A quick dash to the Himalayas was just what the doctor ordered. So off we went to Chakrata, a little-heard-of cantonment town in Garhwal Himalayas, 90 km from Dehradun. Chakrata is a one-horse town, with a quaint charm—very different from typical hilly destinations like the bustling Mussourie and Nainital.
After an eight-hour journey from Noida, the 6700 ft Chakrata welcomed us with dazzling views of the snowy Himalayan peaks and fresh mountain air. We had opted to stay at the Himalayan Paradise hotel, rejecting Snowview Hotel. A bad decision, as we soon found out, considering that Himalayan Paradise is 8-9 km below Chakrata town and has absolutely no view of the snowy peaks.