Travel Guide for a Weekend Getaway to Kanatal with Family

Last Updated on December 5, 2019 by asoulwindow

Located about 78 km from Dehradun and 38 km from Mussoorie is the tiny hamlet of Kanatal, nestled in the hills of Uttarakhand. Perched at 8,500 ft. above sea level, this little village on the Mussoorie–Chamba Road is the perfect weekend getaway for those craving a family vacation.

Named after the now-dried-up“one-eyed lake” in Hindi, Kanatalfor rejuvenating family vacations.

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Dhanaulti Eco Park in Kanatal. Incredible India!

Kanatal is a family friendly offbeat destination near New Delhi:.

Some of the popular destinations promoted by the Kanatal tourism include Dhanaulti and the Dhanaulti Eco Park, Tehri Lake and Tehri Dam, Chamba, and the Surkanda Devi Temple

There are other varied options of things to do in Kanatal, these include:

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My dad giving flying fox a first try in Dhanaulti Eco Park in Kanatal. Incredible India!
  • Take a walk in a forest

The Dhanaulti Eco Park is a treasure trove for nature lovers. Enjoy the breath-taking views and sightrare birds and the flora of the lower Himalayas as you walk around the verdant park filled with Cedar, Deodars, and Rhododendron trees. Tree lovers can donate money to plant a tree and have their name displayed around it; the park officials will nurture the plant. The park also has activities like Flying Fox and sketching for kids.

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My mom chickened out when I asked her to try adventure sports. She settled for this. Dhanaulti Eco Park in Kanatal. Incredible India!

Things to do in Kanatal, Dhanaulti and Tehri Lake

  • Have fun at the Tehri Lake with water-sports

Go boating, jet skiing, and surfing, or take a banana boat ride in the Tehri Lake with family.

 

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No takers for Maggi? My parents outside Dhanaulti Eco Park in Kanatal. Incredible India!
  • Experience the snow adventure zone

This one is surely for the adventurous. Guided by well-trained, helpful, and professional staff, the adventure zone, which is on the Mussoorie–Dhanaulti Road, provides activities like sky walking and zip-line ride for everyone in the family.

 

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My dad giving flying fox a first try in Dhanaulti Eco Park in Kanatal. Incredible India!
  • Enjoy a trekking tour in the wild

The region boasts wild forest terrain, mountainous views, and waterfalls that are every trekker’s delight. Don’t forget to relish timeless folklore from the locals during tea breaks. The Surkanda Devi Temple trek is a popular route and offers unending views of Kodia jungle, New Tehri and Chamba.

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This path leads o views of the valley. At Dhanaulti Eco Park in Kanatal. Incredible India!

When to visit

The best time to visit this charmingly quiet village is from April to September. During this time, the weather in Kanatal hovers around 10°–20°C, making it pleasant to explore with children.

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Views of the valley from Dhanaulti Eco Park in Kanatal. Incredible India!

Getting there

Kanatal is well connected to Delhi by daily flights and the airport has plenty taxis that ply daily. The closest railway stations that the hill station is connected to are Dehradun (76km) and Rishikesh (80km).

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The happiness on he face of my dad after the successful run of flying fox in Dhanaulti Eco Park in Kanatal. Incredible India!

Where to Stay

Enjoy family vacations and the best of Kanatal at the Club Mahindra Kanatal resort, conveniently located on the Dehradun–Rishikesh (bypass), on the Chamba–Kanatal–Dhanaulti–Mussorie route.

 

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Tehri dam and Tehri Lake. Uttarakhand. Incredible India!

The beautiful, kid- and pet-friendly stay offers comfortable rooms with modern fixtures as well as a restaurant, serving authentic local dishes and desserts like Jhangora Ki Kheer. The resort also affords beautiful sights of mountain ranges, and has a fun zone for kids. You must see Club Mahindra reviews to get a glimpse of Club Mahindra holidays!

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My dad giving jet skiing a first try in Tehri lake near the dam. Uttarakhand. Incredible India!

The hills are calling, and you must go. Book now for another unforgettable family holiday with India’s favorite resort chain!

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My dad giving jet skiing a first try in Tehri lake near the dam. Uttarakhand. Incredible India!

 

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This is where water adventure sports happen in Tehri Lake, Uttarakhand. Incredible India.

 

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Surkhanda Devi Temple, Kanatal, Uttarakhand. Incredible India.

 

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My parents in Dhanaulti Eco Park in Kanatal. Incredible India!

 

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My dad giving flying fox a first try in Dhanaulti Eco Park in Kanatal. Incredible India!

 

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Woodpecker outside Dhanaulti Eco Park in Kanatal. Incredible India!
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Outside Dhanaulti Eco Park in Kanatal. Uttarakhand. Incredible India!

You may also like to read below posts on the mountains of Himanchal and Uttarakhand:

A village walk in beautiful Kafura in Mukteshwar

Why this brave lady lives alone in a forest

Leela Orchards Sonapani is one of the best homestays in Mukteshwar

Offbeat things to do in Mussoorie

Sursingdhar : Offbeat mountain escape near Delhi

A Village turned into art gallery

This boutique hotel is a former house of a merchant

The view from my #SoulWindow is rejuvenating!

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My dad giving jet skiing a first try in Tehri lake near the dam. Uttarakhand. Incredible India!

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Anything is possible in the mountains of Incredible India.

 

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Kanatal, Dhanaulti and Tehri Dam are great for birdwatching. Uttarakhand. Incredible India.

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Instructions galore at Dhanaulti Eco Park. I like #5 It means, “Pls don’t argue and waste your time and mine!” Also, beware of monkeys. Kanatal. Incredible India!

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We bought a big bottle of Rhododendron flower juice from Chamba. It’s called buransh in Uttarakhand. Incredible India
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We also picked locally made apple chutney from Chamba. Uttarakhand. Incredible India.

 

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The main market of Chamba is not much. We just picked rhododendron juice and fruit pickles, jams and real fruits.

11 thoughts on “Travel Guide for a Weekend Getaway to Kanatal with Family”

  1. I didn’t realise in all these years that “Kanatal” was named after “one eyed” lol. I also never knew that so many fun activities like jet skiing and zip lining are now possible in this region. Ah progress!!

  2. It’s a shame I never heard about Kanatal despite living in Delhi. But now I know it’s so gorgeous, with adventure sports and that beautiful Tehri Lake, I’ll try to be there at the first chance I get. I’ll take my dad too, and me and him have the love of adventure & travel in common. So adventure it is 🙂

  3. Kanatal looks very gorgeous and full of nature. As I love mountains, I would love to walk and trek in Kanatal forest. Even Tehri dam is so photogenic and huge. Indian government should promote more these places as they are less crowded and well preserved in their original form. Also your parents doing adventures for first time, and that too joyously is great, because I am also afraid of such adventurous activites.

  4. Kanatal may be fairly close to New Dehli, but it sure looks worlds away in photos! That lake is gorgeous. So glad you had a chance to get away with your family. Family vacations are always so special, especially with multiple generations.

  5. Wow looks like you had a fantastic time with your parents! I could never convince my parents for such a adventures trip! Kanatal seems like a perfect place for holiday! Its so green and beautiful! I love that view of Tehri dam !

  6. It is true, there is nothing better than travelling to strengthen family bonds, especially if there is wild nature around, and even better if we face “tasks” together. I loved the way you approached this trip. Too often we think about traveling as a personal issue when, as in your case, we can live it as a choral experience where “we” is far away more important than “me”. Thanks for sharing, I am sure your words will inspire many of us.

  7. It is true, there is nothing better than travelling to strengthen family bonds, especially if there is wild nature around, and even better if we face “tasks” together. I loved the way you approached this trip. Too often we think about traveling as a personal issue when, as in your case, we can live it as a choral experience where “we” is far away more important than “me”. Thanks for sharing, I am sure your words will inspire many of us.

  8. What an incredible family trip- how fun to see your dad enjoying all of the adventures to the fullest! I would absolutely love to plan a trip to India one day and this post has given me a great jumping off point. Thank you for sharing such a special and unique getaway!

  9. Kanatal really sounds and looks like to be a very great destination for a familytrip! You dad really rocks! You must be very proud of him trying all these more adventurous activities like fox flying and jetski! I havent tried any of them yet! We are outdoor family too so Kanatal is a place we would definitely visit when we are near by!

  10. Abigail Sinsona

    I love visiting eco parks because I love nature sight-seeing too. Dhanaulti Eco Park reminds me of a similar eco park that we have here and my family visit often. It is such a great spot for spending time with family indeed. Plus, the high elevation makes it suitable for summer travel plans! The Dhanaulti Eco Park definitely hits home with me.

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