
- Stay
- 1 night
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- INR
- Money
- Indian rupees (INR, ₹) in small notes for autos, street food, tips and entry tickets.
- Daily spend
- Budget ₹1,500–2,500 excl. bed · Mid ₹2,500–5,000 excl. bed · High ₹5,000+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Jio, Airtel and Vi sell tourist SIMs at airport counters and their shops; passport, visa and a photo needed; activation can take a few hours.
- Emergency
- Police 112 · Fire and ambulance 112
- Plugs
- Types C, D, M · 230 V · 50 Hz · Round two-pin C plugs fit most sockets; D (three round pins) is the common wall socket; hotels often have universal sockets. UK and US plugs need an adapter.
- Tipping
- Street food and dhabas: Nothing.; Restaurant: 5–10% if no service charge is on the bill.; Car and driver: ₹300–500 a day at the end of the trip.; Guide: ₹300–500 for a half day.; Hotel porter / housekeeping: ₹50–100.; Auto or Uber: Round up.
- Water
- Not drinkable from the tap. Buy sealed bottles (check the cap), or use RO-filtered refill stations in hotels and cafés; avoid ice from street stalls.
- Toilets
- Western toilets in hotels, malls and airports; squat toilets with a water jug or hose in stations and villages. Carry tissue and sanitiser; paid public toilets (Sulabh) cost ₹5–10.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Chai at a roadside stall | ₹10–20 |
| Simple meal (dal, rice, sabzi) | ₹150–300 |
| Bottled water (1 L) | ₹20–30 |
| Taxi from Mussoorie to Dhanaulti, one way | ₹1,000–1,500 |
| Eco-Park entry | ₹20 (adults), ₹10 (children) |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- DED · Jolly Grant Airport (Dehradun)
- About 90 km (56 mi), 2.5–3 h by carAbout 56 mi (90 km), 2.5–3 h by car
Typical fares
- Mussoorie → Dhanaulti, taxi
- about ₹1,000–1,500, about 45 min (check)
- Dhanaulti → Chamba, shared jeep
- about ₹50–100, about 30 min
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
The town is walkable. For Surkanda Devi Temple (3 km (1.9 mi)) and Aaloo Khet, hire a taxi or drive. Shared jeeps run between Mussoorie and Chamba via Dhanaulti.The town is walkable. For Surkanda Devi Temple (1.9 mi (3 km)) and Aaloo Khet, hire a taxi or drive. Shared jeeps run between Mussoorie and Chamba via Dhanaulti.
See and do
Known for
- Eco-parks (Amber and Dhara)
- Surkanda Devi Temple
- Sunrise at Aaloo Khet (Potato Farm)
- Hand-woven shawls and scarves from Himalayan Weavers
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Mussoorie | Taxi or shared jeep, about 45 min | About 1 h |
| Surkanda Devi Temple | Taxi or 3 km (1.9 mi) walk uphill from townTaxi or 1.9 mi (3 km) walk uphill from town | About 30 min drive, 1 h walk |
| Chamba | Taxi or shared jeep, about 30 min | About 40 min |
| Yamunotri | Taxi to Janki Chatti (about 4 h), then trek 6 km (3.7 mi)Taxi to Janki Chatti (about 4 h), then trek 3.7 mi (6 km) | About 5–6 h one way |
Sleep
- Dhanaulti town centre
- Guesthouses and a few hotels near the bus stop and bazaar; walkable to the eco-parks.
- Mussoorie Road approach
- A handful of resorts and homestays on the road from Mussoorie; quieter but need a vehicle.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Hello / Namaste | नमस्तेnamaste |
| Thank you | धन्यवादdhanyavaad |
| How much? | कितना है?kitna hai |
| Where is the bus stop? | बस स्टॉप कहाँ है?bus stop kahan hai |
| Please take me to… | कृपया मुझे… ले चलेंkripya mujhe… le chalen |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Namaste (palms together) or a handshake between men; wait for a woman to offer her hand; avoid: Hugging or kissing strangers
- Hands and feet: Give and eat with the right hand; apologise if your foot touches someone; avoid: Pointing feet at people or shrines; touching books or food with your feet
- Temples: Shoes off, walk clockwise around shrines, accept prasad (blessed food) with the right hand; avoid: Leather in Jain temples; entering sanctums that say Hindus only
- Home visit: Bring sweets or fruit; accept tea at least once; avoid: Refusing all food; wearing shoes inside
- Questions: Expect personal questions (married? job? salary?) as friendliness; avoid: Taking offence; answer vaguely if you prefer
- Saying no: A firm, polite 'nahi, dhanyavaad' (no, thank you) and keep walking; avoid: Long explanations to touts
- Dress: Loose clothes covering shoulders and knees; kurta tops are cheap and cool; avoid: Swimwear or shorts away from Goa beaches
Scams and watch-outs
- Roads can be narrow and slippery after rain; check conditions before driving.
- Eco-parks close by evening; arrive before 16:00 to have time.
- No ATM in Dhanaulti; carry enough cash from Mussoorie or Dehradun.
- Surkanda Devi Temple involves a steep climb; wear sturdy shoes.
Dhanaulti is safe for tourists. The main risks are road conditions after rain, steep temple steps and lack of ATMs. Carry cash and a torch if walking after dark.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Dhanaulti yet. Suggested stay: 1 night. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Eco-parks (Amber and Dhara)
- Surkanda Devi Temple
- Sunrise at Aaloo Khet (Potato Farm)
- Hand-woven shawls and scarves from Himalayan Weavers
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikivoyage: Dhanaulti, revision 5243060 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5243060
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/dhanaulti). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.