shooting up with every passing day and during this hottest month of Summer, everywhere sounds started to resonate like ‘Vacation’ and ‘hills’. To escape from the scorching heat of the summer, I decided to take unprepared holiday break to Dhanaulti, leaving back the Delhi under the scorching summer sun.
India has many
post-card perfect hill stations like Shimla, Manali, Mussoorie, Nainital and
these are quite favorite destination among family members, who usually flock to
these destinations in order to enjoy time amidst the nature, while the school are
off for summer break. They also bring their children and dear ones to these
popular hill stations to enjoy the nature and stay away from the stuffed heat
of the cities.
Dhanaulti I am
sure was not among these hill stations, which are flocked by thousands during
the peak season. Far away from the swarms of tourists is the most idyllic hill
station, Dhanaulti with cool pleasant atmosphere and enigmatic beauty of
nature.
Quiet, calm and
serene
Sometime in
life, you want to leave everything and you don’t want the deadlines to worry
you, no to-do lists to follow and no clients pressure, you want time for
yourself and want to spend idle time. Mornings in Dhanaulti are perfect for
those who want to stay away from the hustle and bustle of the city and spend
idle time viewing the picturesque scenery of the nature. The quietness of the
hills, the stillness of the air and the fresh breeze that caresses your face
and hair, is something that leaves you unbelievably hunting.
It was cool and
pleasant morning and we reached Crystal Palace at 9am in the morning, at the
right time for breakfast. After devouring fresh platters of cheese omelettes,
Maggi Noodles, buttered toasts and pots of hot tea, we set out to enjoy the
beauty from the rooftop. It was so amazing and appealing that if I have to
describe in one word, I would go with the word “breathtaking”.
The spectacular
landscapes, the winding paths, the lush green forests of oaks, deodar and
Rhododendrons, it was surreal but we had to believe as we were experiencing the
real beauty of Dhanaulti, a hidden paradise. Some couples of hours we spent
watching the picturesque appeal of the hills and the surrounding landscape,
which I am sure, that even the greatest of poets would find it difficult to
carve the real beauty with words.
Treks, worships and more
Dhanaulti is a small town
unlike Shimla and Manali where you will find fanciful shopping arcades or joy
rides on horses and yaks. But Dhanaulti is different from every point. After
having our breakfast, we went out to visit the nearby ECO Park. A piece of
protected forest of towering Deodar trees maintained and developed by the
Forest Department of Uttarakhand.
The park is well maintained with beautiufl wildlife flowers hedges and
swings for children. The park is an ideal picnic spot and is quite popular with
localities of Mussoorie and Dehradun. For entry per person 15 rs is charged. Along
the edge are the eateries selling roasted corn cobs, spicy peanuts and tea. The
floating soft clouds over the hills and some peeking from between the towering
trees, were sights to behold. It is truly an amazing experience and a nature
love would surely not miss to catch it in his/her favorite lens to enrich the
travel diary.
Once the dusk fell, we left the place for hotel reading books,
listening to music and sharing some astounding sights one got to see in the
park.
The next morning we visited to Surkanda Devi temple, located at
a distance of 8 kms from dhanaulti. The temple is holy and is associated with
the myth of Sati and Shiva’s Tandava nritya. It is believed that, when lord
shiva passed through this place carrying sati’s dead body, he accidently dropped
the head to the spot where today a temple is built. This holy temple is visited
by tens of thousands of devotees and tourists from all the year round from
across the world.
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