To be honest, Chakrata was never in our bucket list. But then the maddening metro life pushed us to look for an escape. I still remember till midnight we hadn’t fixed our destination. We were googling all the nearby places and debating on whether to go to Nahan in Himachal or Chakrata in Uttarakhand. We decided to opt for the latter.
Boy, aren’t we glad we did that! It was the month of March in Delhi. The summer hadn’t set in and winters had overstayed its welcome.
It was 3 a.m. and freezing. But we packed our backpacks, put on a jacket, and curled into our car for a weekend escape.
Where is Chakrata?
Chakrata is a quiet unexplored hill station nestled in the Dehradun district in Uttarakhand. It is close to a 7-hour drive from Delhi and an undiscovered paradise in the lap of Himalayas, quietly sitting at an elevation of 2118 meters above sea level. Dotted with coniferous forests and away from the hustle-bustle of city life, it is a perfect weekend getaway for the dreary souls.
Though we drove to this place, you can also choose to take Public Transport.
By Road
Reach Haridwar or Dehradun and take a cab to Chakrata. But Haridwar and Dehradun are well connected with other cities of India.
By Railway
Take the train to either Haridwar or Rishikesh and take a cab from there. Both the cities are well connected by railway
By Air
Land at Jolly Grant Airport in Dehradun and then take a cab to Chakrata.
Places to see in Chakrata: They are plenty enough for a weekend and not so much for a week-long getaway.
Chilmiri Neck: A breathtaking viewpoint in Chakrata and also the mess and quarters of a military cantonment. The place gives you beautiful views of dense forests. One can witness impressive flora and fauna from the top. The Himalayan peaks- Rohini Peak, Swarga Peak, and the Banderpoonch are distinctly visible from here.
Deoban (Devban): Another viewpoint is Deoban located at an elevation from 2200 meters. You can feast on some amazing views from this place. This region also covers the varied flora and fauna.
Tiger Falls: It is a favorite spot for tourists and is located at 20 km from Chakrata. You can click some mesmerizing photographs at this spot. The waterfall gives in to a pond that makes a gorgeous location and an amazing view.
Kalsi: Kalsi has a rich history of it. The Ashoka Pillar Rock Edict built-in 45o BC represents the Ashokan era when he took the path of Ahinsa and converted to Buddhism. Please note Foreign tourists are allowed up to KALSI. For visiting CHAKRAUTA foreigners have to obtain a permit from the Commandant 22 Force c/o 56 APO.
Ram Tall Horticulture Garden (12 Kms): Ramtall or Ramtal Horticulture Garden on the beautiful hills of Chakrata is a must-visit for the tourists. The beautiful pond makes for an amazing picnic spot.
Kanasar: This is around 28 Km from Chakrata and boasts deodar trees with the largest trunk in Asia. Mundali, Kimona Water Fall, Budher Forest, Budher Cave (25 km) and Thana Danda Peak are other popular tourist places near Chakrata
Where We Stayed?
We parked ourselves at Himalayan Eco Lodges in Viratkai
The cozy cottages opened to beautiful flower beds and a soothing breeze. We sat on the benches with a cup of team and stared at the sky for hours.
The Pahadi Huts: In the evening we went for a stroll and hobnobbed with the village locals. We also found some beautiful Pahadi huts and posed for a quick photo shoot.
Conclusion: Our weekend trip to Chakrata got over even before we could realize. It was a refreshing experience for us and we were all set to return to the humdrum with newfound zeal.