This long springtime weekend, made longer with festival holidays, saw a large number of tourists at Mussoorie from where many of them went up to Dhanaulti which is painted in white and pink at this time of the year.
White apple blossoms and pink Rhododendrons create a magical look in Dhanaulti which is enhanced by the oaks and deodars, towering and stable like the mountains.
Just a two and a half hour drive from the Doon valley, Dhanaulti is known for its beautiful “Bugyals” as the high altitude meadows are called in Uttarakhand. The air still has a sharp nip to it and welcomes visitors as they move in from Buranskhanda to Dhanaulti . lingering ambrosial scents and the cool, caressing breeze make this season more beautiful here.
The sun-dappled spring days are a welcome relief for the local hill folk as the days of biting cold are over and they can go about their work more comfortably after spending most of their time indoors during the severe winter months .
The Rhododendron (Buransh) trees are in bloom, their pink-red flowers lending a lot of colour to the landscape of Dhanaulti .It is not the fierce, flaming touch of the Gulmohar but a warmer ,welcoming hue. The white blossoms on the apple trees are equally beautiful.
Dhanaulti is all about Deodars , Rhododendrons and green emerald grassy meadows which soothe not just the eyes but the spirit. This beautiful mountain hamlet in the Tehri district has been a popular getaway for people from Delhi and Dehra Dun for the past two decades now. Though barely an hour's drive from Mussoorie,this is a different world altogether and often , its tranquility and pristine beauty take the new visitor by surprise. If one wants to spend long quiet hours with oneself or with one’s favourite books and music, Dhanaulti is just the place. Walking leisurely amid the trees,around the hills and dales of this exquisite destination , people get a feeling of being rejuvenated by the clean and crisp mountain air ,laden with the scent of rhododendrons ,sweet chestnut and oak trees.
The Eco Parks set up by the Uttarakhand’s forest department have given a new look to the hamlet.They are called “Ambar” (sky) and “Dhara” (earth) and give excellent opportunities for bird watching and botanical explorations. They have an aesthetic wooden fencing and several picnic spots and view points. “Jungle trails “and treks are organized for the adventure-loving visitors. Dhanaulti is the base point for numerous treks into the snow-capped Himalayas, especially to the Tehri region. The most popular treks are through the dense alpine forests that take you to Surkanda Devi, Chandrabadni and Kunjapuri, the sacred three Shaktipeeths of the holy Devi Darshan triangle.
The Apple Orchard Resort in Dhanaulti is another attraction. A Kutcha road lined with Rhododendron trees down the hills and then upwards takes one to the resort located amid an apple orchard. Varieties of apples grown in Dhanaulti are Early Sunberry, Golden Delicious, Red Delicious and Royal Delicious. Tourists who visit the resort get to taste fresh apple jam and juice prepared by the resort itself.
The Glass House cafeteria has Burma teak flooring and a quaint old fireplace, giving it a wonderful old world charm. The Resort has magnificent views of the Himalayas from the terrace and from the windows of the rooms. Horse riding, star gazing ,trekking ,jungle safaris and bird watching are organised for the guests by the resort. Most visitors to Dhanaulti,however, spend hours walking through the wilderness and tranquility to soak in the feel of nature.The long wooded slopes, lazy outings, caressing breeze and enchanting views of snow covered mountains leave little scope for other thoughts or activities.
While some tourists drive up from Mussoorie and return there at night, others choose to stay on and soak in the natural splendour at leisure. The magic of this picturesque destination never fails to work on the first-time visitor and bring him back to Dhanaulti . People from the Doon valley have , over the past few years, found it convenient to visit Dhanaulti over the weekends ,coming back refreshed for working through a new week.