I planned a trekking trip with few friends in Deoban. We had heard a lot about the weekend treks there. One of these treks that stretches a few hours gives us a stupendous view of the beautiful Garhwali mountains. You can see the Mt. Nanda Devi, the tallest mountain which is completely in India and others like Mt. Bandar Poonch, Mt. Srikanth, Mt. Nanda Ghunti and the Gangotri massif. Apart from the majestic mountain view, the forest on the way to the top is also mesmerizing. The base camp of the Deoban trek is easily accessible from Chakrata.
As Chakrata is near Mussoorie, we planned to go from Dehradun to Mussoorie and then from there to Chakrata. We checked the bus routes but there is no bus going till Deoban, so we thought to book a Dehradun taxi service with a trained driver as the mountain roads are not for novices. We checked online for a good taxi service and came across one cab service specifically. We spoke to their representative and the executive gave us the package details according to our trekking itinerary.
Overview and daily activities:
As per the assurances were given by the support staff, our taxi was at our doorstep at the exact time we have given. The car was both neat and clean from outside and inside. The chauffeur was courteous and helpful and helped us with our luggage as well. The car looked well-maintained and the driver seemed to be an expert around the ghat sections. For all the things being offered, we found that the Dehradun to Mussoorie taxi fare is cheap and economical.
Once comfortably seated, he informed us the route we would be taking. He also told us to ask him to stop at any place we wanted for refreshments, pictures, or just anything. We started off early from Dehradun to see the sunrise on the way to Mussoorie. Sunrise on the beautiful hills is mesmerizing and not a sight to be missed.
Our driver was an expert on the hilly roads and navigated the sharp turns with expertise. We stopped on a roadside small tea shop to enjoy the sunrise and have hot tea. Though it was summer, the morning air had a bit of chip in it making the tea taste its best.
We soon after got back onto the road and reached Mussoorie. The driver parked at the mall road, while we roamed the beautiful mall road without much tourists in the early morning. Mussoorie is famous for its many churches, Mussoorie lake, Gunhill road/Gun Point, camels back road, Lal Tibba Scenic point, and the Kempty falls. We spent the day enjoying these sights and just roaming around the mall road.
You can just take a walk or sit on the various roadside benches on mall road and enjoy the scenic views from atop the hill. There are many small eateries on the sidewalk for hunger pangs. Towards the afternoon we proceeded towards kempty fall, to enjoy the cool water in the hot sun. After a lot of fun in the water, we returned to our pre-booked hotel to rest for the night.
On the next day, we made an early start to Chakrata for the Deoban trek. We had pre-booked the trek, so the trek representative met us at Lokhani. As it was our first trek, we had opted for a short one – a 3.5 km trek to Saraswati. It began with a small walk to Koti kanasar and then gradual ascent deeper into the forest of Deodar and pine trees. As we trekked the forest became denser and at some points, we walked on the mountain edge on a narrow trail. While it was frightening, it was also quite thrilling.
The trail was well marked, to ensure no one gets lost in the woods. Soon we reached the Saraswati campsite. The view from here was breathtaking, with mountains clearly visible. Our trek companion informed us about the various mountains visible from there. We were fascinated by the forest and the views all around us.
After relaxing and soaking in the beautiful sights for some time, we started the return trek, though a bit reluctantly. Soon we reached our starting point, where our Saavari driver was waiting for us to take us back to Dehradun. We were safely dropped at our respective homes, after a memorable journey.
How to reach Mussoorie from Dehradun
Dehradun to Mussoorie is a short distance and there are several options to commute. You can either take a bus or go by car or take a taxi. Unfortunately, there aren’t many public buses that operate between Mussoorie and Dehradun. And they follow their own rules.
Going on your own or with your own car is probably the best option, but the mountain roads can be quite tricky. So its best to book a Dehradun taxi service with a trained driver.
Distance and time taken:
Distance from Dehradun to Mussoorie is 38 km and the journey takes about an hour. The distance and time might differ depending on the starting point and the traffic on the way.
Trekking to Deoban was an experience of a lifetime, with such a clear view of the mountain range. It defies the saying – journey is more important than the destination. Because the destination was equally as beautiful as the journey.
