Rishikesh to Mussoorie, Dhanaulti and Kanatal by Bike
- Loop distance
- ~230 km
- Days needed
- 2
- Mussoorie
- ~2,000 m
- Dhanaulti
- ~2,290 m
- Kanatal
- ~2,500 m
- Season
- Year-round. Snow possible Dec–Feb
- Road
- Good throughout. Sealed, lots of switchbacks
- Bike we'd recommend
- Guerrilla 450
- Rough cost, 2 days, per person sharing
- ₹3,000–5,000
The best weekend loop from Rishikesh that doesn’t involve a single dham, a single permit or a single stretch of broken road. Two days, roughly 230 km, all sealed, through some of the finest deodar forest in the state.
Mussoorie itself is a crowded Victorian hill station and you may not love it. Dhanaulti and Kanatal, thirty kilometres past it, are the reason to do this ride — quiet, forested, at around 2,200–2,500 m, and largely ignored by the crowds that stop at Mussoorie’s Mall Road.
The Loop
Ride it anticlockwise — Mussoorie first while you’re fresh and the traffic is light, Chamba on the way home.
Day 1 — Rishikesh → Dehradun → Mussoorie → Dhanaulti → Kanatal (~130 km)
Rishikesh → Dehradun (~45 km). Flat, fast, dull. Get it done early; Dehradun traffic is unpleasant after 9 AM.
Dehradun → Mussoorie (~35 km). A superb climb — a long unbroken run of well-surfaced switchbacks gaining about 1,300 m. This is the best half-hour of the loop.
Mussoorie. Park below the Mall if you want to walk it. Or ride straight through, which is what we’d do.
Mussoorie → Dhanaulti (~33 km). The road quietens immediately past Mussoorie and enters proper deodar forest. Eco Park at Dhanaulti is pleasant; the road itself is better.
Dhanaulti → Kanatal (~12 km). Higher, quieter still, with the range visible on a clear day.
Stay at Kanatal or Dhanaulti. Camps and resorts from ~₹1,500. Cold at night year-round — bring a layer.
Day 2 — Kanatal → Chamba → Narendra Nagar → Rishikesh (~100 km)
Down through Chamba, then the long descent via Narendra Nagar back into the Ganga valley. Good road, sweeping, downhill, and a genuinely satisfying way to finish.
Which Bike
Guerrilla 450 — ₹1,800/day. The Dehradun–Mussoorie climb is one of the best sealed roads in north India and this is the bike for it. Not a close call.
Classic 350 — ₹1,300/day. Comfortable, relaxed, and the deodar forest sections suit its pace.
Hunter 350 — ₹1,200/day. Light and quick through the switchbacks. The cheapest good option.
Himalayan 411 or 450 — capable and unnecessary. All sealed road.
Activa 125 — no. Too much climbing over too much distance.
Practical
Fuel: Rishikesh, Dehradun, Mussoorie, Chamba. All reliable, no gaps to worry about.
Traffic: Mussoorie is genuinely congested at weekends and through May–June. Start early or ride through without stopping.
Weather: Kanatal at 2,500 m gets cold and can see snow December through February. Check before you go in winter — the road is usually fine but the top can ice up on shaded bends in early morning.
Extending: from Chamba you can drop to Tehri Lake and make it a three-day loop, which is the better version if you have the time.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long is the Rishikesh–Mussoorie ride?
Is Mussoorie worth stopping in?
Which is better, Dhanaulti or Kanatal?
Can I do this in one day?
Is there snow in winter?
Can I combine it with Tehri Lake?
· Guerrilla 450 · Rates