1-1.5 hours from Hotel Fatehpuri
Mori & Upper Tons
Asia's tallest pine · Rafting on the Tons · The gateway to Sankri and the high Himalayas
The Mori Valley
Where the Tons River runs through forests of deodar, pine, and chestnut
Mori lies deeper into the Tons valley, about 60 km from Tiuni. The drive itself is the experience — the road winds along the river, through dense forests, past small villages clinging to hillsides, with the Himalayas towering above.
The Mori area is known for its alpine character: forests of old-growth deodar, pine, chestnut, and jamun create a canopy so dense the light filters through in patterns on the forest floor. Meadows bloom in spring. The air smells of resin and wildflowers. This isn't a touristy hill station — it's a genuinely remote Himalayan valley where the mountains feel close enough to touch.
Asia's Tallest Pine
The Mori forest is home to what is recognised as Asia's tallest pine — a towering deodar that has grown for centuries in the sheltered microclimate of the upper Tons valley. The tree is now protected as a natural heritage site.
Standing beneath it is a humbling experience. The trunk rises straight as a column, the canopy disappears into the sky, and everything around it — the other trees, the undergrowth, you — feels small.
The surrounding forest is equally impressive: old-growth deodar, oak, rhododendron, and pine create an ecosystem that has been largely untouched. Birdsong fills the canopy. The air is sharp and clean.
Rafting & Kayaking on the Tons
One of the best whitewater experiences in the Indian Himalayas
The Tons River at Mori is a renowned destination for river rafting and kayaking. The river offers stretches ranging from gentle Grade II rapids to challenging Grade IV, making it suitable for both beginners and experienced paddlers.
The setting is what sets it apart — you're not rafting through a commercial corridor, but through a wild Himalayan valley with deodar forests rising on both banks. Operators run seasonal trips from Mori, typically from April to June and September to November.
For kayakers, the Tons is considered one of the finest kayaking rivers in India — challenging but rewarding, with long stretches of continuous rapids and deep pools for recovery.
The Duryodhana Temple at Saur
One of India's only temples dedicated to the Mahabharata's great antagonist
At Saur village, about 12 km from Netwar in the upper Tons valley, stands one of the most unusual temples in India — a temple dedicated to Duryodhana, the eldest of the Kauravas, typically cast as the villain of the Mahabharata.
But here, the narrative is different. The Bawari community of Saur traces its lineage directly to the Kauravas. For them, Duryodhana is not a villain but an ancestor — a king who fought for his rightful claim. The temple is maintained with devotion, and annual rituals honour Duryodhana's memory.
This is what makes the Tons valley extraordinary: Hanol (25 minutes from Tiuni) has the Pandava connection through Mahasu Devta. Saur (further up the valley) has the Kaurava connection. Both sides of the Mahabharata, within a day's journey. Nowhere else in India does this dual narrative exist so close together.
What to See & Do
Forest Walks
Walk through alpine forests of deodar and pine. The forest floor is soft with needles, the canopy filters the light, and the only sound is birdsong.
River Rafting & Kayaking
Grade II-IV rapids on the Tons. Seasonal operators run trips from Mori. The setting — wild forest on both banks — makes it unlike any commercial rafting spot.
Duryodhana Temple, Saur
One of India's only temples to Duryodhana. 12 km from Netwar. A fascinating counter-narrative to the Mahabharata you thought you knew.
Gateway to Sankri
Mori is on the road to Sankri — base camp for Kedarkantha and Har Ki Dun treks. From Mori to Sankri: ~21 km, about 1 hour.
Riverside Exploration
The Tons narrows and widens as you go deeper into the valley. Find your own quiet spot — a boulder by the rapids, a sandy bank under the trees.
Village Life & Photography
Small Himalayan villages dot the valley. Traditional Kath-Kuni architecture, terraced fields, and a way of life unchanged for generations. Every angle is a photograph.
Planning Your Visit
Distance from Hotel Fatehpuri
~60 km (1-1.5 hours)
Best time to visit
April to November
Road condition
Paved road, scenic drive along the Tons River
Recommended duration
Full day trip from Tiuni
Mori to Sankri (trek base)
~21 km, about 1 hour
Rafting season
April-June & September-November
Base Yourself at Hotel Fatehpuri
Explore Mori during the day, return to comfort in Tiuni. Raft the Tons, visit the Duryodhana temple, or continue to Sankri for your trek.
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