A quaint, little hamlet in Uttarakhand,
Kanatal grants every wanderer, who walks its path, the invaluable gift of
silence
While leading a 24x7 connected life,
it's difficult to take time out for yourself ¬ to let your thoughts wander
where they wish to, and enjoy some peace and quiet. The layered hills of
Kanatal -a picture-perfect hill station near Dehradun, perched at 8,500 feet
-may be just the place for tuning out of all the mental baggage, being one with
nature and reconnecting with your disoriented self. It's a landscape straight
out of Keats' poetry. Yet unharmed by commerce, Kanatal is surrounded by dense
pine, cedar, oak and rhododendron forests and offers a splendid view of the
mammoth, snow-capped Himalayas. While it is punctuated with fruit orchards and
colourful blooming flowers during monsoon and spring, the high point of the
year, at Kanatal, occurs between December and February, when over 50 inches of
snow carpets its areas, making it look like a cotton canyon.
KANATAL EXPLORED
ON FOOT
While a laid-back bibliophile can curl
up in a hammock to read a book and, at intervals, stare at the never-ending
vistas, an adventure seeker has a lot to explore. Climb the artificial rocks,
mountain bike on the meandering terrain, rappel down a cliff or go for a guided
moonlit jungle trail through a forest. It makes you overcome your fears and y o
u come back with a feeling o f scaling a summit. Plus, watching the blue
faintly gleaming over snow-capped mountains on a silent, breezy night is an
ethereal experience. Get to know the sky a little more by planning a session of
star gazing or simply enjoy a barbecue night with loved ones, spiced up with
some soulful music, a lot of laughter and meaningful conversations. One thing
you certainly shouldn't miss is the day trek around the scenic Jwarna region;
it is dotted with little villages every few metres, and gives you an unfiltered
taste of rural life. The two-three-hour trek has enough to keep you both
engaged and mes merised. Walking past these clusters of cosy pastoral homes set
amid organised patches of plantations (green pea, cabbage, turnip, potato,
mustard and coriander), will energise your worn-out body and fatigued
soul.Pluck some sweet organic green peas and munch away or keep clicking
photographs, as the vivid scenery gives you enough opportunities to get
artistic with your eyes as well as your camera. Except a few steep paths, the
trek is smooth throughout, making it apt for almost anyone with a decent
fitness level.
EXTRAORDINARY IN
THE ORDINARY
Kanatal is not an ex traordinary destina
tion ¬ it's a simple place that leaves an extraordinary im pact on you. A grat
ifying conversation with a pahari, eager to feed you home-cooked Himachali
food, witnessing the saffron sunset sky while lying back and sipping a cup of
hot tea... washes away all the fatigue from your weary nape. The pure mountain
air refreshes your senses and the ever-smiling lo cals reaffirm your faith in
the simple way of life. A hidden gem in every sense of the word, Kanatal is a
haven where you will want time to come to a standstill.
GETTING THERE
Air: Jolly
Grant Airport is the nearest Airport to Kanatal. It is situated 92kms from
Kanatal with well metalled roads. Taxis are easily available from Jolly Grant
Airport to Kanatal. Jolly Grant Airport is well connected to Delhi with daily
flights. The distance from Jolly Grant Airport to Kanatal can be easily covered
within 3 hours of time. A one-way drop to the airport by taxi costs around Rs
2,000 to 2,800.
Rail: The
two nearest railway station connected with Kanatal are Dehradun and Rishikesh.
Dehradun is situated 85kms from Kanatal and the distance from Rishikesh to
Kanatal is 75kms. Taxis and buses are available from both these destinations to
Kanatal. Kanatal is well connected by motorable roads with both these
destinations. Dehradun and Rishikesh are well connected by railway networks
with major destinations of India..
Road: Kanatal
is well connected with motorable roads situated on Mussoorie – Chamba road.
Luxury and normal Buses to Mussoorie, Rishikesh and Chamba are easily available
from ISBT Kashmiri Gate. Buses and Taxis to Kanatal are easily available from
major destinations of Uttarakhand state like Dehradun, Rishikesh, Haridwar and
Tehri, Chamba and Mussoorie, etc.
STAY & FOOD
There are a couple of peaceful tent
retreats nestled in the midst of the mountains; they offer a spectacular view
of the snow-covered Himalayan ranges, warm hospitality and delicious local
food. You can also carry your own camping equipment for a `close to nature'
experience.
NEARBY PLACES TO
EXPLORE
Manali, Dhanaulti, Chamba, Surkhanda
Devi Temple, Tehri Dam and Kaudia and Devdarshini forests.......Article by Shikha
Shah
