Kanatal Tourism

This is one of the “must see” sites around Kanatal and a popular tourist destination in Uttarakhand. The forest has numerous natural springs within it which further uplifts its beauty. Wildlife that inhabits the forest mainly comprises of musk deer, barking deer, ghorals, wild boar, some indigenous birds etc. 

One can rent a jeep safari tour into the jungle from Kanatal for the day to visit this extraordinary place. It can be said that the vacation album of trip to Uttarakhand will forever remain incomplete without the pictures of musk deer and barking deer taken here at Kodia jungle. 

Bird and Butterfly watching at Chimmony Wildlife Sanctuary and Peechi-Vazhani Wildlife Sanctuary is very popular. You may also go for picnics and nature walks near Athirapally Falls, Jawaharlal Nehru Park and Kauthuka Park.

Mussoorie:Being one of the most popular tourist spots and well known hill stations in Uttarakhand is only 38 km away from Kanatal. This amazing hill station as is rightfully called as the Queen of Hills needs no further introduction. This is one of the most favorite getaway destinations for people living in the nearby cities of Delhi to relax and rejuvenate them. Not so untouched by urbanization this place has several shops, game centers, restaurants etc. One can visit the spectacular Kempty falls or go on hike through the Mall road or the aptly named Camel’s back road.

·Chamba:Located at a distance of about 16 km from Kanatal is the gorgeous hamlet of Chamba. It is a very popular picnic spot as well. Chamba has not seen much of urbanization and can perfectly offer you the rustic charm of small hill stations. This town is quieter and more serene than the bustling spots like Mussoorie and is liked by people who want to spend a few days of complete relaxation and undisturbed peace. It is located at an altitude of 1600 meters above sea- level and has a pleasant weather.

·Dhanaulti:Another charming little town within the Himalayan hills that is untouched by commercialization, the town of Dhanaulti is about 12 km away from Kanatal. It is veined with sparkling streams running through the town which seems to be appearing from nowhere and offers other activities in the nature like pony rides through the orchards and treks among the mountainous terrain. Although you won’t find shopping malls and video game parlors here, the walks through the narrow roads within the hills and orchards can keep you busy and entertained throughout the day.

·Shivpuri:This place is located near Rishikesh and is 75 km away from Kanatal. This is one of the most convenient and popular river rafting spots close to Kanatal. The best time to go for this amazing adventure sport is from the months of September to October and from March to May. It remains out of business during the risky monsoon season.

There are a lot of places like Mega Mart Mall, Spencer Plaza, Karthik Pathira Maligai and VPP shopping centre where you may find shops and departmental stores catering to all your daily needs.

The nearby town of Chamba has a street market where one can by handmade souvenirs, artifacts and local handicrafts such as basket made from local bamboo, clothing made with local nettle weed fabric etc. There are local shops on the way and even within Kanatal which sell Rhododendron juice made locally from Rhododendron flowers and a few Chai shops along the way to refresh and energize tourists during the drive to Kanatal.

As for adventurous activities Kanatal offer a bountiful of choices, from river rafting in Shivpuri to trekking and safari rides within the various forests like the Rani Chauri Forest and Batwaldar Forest, Kanatal has it all. 

The entire atmosphere of Kanatal is all about taking in its beauty slowly and relaxing in the hillside resorts and hotels to take a much needed break from busy lives in the city. You can stroll down the narrow paths and explore the various fruit orchards to get a breath of fresh unpolluted cool mountain air.

Kanatal tour offers an amazing opportunity for city dwelling kids to come in contact with Mother Nature. The serene mountain weather and green valley populated with great big pine trees exotic fresh produce of apples from the beautiful orchards and long walks amidst nature can provide a fresh break for urban kids from the concrete jungle of their cities. They can fill their pockets with endless freshly fallen pinecones and pick apples from the orchards. The several resorts in Kanatal also offer various activities for kids and have video game parlors for indoor game rooms for fun and entertainment. 

This is located at an elevation of 9,995 feet and is the highest point within Kanatal. One can get breathtaking 360 degree views of the entire valley from the top of this temple. It is considered to be a highly sacred spot according Hindu mythology and is about 8 km from Kanatal. One has to take a 2 km walk uphill to get to this temple.

For those who do not wish to walk can also board ponies and porters that are available to carry people uphill. One can find great panoramic views of the entire surrounding Himalayan range and of other hill stations like Rishikesh and Dehradun from the top. It is believed that an enraged Shiva brought his wife Sati’s charred corpse in this very spot when she jumped into her death to prove her loyalty and love to her husband into the holy fire of yajna arranged by her father who shunned Shiva from this event as an insult to him.

Kanatal is a secluded town within the Himalayas and is more or less untouched by the vices of urbanization, so, the whole town offers numerous natural stretches to explore including several fruit orchards. There are also many quaint picnic spots around Kanatal like Chamba which can keep you occupied for a day.