need help for a trip to chakrata, mussourie, dhanaulti

biren

hi seniors! am just a minute old here. i am not even sure i can ask such questions. :-)

can someone advice me for a trip we are planning (4 families - 10A,4K) in june first week.

we are planning to cover chakrata and mussourie-dhanaulti.
we have 6 days and 7 night nights (dehradun to dehradun - 31st may night to 7th june morning).

most probably, we will be using sterling holiday's resort in mussourie (thanks to a generous friend) for one day stay.

should we spend more time in chakrata or dhanaulti?

i am told there are 2 hotels in chakrata - hotel snow view and himalayan paradise. which is better - in terms of location, and in terms of facilities and service?

what are the hotel options in dhanaulti. (budget of 500 to 700 per room-day)

should we hire vehicles for the complete duration, or we can get local transport as and when required? will we need 4-wheel drives (i am told, deoban near chakrata calls for a 4WD vehicle)?

if this seems to be a long list... peep into my head. it is churning in questions.
:-)

it is fun just talking about such trips.
thanks
love
b.

kullukid

Here's Snowview http://chakratasnowview.com/info.htm KK

rishabh6296

It will be better if you take your own vehicle and deoban does require 4-wheel drive.Chakrata is the place to be if you are looking for natural beauty,its quiet with amazing views,peaks,meadows and waterfalls.Snow view is the best hotel in Chakrata.You should also make sure about the timings of when the roads are open as the last stretch to chakrata has single track road and only one side is opened for vehicular traffic at a time.

biren

thank you, KK, and rish.
love/b
PS" still looking for some info on dhanaulti hotels. we may go there for a day.

rishabh6296

In dhanolti u have a very few hotels, http://www.arounddelhi.com/dhanolti.htm can be tried. GMVN Tourist Bungalow. Forest Rest House. Hotel Dhanaulty Breeze. A couple of guest-houses also offer good accommodation.

Dilliwala

Howdy,

Dhanolti is great anytime of year except when you're going. Chakrata is great anytime of year, period. Between the 2, my choice wud always be Chakrata. If u like being surrounded by lots of other tourists (believe me, they'll be swarming like flies around a dung-heap during June) and the usual touristy trappings, then go to Dhanolti. If u like peace and quiet, then go to Chakrata. The choice of eateries there is fewer though, mostly dhabas. If your hotel has a good cook, probably best to eat there mostly. The Sun n Snow looks decent from the outside. Don't remember what the Paradise looks like. Location-wise no problem, Chakrata is verrry small! Haven't been inside either. If I recall correctly from my only trip there (4 years ago) there are 2 more hotels, but damn me if I can remember their names.
The views from Chakrata(Devban actually) are outstanding, even better than from Dhanolti, which is not bad at all. However, here's the catch - wherever u are in the region, snow views will be available only early morning, upto 7-7.30. Once the heat starts rising up the valley floors, the haze will prevent long-distance views (u'll still be able to see the surrounding areas though). So if u go to Chakrata, u'll have to be up bloody early to drive to Devban - it'll take one hour uphill becos most of it is kachcha road. If u stay at Dhanolti then that's not as much of a problem. But I don't recommend staying overnight at Dhanolti - I'll explain why in a bit.
You have 7 days DD to DD. Is your programme of only one night in Muss fixed/unchangeable? Cos then 5-6 days in either location is waaay too long, unless u really like going for long walks and want to explore the surrounding areas better (by vehicle). I'll need more info from you before i can suggest anything. If u have a few days/nights in Muss, I was going to suggest doing only a day-trip to Dhanolti, in fact that's what most of the tourists do. It's a 25-km drive, comfortably done in 1 hour. In fact u can do both Dhanolti and Chakrata comfortably that way in the same trip. If the hotel rates at Chakrata (i have no idea) are more than what your budget allows, then I can suggest the GMVN Tourist Rest House at Dhanolti. Not great, but acceptable (I've stayed in most of them in Garhwal!). Have a look at their website www.gmvnl.com for more info on their Dhsnolti joint. There are quite a few other hotels at Dhanolti, but most would be 800-1000 and more in season. A few tent-resorts as well! In fact, if there's no option to stay at Sterling, Muss for more than one night, then GMVN there is an option there as well. However, a warning - in Muss they are on the Mall, where it costs Rs. 100 per vehicle entry every time, and a complete ban betwee 5.30 to 10.30 pm in summer! Meaning, u drive in and out 5 times a day - that's 500 bucks gone.
Hiring transport is really about where u get the best deal - it might work out cheapest if u hire in DD for the whole trip (are u flying or training to DD? Staying overnite or straight to Muss?) but that wud mean u have to have your entire itinerary fixed in advance with no room for changes. Hiring in Muss will be no problem at all, u cud hire for a day to go to Dhanolti, get rid of him if u don't like him, and hire separately to go to Chakrata, for example. U'll have to do some advance research, maybe your friend/Sterling can help u. Bargain hard, altho there's not much room for it in summer, they're all cut-throats! In fact if u decide to do only a day-trip to Dhanolti, a much better/cheaper option might be to take GMVN's bus-tour there. Check their web-site or call them.
I now have to contradict some of the other posters re Chakrata. Devban is no problem for a 2WD with a powerful engine and good HP. I did it comfortably in a Mahindra Bolero, so a Scorpio wud have no prob either. Qualis/Sumo shud be ok, altho I do not vouch for them. In any case 4WD taxis are hard to come by and probably charge more. Another thing - there's no fuel station at Chakrata, the last one is at Muss or Kalsi, but diesel can be bought at a local shop-keeper at a small premium, so I recommend hiring a diesel vehicle to go there, espesh if u stay a few days and want to drive around some. Otherwise a full-tank shud be no problem, it's only 75 km on the direct route from Muss. Which brings me to my 2nd contradiction - the direct route is what u shud take from Muss and not via DD/Kalsi. It's shorter, more scenic, takes u past Kempty Falls, down to the Yamuna at Yamuna Pul(if u're from Delhi or surroundings or have seen the Yamuna at Delhi or downstream, believe me, it's worth seeing it in the hills - the difference in cleanliness is zamin/aasmaan!!), then takes u up the other side where en-route u'll see Muss in the distance (TV tower) and fiurther up to approx the same height as Muss. The road is not in great condition, but it's acceptable for that distance - u'll be there in 3 hours or less. And there are no barriers/gates. If u go via Kalsi u will lose time in the one-way system unless u time it just right - the gate opens every 2.5 hours starting at 7 am, (so 9.30 am, 12 noon, and so on), and there's a forced wait midway at Sahiya, e.g. leave Kalsi at 9.30, u'll be at Sahiya at 10, but cannot leave before 10.35 - this is the only place the up-traffic can pass by the down-traffic, becos they open the gates at both ends at the same time per cycle, and there are always a lot of vehicles in each direction. What u cud do though, espesh if u want to go direct to DD from Chakrata, is Muss-Chakrata direct, and return Chakrata/Kalsi/DD, that wud anyway be faster, not counting any waiting at gates.
If u have time and prefer going back via Mussoorie, u cud do so via Lakhamandal(of Mahabharat fame - the locals say it's the genuine article!). There's a direct road from Chakrata to Lakhamandal, then cross the Yamuna nearby and drive back to Yamuna Pul, from where it's the same road back to Muss as described earlier. I'm told it's worth a visit, altho I've never been there. Or if u do not head back to Muss, u cud do this on the way out as well. Muss/Lakhamandal/Chakrata or vice-versa shud take about 4 hrs. On the way there's a fuel-station at Nainbagh (cheaper than Muss).
Chew on this for a while, maybe I've given u more info than u wanted (after all this typing, I seriously hope your trip is not cancelled :-) ). If there's any other info u need let me know, I'll try to help!

biren

that was great, dilliwala (it feels queer to call you by this name. don't you have a more personal name i can use?)... amazing lot of information and more wonderful effort to help.
thanks. a bunch.
our itinerary is almost fixed. (almost, because, your post reached me in the nick of time - before i freezed our bookings).
here it is (unless your suggestions are contrary):
reaching DD on 31st night, so staying at GMVNL (drona hotel) at DD. (by train from vadodara, gujarat, via ND).
leaving DD in morning, 7 am (to reach gate before 9.30 am schedule)for chakrata, in sumo/qualis (will be trying for 4WD) hired for 4-5 days). staying at snow view till 5th morning. want to try and include parasailing at dakpatthar(?).
5th, 6th at dhanaulti, GMVNL (right now they are closed for repairs, but should open in a week). will visit mussourie one whole day (there are a few amongst us who hv not been to this side, and want to taste mussourie), and do some trek/birding trail on the other. (planning to avoid kempty - my last experience in 2000 nov. was not great).
leave dhanaulti on 7th morning to catch morning train from DD, for ND.

how does this sound?

once again... deep gratitude for your detailed reply.

love/biren

capt_mahajan

Dilliwala, nice detailed post. Took me back to the area after many years.

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chits007

Excellent writeup dilliwala...
biren in chakrata book in hotel snow view good hotel..descent pananormic view ...very quiet and ok food also..

road to deowan is little riskier side so better ask hotel guy to arrange cab..he did it for us when we were there in 31st December time...you can find some pics of chakrata-deowan at
http://chitrang.blogspot.com

Goto Vyas shikhar in deowan (a little trekking is requird) but u will get excellent panaormic view...they have put a plate to identify the peaks .

Also try to see LakhaMandal/Tiger fall (better than kempty and higher too) if u have time...
their r few other places to visit
http://dehradun.nic.in/chakrata.htm

Dilliwala

Biren,
Sounds good - I'm guessing your group likes peace, quiet, long walks, etc. I wudn't spend that many nights in Chakrata, but it's your holiday, as long as you're happy with it, that's what matters. If u get a 4WD - good, otherwise don't worry about it. Unless the road to Devban is significantly worse, a powerful 2WD will be ok. The army takes trucks up there from time to time for 'outings', so they keep the road in reasonable condition, even tho it's kachccha. Officially it's a Janglaat road (under the Forest Dept).
Don't bother leaving at 7 a.m from DD, 7.30 will allow u PLENTY of time, even if u have a puncture. I personally wud leave at 8 am, but that's just me. If there's any delay, u can knock off 6 km of the distance by taking a short-cut. Tell your driver to take the Lambarpur-Barotiwala-Ambadi road ( starts 2 km after Sahaspur on the Chakrata Road, turn-off on the right hand). It's a country road but in good condition and no traffic (brand new in 2004). Also, altho I'm pretty sure the gate-opening times have not changed, please verify this from Sun n Snow manager before u leave from DD, he wud def know. Then just start 2 hours earlier, that will be PLENTY of time.
Now some brand-new info, hot off the stove (got it after my first post last nite). Chakrata is off-limits for foreign passport holders, so I really hope none of your group are. Always has been off-limits, so that's not the news. Previously the army was quite lax about checks - if u looked desi but were a foreign citizen, nobody bothered to check (as long as u kept Yankee/Brit accents out of earshot :-) ). And foreigners cud also go, if they applied for permission 15 days in advance. Since recently all that has stopped. Foreign passport holders cannot go, period. Ok, so still shud be no prob if u look desi, right? Well, not any more. Locals of the area have all been issued IDs to pass thru the gates/check-points, and tourists have to register on arrival, probably with some ID proof. Everybody is checked, every time. So no more poss to sneak in FPHs. I understand PIO cards are also not acceptable, but I am not sure. (This info may not apply to your group, I'm posting it for anyone else who might need it).
I shud stress that I have this info from a friend in the Central Govt who has it from authentic official quarters, but I wud not be too surprised if it's not exactly like that on the ground. Please let the forum know what your experience is. Also what the hotel(s) are like. I've been trying to go back for the last 2 years (including the end of this month!), but have not been able to for one reason or another. I want to try and go in June or Sep/Oct.
Tiger Falls is 5 km from Chakrata, so shud be a good idea as chits007 suggests. U cud also do Lakhamandal as a day-trip while there, if not, try and do it on the way to Muss as I suggested y'day.
I don't know of parasailing at Dakpatthar, only at Mussoorie and Naukuchiya Tal. Maybe it's started recently - last time i was at Dakpatthar was after that 2003 Chakrata visit, spent the nite there. Don't ask why not at Chakrata, (originally that was the idea but officially we were on a fishing trip and the change was made to be further downhill - however not one fish was caught!), and I'm still sore about the whole thing! In my defence, I wasn't the one that did the planning :-)
I personally wud still spend 2 nights in Muss and do a day-trip to Dhanolti, but it's your call, u and your group need to be happy about it. I'm just thinking that becos u said some of them had never been to Muss and want to get a taste, after getting there they might want to spend more time, which wud require an overnighter. Another thing - u are no doubt aware that when driving from Chakrata to Dhanolti u'll be passing right thru Muss, so lunch there wud be a good option (that will give u all a real 'taste' right there :-) ). I agree that Kempty is best avoided, the only use it has for me is that it's on the way to/from Yamuna Pul and points beyond! The water-falls are anyway clearly visible from the opposite side while driving. And the chhole-bhature, dal makhani or "cho mien" can be had at any one of a thousand places, right?
Enjoy your trip and let us know how things went.

mantru

hi need some help...
We are planning for a weekend to chakrata...pls suggest
16 th night start from delhi...do we have to drive to DD or is there another way directly to Chakrata??distance ??
17 th spend the day in chakrata
18 th morning drive to deovaan,tiger falls....any other place to visit on the way back to delhi....how far is dhanolti can we make it....we have till 9 pm sunday after that we'll drive back to delhi...

capt_mahajan

Don't have to go through Dehradun if you go via Yamunanagar, Poanta Sahib and Herbertpur.

There will be a bridge on the Yamuna about 290 km from Delhi, after P Sahib, take the left, straight is Dehradun.

Total distance to Chakrata should be about 350km

Dilliwala

NO.

As I found out 7 days ago, the Saharanpur-Shamli-Baghpat road (except in Loni) is seriously improved, and for me is now choice no. 1 to go to Dehradun. Two lanes only, but a dream to drive on, what with the greatly reduced traffic as compared to the 'official' route. And the Saharanpur to Herbertpur section, I have first-hand reports is in very good condition.
So the quickest way to get to Chakrata from Delhi now is "straight up"!

rishabh6296

Do you mean there is no gate system anymore?

Dilliwala

There is. But that one wud encounter anyway, unless coming from Mussoorie.