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Quick Answer: Dehradun to Surkanda Devi is about 66 km by road via Mussoorie and Dhanaulti, roughly 2.5 to 3 hours to Kaddukhal, where the road ends. From there a 502 m ropeway or a steep walk of about 1.5 to 2.5 km takes you up to the temple.
Dehradun to Surkanda Devi Route & Fare
How much does a Dehradun to Surkanda Devi taxi cost?
Private cab fares for the Dehradun to Surkanda Devi route. Every rate below is for the whole vehicle, not per seat.
Included: vehicle, fuel and driver allowance. Extra: tolls, state permits, parking, and on hill routes any night halt charge. Fares are confirmed on call before pickup — nothing is added afterwards.
The Dehradun to Surkanda Devi distance is about 66 km by road, and the drive takes 2.5 to 3 hours. That figure is the Google route our booking engine uses, from Dehradun to Kaddukhal, the roadside village below the temple. The last climb is on foot or by ropeway, so the car always stops at Kaddukhal.
Surkanda Devi sits at about 2,756 m, which makes it one of the highest points you can reach from Dehradun in a morning. It is counted among the Shakti Peeths, the spots linked to the goddess Sati.
Dehradun to Surkanda Devi distance and the road you take
The route climbs to Mussoorie first, then follows the ridge road east through Dhanaulti. Kaddukhal is roughly 7 to 8 km past Dhanaulti. Expect hairpins from Rajpur Road onwards and a narrower, quieter road after Mussoorie.
Weekend traffic in Mussoorie is the real variable. On a Saturday the town can eat 30 to 45 minutes on its own, so we suggest leaving Dehradun by 7 am if your trip falls on a weekend or a holiday.
Ropeway or trek from Kaddukhal?
The Uttarakhand government opened a ropeway from Kaddukhal in May 2022. It is 502 m long, carries up to 500 people an hour and takes a few minutes; reports at launch put the ticket at Rs 177 a head. Check the current fare and timings at the counter, because ropeways here stop in high wind.
The footpath is the older way up. Sources describe it as anything from 1.5 to 2.5 km, and all of them agree on one word: steep. Fit walkers take about an hour; older pilgrims usually prefer the ropeway up and the path down.
Planning the day
As a round trip, this works as a comfortable day out: about 2.5 to 3 hours each way, plus 2 to 3 hours at the temple. Book it with the car waiting at Kaddukhal, since taxis there are few and the drive back is the same winding road.
Dhanaulti is on the way, so many people stop at its eco parks on the return. If you want sunrise views of the snow peaks from the temple, plan a night in Dhanaulti and go up early the next morning.
Winter brings snow to this ridge. In January and February the road beyond Mussoorie can close for a few hours after fresh snowfall, so keep a flexible return time in those months.
Dehradun to Surkanda Devi taxi fare
The fare table on this page reads our rate desk, with one way and round trip prices for each car. A sedan suits up to four people. For six or seven, or for elderly parents who need legroom on hill roads, take an Ertiga or Innova. Tolls, parking and the ropeway ticket are not part of the taxi fare.
Call or WhatsApp 7830211223 with your date and pickup point, and we confirm a fixed fare before the trip.
Pickup points in Dehradun
We pick up from any address in the city, plus ISBT, the railway station and Jolly Grant airport. From the airport side, add close to an hour, because you cross the whole city before the Mussoorie climb begins.
Families staying in Mussoorie can start from there instead. The drive to Kaddukhal is then a short run along the ridge, and the same round trip logic applies.
What to carry
Even in May the temple ridge is noticeably colder than Dehradun, and the wind at the top cuts through a light shirt. Carry a jacket, water and comfortable shoes if anyone plans to walk the path. Footwear comes off at the temple, so socks help on cold stone.
Sources
- Surkanda Devi (elevation, Kaddukhal, trek): en.wikipedia.org
- ThePrint / ANI, May 2022 (ropeway length, capacity): theprint.in
- Outlook Traveller (ropeway, distance from Dhanaulti): outlooktraveller.com
- Road distance and time: Google route used by the Anywhere Taxi booking engine
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
How far is Surkanda Devi from Mussoorie?
Kaddukhal, the road head for Surkanda Devi, is past Dhanaulti on the ridge road east of Mussoorie, and Dhanaulti itself is about 7 to 8 km before Kaddukhal.
Is there a ropeway to Surkanda Devi temple?
Yes. A 502 m ropeway from Kaddukhal opened in May 2022. The walking path is still open for those who prefer to climb.
Can I do Surkanda Devi and Dhanaulti in one day from Dehradun?
Yes. Dhanaulti is on the same road, so a round trip with a stop there fits in one day if you leave Dehradun early.
Dehradun to Surkanda Devi taxi — the short answer
Dehradun to Surkanda Devi by private taxi. The fare is for the whole car, not per seat; tolls and permits are extra at actuals. Anywhere Taxi Service runs it as a one-way drop or a round trip, 24×7, with door-to-door pickup anywhere in Dehradun — book on 7830211223 (call or WhatsApp).
What the Dehradun to Surkanda Devi fare includes — and what it doesn't
Every quote is for the whole car, confirmed on the phone before pickup. Nothing is added afterwards that was not on this list.
✓ Included
- The vehicle, the driver and fuel for the booked trip
- Driver allowance on outstation trips
- Pickup from your door, hotel, station or the airport
- Short stops on the way for tea, food or a washroom
- Flight tracking on airport pickups — a late landing is not waiting time
- Phone and WhatsApp support for the whole trip
✗ Charged at actuals
- Tolls, state entry taxes and permit fees
- Parking, where a stop needs it
- Driver's night halt on multi-day hill trips, where it applies
- Extra kilometres or hours beyond what was booked
- On a one-way drop, tolls and taxes on the car's return to base
- Entry tickets, meals and hotels — yours to choose
Full terms, including refunds and waiting time, are on the cancellation policy page.
Getting from Dehradun to Surkanda Devi: taxi, bus or train
An honest look at the alternatives, because the right answer is not always a taxi.
| Option | Time | Door to door | Luggage | Where it fits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Private taxi | the drive time on this page, leaving when you choose | Yes | Whatever fits the car | Families, groups, luggage, odd hours, and anyone who wants to stop on the way |
| Bus | GMOU and UTC buses run from Rishikesh in daylight hours only, with roof-rack luggage and fixed stops. Check the current timetable. | |||
| Train | Nearest railhead is Rishikesh (Yog Nagari) or Haridwar. No train goes further into the Garhwal hills; from the station it is still a full day by road. | |||
On hill routes the taxi's real advantage is control: you decide the start time, the stops and the pace, and the same driver is there for the return.
Which car to book for Dehradun to Surkanda Devi
Count the suitcases before you count the people — luggage decides the car more often than passengers do.
| Car | Best for | Our take on this route |
|---|---|---|
| Swift Dzire / sedan | Up to 3 adults, light bags | Fine on tarmac hill roads; low on ground clearance for the last rough kilometres and tight on luggage for a multi-day trip. |
| Maruti Ertiga | Family of 4–5 | The usual pick for hill routes: more room, higher stance, still economical on fuel. |
| Toyota Innova / Crysta | 5–6 adults with luggage | The car for long hill days — comfortable over the drive time on this page, and the one to book for elderly passengers or a Char Dham-style multi-day run. |
| Tempo Traveller / Urbania | Groups of 9–17 | For pilgrim and family groups. Ask us about the road: on some upper stretches a 12-seater is the sensible limit. |
How to book a Dehradun to Surkanda Devi taxi
Call or WhatsApp 7830211223 with the date, pickup time and address (or flight / train number), the drop point, and how many people and bags.
We confirm the car, one-way or round trip, and everything included, on the same call. What we say is what you pay.
You get the driver's name and number before the trip. The driver calls ahead and is at the door at the booked time.
Cancellation: more than 24 hours before pickup, the trip cost minus 15% is refunded; within 24 hours, no refund; if we cannot provide the car, full refund.
