Route library · Weekend · Mountains
Delhi to Kanatal & Dhanaulti
Everyone rides to Mussoorie and sits in its traffic. Turn off earlier, at Chamba, and follow the ridge to Kanatal and Dhanaulti instead — deodar forest at around 2,200 m, Tehri Lake shining far below, the Surkanda Devi temple on the skyline, and a fraction of the crowd.
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At a glance
- Round trip
- About 650–700 km
- Riding time
- 7–8 hours each way with stops
- Nights
- One works; two lets you slow down
- Start point
- Delhi (via Roorkee, Haridwar and Rishikesh)
- Highest point
- About 2,250 m at Dhanaulti (Surkanda Devi ~2,750 m on foot)
- Difficulty
- Moderate. Sustained hill riding on good roads, no extreme sections.
- Surface
- Mostly good tarmac; the Rishikesh–Narendra Nagar–Chamba stretch takes monsoon damage
- Best season
- March to June and September to November. Snow at Dhanaulti Dec–Feb; avoid the monsoon.
The ride
The route runs Delhi → Roorkee → Haridwar → Rishikesh, then climbs out of the Ganga valley through Narendra Nagar and along the ridge to Chamba. From Chamba a quieter road follows the crest to Kanatal and Dhanaulti, with the huge Tehri reservoir filling the valley on one side.
Dhanaulti has a small forest eco park and a lot of cedar. The real reason to come is the Surkanda Devi temple — a stiff 1.5 km walk up from Kaddukhal, now also served by a cable car, with a 360-degree Himalayan view from the top on a clear day.
Day by day
Delhi to Kanatal / Dhanaulti
Delhi → Roorkee → Haridwar → Rishikesh (about 5 hours), then up through Narendra Nagar and Chamba to Kanatal (another 2–3 hours). Fuel at Rishikesh and again at Chamba.
The ridge day
Ride to Kaddukhal and climb (or take the cable car) to Surkanda Devi for the panorama. Afternoon at the Dhanaulti eco park or the Tehri Lake viewpoints.
Return to Delhi
Down to Rishikesh in the cool morning, then the highway home. Start early — the Haridwar–Delhi stretch clogs up by midday.
Fuel & services
- Fuel is easy up to Rishikesh, and there is a pump at Narendra Nagar and at Chamba.
- Between Chamba and Dhanaulti the pumps are few and can be out of stock — fill up at Chamba and do not run the tank low on the ridge.
- Kanatal and Dhanaulti have resorts, camps and homestays across all budgets. Book ahead for weekends.
Road & conditions
Highway to Rishikesh is straightforward. The climb through Narendra Nagar to Chamba is a good hill road but busy with Mussoorie and Gangotri traffic and prone to slips after rain. The Chamba–Kanatal–Dhanaulti ridge is quieter and mostly well surfaced, with a few broken patches. Expect fog on the ridge in the evenings.
Bike, fuel & getting help
- Suggested bike
- Fine on a well-maintained 150–200cc commuter.
- Fuel gap
- One long stretch without a pump — fill up before it and top off where you can.
- Spare fuel
- Carry 3–5 litres of spare fuel.
- Emergency & logistics
- The nearest well-equipped hospital is the valley/district town, one to two hours off; signal is patchy above the bazaar; carry the group lead's number and an emergency card.
Best time to ride
March to June is green and mild; September to November is the clearest, with the best mountain views after the monsoon washes the air. December to February brings snow — the ridge road can ice over, so only go if equipped and confident. Do not attempt it in July–August.
What to add to your kit
Beyond the standard ride kit: a proper warm layer and windproof gloves — the ridge is cold after sundown even in summer — plus shoes you can walk the Surkanda Devi trail in.
Ride this with a group
We run Kanatal as an easy first-mountains weekend — briefed climbs, fuel sorted at Chamba, and a trail clean-up at Surkanda Devi.