Dhanolti (also spelled Dhanaulti) is a small village that is located at a distance of 30 km from Mussoorie. Located at an altitude of 2286 m / 7500 ft, Dhanolti is known for its serene and calm environment. The panoramic views of the mighty Himalayas, the surrounding forests of Oak and Deodar, and the village void of the touristy crowd makes Dhanolti an offbeat favourite among all the travelers.
Apart from the spectacular natural beauty, Dhanolti does not have anything else! There are hardly few small eateries on the road side, and a few shops that sell daily essentials. The lack of such facilities keep the regular tourists away from this beautiful place.
Dhanolti is one of those places which can be best explored by foot. The traffic at this place is also minimal, and hence you can walk freely on the winding roads of Dhanolti. The major attraction of Dhanolti is an Eco Park that attracts huge bird life. You can walk through the eco park and enjoy spectacular views on the other side of the Dhanolti.
There are two eco parks (Amber and Dhara) 200 m apart. The local forest department worked together with the locals to develop these parks. The locals who helped build the park were then employed by the department to maintain the park!
The well-maintained eco park is abundant with natural beauty. On one side, you can see the tall green trees. The trees have boards indicating its maintainer. On the other side, there are multiple view points from where you can see the mighty Garhwal mountains!
Pathway in the Eco Park
From one of the view points
Another view point
The relaxed and calm environment makes Dhanolti a very good alternative to the crowded Mussoorie. In fact, Mussoorie has everything that a visitor can feel comfortable about: be it luxury resorts, budget hotels, lavish restaurants, shopping areas etc. Dhanolti is quite opposite: it only offers nature! The limited resorts around Dhanolti provide few activities (like Burma Bridge, Camp Fire, Nature Walk etc) to keep the visitors busy during their stay.
If you are lucky, you may find some local people who can help you see around Dhanolti on a pony or on a horse. They are usually very enthusiastic to show around the beauty of the village they live in.
You may be disappointed if you are someone who looks for all the comforts of a city life in a tourist location! However, if you are a person who looks for places that are away from the maddening crowd, if you are someone who loves the nature, if you are looking for peace and tranquility, if you are looking for a relaxed pace of life, then Dhanolti is an apt location.
Location
Where to stay?
- Limited options at Dhanolti
- Mussoorie
Distance Chart
| From | Distance (in km) |
| Mussoorie | 35 |
| Dehradun | 60 |
| Haridwar | 110 |
| Chandigarh | 221 |
| Shimla | 280 |
| Delhi | 310 |