“So… where are we driving this weekend?”
“Somewhere with empty roads, cold air, and no crowd selfies.”
If that sounds like your kind of conversation every winter in Dehradun, this short guide is for you. When the hills slow down, the forests go quiet, and the air turns crisp, winter becomes the perfect season to explore the lesser-known drives around Dehradun—the kind where you stop just to listen to the silence.
Here are a few offbeat, less-crowded winter drives that feel more like a secret than a destination.
Barely an hour from Dehradun, Kyarki feels like a gentle pause button. Winter mornings here are misty, slow, and wonderfully quiet. You’ll pass small homes, terraced fields, and locals warming their hands in the sun. Ideal for a short drive, tea in a steel cup, and back before sunset.
One of Dehradun’s most underrated winter routes, this stretch cuts through dense sal forests. Winter brings migratory birds, golden sunlight filtering through trees, and the occasional peacock crossing the road like it owns the place. And of course, needless to say, drive slowly. This road deserves it.
Devalsari, near Thatyur, is a winter dream for those who love forests more than cafés. Cold mornings, chirping birds, and long walks under tall trees define this drive. It’s calm, uncrowded, and perfect if you want to disappear for a day or two without going too far.
This winter drive is for those who like stories with their journeys. The Budher Caves are tied to mythology, and the route through Chakrata offers quiet cantonment roads, pine forests, and chilly air. Best done in clear winter weather, with good shoes and a sense of curiosity.
The drive to Pabau takes you deep into rural Garhwal, where winter sun warms hill ridges, and villages move at their own pace. Expect long views, minimal traffic, and that feeling of being very far from city life—even when you’re not.
Jakhol is not a casual drive—it’s a commitment. But winter makes it magical. Quiet roads, dramatic landscapes, and a village steeped in local belief and tradition. Snow often dusts the surroundings, and the stillness feels almost sacred.
Winter around Dehradun isn’t about rushing somewhere famous. It’s about the journey, the empty roads, the chai breaks, and conversations that stretch as long as the highways. These offbeat drives remind you that sometimes, the best places aren’t trending—they’re just quietly waiting.
So… where are you driving this weekend?
