Budget Trip

There are small food joints in front of Eco Park where you can have a drool worthy breakfast and the shops have many options ranging from maggie to bread omelette to parantha.

There are stairs to reach the top in Eco park and you can also plan a picnic for this place. The view while climbing the stairs was breath taking. Once on top, you can see the clouds almost touching you. you go in trance while you see the clouds beneath you and then the phrase "Walking on Clouds" feels almost real.

It takes maximum 3-4 hours to explore this place. We reached our hotel around 5:30 PM and took a nap. We left our hotel around 8:30 PM to explore the local area, had some tea, talked to the locals. Back to hotel and we spent the rest of the time listening to music and enjoying the view.

We planned for a trek to Surkanda Devi Temple on Second day. From the main market, we booked a cab and it took us half hour to reach the place from where the trek started.
Surkanda Devi temple is situated in Tehri district of Uttarkhand on Mussoorie-Chamba Highway near Dhanaulti, Temple is dedicated to goddess sati. It is one of the 51 Shakti Peeth located across Indian Subcontinent. According to the mythology, the origin of Surkhanda Devi Temple can be attributed to Shiva's Tandav when he was enraged by Sati's death. A yagya was organised by Sati's father in which Shiva was not invited. Embarrassed by this behaviour of his father, Goddess Sati immolated herself as Daksha's (her father) sacrifice which infuriated Shiva and then he performed Tandav throughout the heaven while carrying Sati's body. Sati's body parts fell at 51 places across Indian Subcontinents which are now known as Shakti Peeths.

The trek to Surkhanda Devi is approx 1.5 kns and pony rides to the top is also available. (₹400/-).
The trek is steep but there are several rest stops mid way. The entire route is beautiful, serene and peaceful.

It took us two hours to reach the top. We visited the temples and then chose a quiet place at the edge of the mountain to see the marvelous valley beneath.

There are several food joints once you are down which have some delicious food.

We hoped on a jeep and picked up our luggage from our hotel midway and reached Suvakholi. What we did not know at that time was the adventure wasn't over. The local shop owners told us that the last bus to dehradun already left and the next bus or any transport would be available next morning. There was only one hotel there which had no rooms empty and we were stuck at mountains with absolutely nowhere to go. The last option was to board a cab but unfortunately there was no cab in sight. Suddenly, a stranger offered a ride to us till dehradun and to our surprise, we accepted the offer. Turned out it was the most wonderful memory till date. He was a localite and was returning to his home in dehradun with his five year old daughter.
The entire journey was so entertaining and left us believing that mountain people are so pure hearted and sweet.
We reached dehradun around 5:30 PM where we explored the market and had momos and cold coffee.

We boarded the bus from dehradun at 8:30 PM and reached Delhi on Monday Morning, ready for the hustle of the city.

If you are looking for a two day getaway to a place with minimal human intrusion, without overwhelming or overloading your senses or expectations then Dhanaulti is a must visit place. And ohh, It is a heaven for photographers.