Kanatal is a scatter of camps, homestays and orchards strung along the ridge road between Mussoorie and Chamba, at roughly 2,400-2,600 m. It is about 38 km beyond Mussoorie, which is exactly why it works: you get the same Garhwal views and cool air without Mall Road crowds or weekend traffic jams. The days are simple: walk to Surkanda Devi, wander the Kodia forest, drive down to look over Tehri lake. Most people stay in tented camps with meals included. Two nights is right; three if you want Dhanaulti and Tehri as well.
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When to go
October and November are the best: clear skies, cool days. April to June is peak season, with higher prices and busy weekends. July to September is monsoon: rain, slippery trails and possible landslides. Late December to February brings snow (January is the best bet, but not guaranteed every year) and heavy snow can block the roads; nights go below freezing.
Kanatal right now and the next 7 days
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Kanatal on the map
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The area
Getting there
Places to see
Day trips
Kanatal · Open in Google Maps ↗
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Step 3 of 11Next: Cost↓What your trip costs
Change anything and the numbers update. Every price is what the bus, room or ticket itself costs. We take no commission and sell no packages, so this is what you pay booking each piece yourself.
Ballpark ranges, not live quotes. Prices last updated 27 October 2026. Prices move with season and demand, so check live fares before you book. Spot a wrong price? Tell us and we fix it.
On the ground: stay, food, local travel and tickets. Pick a route above to add the journey.
Kanatal in 3 days: a day-by-day plan
Our suggested plan, in a sensible order with times. Move things between days, remove them or add more. It saves on this device, and you can share it.
- 11:00Surkanda Devi temple from KaddukhalHalf day · price to check · About 10 km from Kanatal. A steep 2 km walk (45 min to 1 h up), or the ropeway when it runs (fare unconfirmed; reports range ₹150-300). Temple open about 5 am to 7 pm; very busy at Ganga Dussehra (May-June).
- Lunch on the way
- 08:00Kodia forest walk2-3 h · free · Level trails of about 5 km through oak and pine, good for birds. Go with a camp guide if you are unsure of the paths.
- 13:00Lunch break
- 17:15Tehri lake viewpoint at sunsetHalf day · free · 25-35 km down the ridge, 45 min to 1 h. Arrive an hour before sunset.
- 08:00Boating at Koti Colony, Tehri lake2 h · price to check · Boats, jet skis and other water sports near New Tehri. Current prices not confirmed; ask at the counters.
- 13:00Lunch break
How to get to Kanatal
One-way prices per person. The cheapest sensible option is marked. Each button opens live times and fares for the date you picked above.
UTC hill bus
₹170About ₹170. Departures through the day, roughly 6:30 am to 2:30 pm. About 75 km via Mussoorie and Dhanaulti. Tell the conductor your camp's name.
Shared jeep Cheapest
₹165Shared Maxx jeeps, ₹150-180. About 62 km via Narendranagar. Private buses also run this route.
Taxi
₹3,150Sedan ₹2,800-3,500 for the car, SUV ₹4,000-5,000. Jolly Grant airport (DED) adds the run into Dehradun.
Getting around once you're there
Shared jeep
₹50Along the Chamba-Kanatal-Dhanaulti road. Flag one down; they run more in the morning.
Taxi for the day
₹3,850₹3,500-4,200 a day including the driver's allowance. Covers Surkanda Devi, Dhanaulti and a Tehri lake run.
On foot
FreeKodia forest trails and the Surkanda climb are walks, not drives.
Where to stay in Kanatal
Price per night for the room. The buttons open live availability for your dates.
Alpine tent, meals included
₹1,400/night₹1,000-1,800 per person a night in shared 2-3 person tents, with dinner, breakfast, snacks and a bonfire. Book ahead for summer weekends.
Swiss tent, meals included
₹2,400/night₹1,800-3,000 per person a night: proper beds, attached bathroom, buffet meals and some activities.
Cottage
₹3,250/night₹2,500-4,000 per person with meals; room heater in winter.
State-run
₹1,250/nightGMVN has no property in Kanatal itself. Dhanaulti's rooms are listed from about ₹1,250 on a third-party site; confirm on gmvnonline.com or gmvnreservationhq@gmail.com.
What to eat, and what it costs
Camp dinner and breakfast
IncludedAlmost every camp price includes meals. Buffet dinner, sometimes a barbecue.
Garhwali food: kafuli, chainsoo, pahari kadhi
Check priceSome camps cook these. Ask when you book. No menu prices confirmed.
Roadside chai and Maggi
Check priceStalls along the ridge road and at Kaddukhal. Prices not confirmed.
Things to do in Kanatal
Tap “Add to my plan” and it goes into your day-by-day plan above.
Surkanda Devi temple from Kaddukhal
Check priceAbout 10 km from Kanatal. A steep 2 km walk (45 min to 1 h up), or the ropeway when it runs (fare unconfirmed; reports range ₹150-300). Temple open about 5 am to 7 pm; very busy at Ganga Dussehra (May-June).
Kodia forest walk
FreeLevel trails of about 5 km through oak and pine, good for birds. Go with a camp guide if you are unsure of the paths.
Tehri lake viewpoint at sunset
Free25-35 km down the ridge, 45 min to 1 h. Arrive an hour before sunset.
Boating at Koti Colony, Tehri lake
Check priceBoats, jet skis and other water sports near New Tehri. Current prices not confirmed; ask at the counters.
Dhanaulti and its eco park
Check price15 km up the road. Deodar forest and Himalayan views on a clear day. Entry fee not confirmed.
Day trips and next stops
Dhanaulti
Check fareShared jeep or taxi
Tehri lake and New Tehri
Check fareTaxi or jeep via Chamba
Mussoorie
Check fareShared jeep or bus via Dhanaulti
Rishikesh
₹215Jeep to Chamba, then shared jeep
Know before you go
Mistakes to avoid
- Monsoon (July to September) brings landslides on the Mussoorie-Chamba and Rishikesh-Chamba roads and slippery forest trails. Leave slack in your plans.
- Snow from late December to February can block the ridge road and nights go below freezing. Check the camp is open and heated before you book a winter stay.
- The Surkanda ropeway stops in bad weather and its fare is not fixed in any official source. Be ready to walk the 2 km.
Ways to spend less
- Take the ₹170 UTC hill bus from Dehradun instead of a ₹3,000 taxi. Same road, through Mussoorie and Dhanaulti.
- Book an alpine tent with meals included: at ₹1,000-1,800 a night it covers bed, dinner and breakfast in one price.
- Go in October or November: clearer views than summer, no monsoon slides, and weekday prices drop.
Say it in Hindi
A few words go a long way, especially when you ask a price.
The pronunciation is a simple guide, not a native recording. Spot a mistake? Tell us.
Before-you-go checklist
Kanatal in pictures
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Step 11 of 11Next: FAQ↓Questions people ask
When is the best time to visit Kanatal?
Apr–May, Oct–Nov is the best time. October and November are the best: clear skies, cool days. April to June is peak season, with higher prices and busy weekends. July to September is monsoon: rain, slippery trails and possible landslides. Late December to February brings snow (January is the best bet, but not guaranteed every year) and heavy snow can block the roads; nights go below freezing.
How do I reach Kanatal?
UTC hill bus: Dehradun (hill bus stand) → Kanatal, 3 h, about ₹170 one way. Shared jeep: Rishikesh (Natraj Chowk) → Chamba, 2-2.5 h, about ₹165 one way. Taxi: Dehradun → Kanatal, 2.5-3 h, about ₹3,150 one way.
How much does a 3-day trip to Kanatal cost?
On the ground (stay, food, local travel and tickets), one person spends about ₹4,800 on a shoestring, ₹9,000 mid-range or ₹16,500 in comfort over 3 days. Add the journey: the cheapest sensible option is shared jeep (Rishikesh (Natraj Chowk) → Chamba) at about ₹165 each way.
How many days do you need in Kanatal?
3 days is right for most people. That covers Surkanda Devi temple from Kaddukhal, Kodia forest walk, Tehri lake viewpoint at sunset, Boating at Koti Colony, Tehri lake without rushing.
Is Kanatal good for families or solo travellers?
Kanatal works best for couples, groups, families.
Is vegetarian food easy to find in Kanatal?
Easy. Camp buffets are mostly vegetarian, and Garhwali dishes such as kafuli (leafy greens), chainsoo (black gram) and pahari kadhi are vegetarian. Vegans should ask about ghee and curd.
Will my phone and cards work in Kanatal?
Jio and BSNL work best. Airtel and Vi are unreliable. Bigger camps and resorts sometimes. Not roadside stalls. Carry it. ATMs are very limited and digital payments often fail on the ridge.
Sources and last check
Checked 25 October 2026. Fees, hours and rules change, so confirm on the official site before you pay.
- gov.uk OfficialNo FCDO advise-against for Uttarakhand/Tehri Garhwal
- trekgo.inDehradun-Kanatal ~75 km; UTC hill bus Dehradun-Kanatal ₹170, 6:30 am-2:30 pm; Rishikesh-Chamba shared jeep ₹150-180, ~62 km; Chamba-Kanatal jeep ₹50, ~16 km; Dhanaulti-Kanatal ~15 km; taxi fares Dehradun-Kanatal sedan ₹2,800-3,500/SUV ₹4,000-5,000; multi-day cab ₹3,500-4,200/day (23 Aug 2026)
- trekgo.inCamp prices per person/night: alpine ₹1,000-1,800, Swiss ₹1,800-3,000, cottages ₹2,500-4,000, all with meals; cost table; best months; snow late Dec-Feb; ATMs very limited; Jio/BSNL best
- trekgo.inKodia jungle ~5 km level trail; Garhwali dishes at camps; snowfall late Dec-Feb (17 Aug 2026)
- trekgo.inTehri lake viewpoint 25-30 km from Kanatal, 45 min-1 h; water sports near Tehri town (16 Aug 2026)
- tusktravel.comSurkanda Devi: temple 5 am-7 pm; ropeway ~₹150-300 approx., 9 am-6 pm weather permitting; 2 km walk from Kaddukhal, 45 min-1 h; 10 km from Kanatal; heavy footfall at Ganga Dussehra (4 Mar 2025)
- en.wikipedia.orgCoordinates; altitude 2,400-2,600 m (conflicting); 38 km from Mussoorie, 78 km from Dehradun; Chamba-Mussoorie road; winter snow blocks roads
- euttaranchal.comGMVN Dhanaulti tourist rest house from ₹1,250 (undated, third-party); GMVN reservation contacts
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Set your dates and group at the top, shape the days, then book each piece directly.
Back to the planner ↑Costs are indicative ballparks for doing it yourself and change with season and demand. Always check live fares, rates and opening rules before you book. Trip Under is not a travel agency: we sell nothing, take no commission, and every booking link goes straight to the provider. Photographs come from Wikimedia Commons under free licences; see credits.
By Gokul · Updated 27 October 2026 · Photo: Kalsigaurav · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source · Photo: आर्या जोशी · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source · Photo: Emailravikr · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source · Photo: Goldi.negi · CC BY-SA 3.0 · source · Photo: Dr.IMRAN ALI VETS · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
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