Rahagir
Chakrata

Destinations / Uttarakhand

Chakrata

A quiet cantonment hill town above Dehradun with conifer forests, a tall waterfall and snow in winter.

Lesser-knownHill-stationWaterfallTrekSnow

Chakrata sits at about 2,118 m among conifer, oak and rhododendron forest, roughly 90 to 100 km by road from Dehradun. It has few hotels and almost no town bustle, so it suits people who want walks, a waterfall, Himalayan viewpoints and winter snow rather than shopping and nightlife. Villages around it are home to the Jaunsari community.

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Best time to go

WhenWhat to expect
March to JuneThe main season. Temperatures are reported between about 10 and 30 degrees C, with clear, pleasant days.
July to SeptemberMonsoon. Heavy rain, slippery routes and a risk of landslides and road blocks; most guides advise avoiding it.
October to NovemberListed as a moderate season after the rains. Mundali is described as a skiing area from November to April.
December to FebruaryCold, with highs around 15 degrees C and lows that can drop to about minus 5. The town gets snowfall.

Sights and activities

1

Tiger Falls

A waterfall of about 312 feet set in forested hills, reached by a walk downhill and a climb back. It gets busy in peak season.

Distance
Reached by a trek of about 5 km from Chakrata.
Timings
Go in daylight
Time needed
4 to 5 hours

MapWrong fee or timing?

2

Chilmiri Neck

A high viewpoint near the town with views of the Bandarpoonch and Swargarohini peaks. It is also known for birds and butterflies.

Distance
About 5 to 8 km (sources differ)
Timings
Open ground
Time needed
3 to 4 hours

MapWrong fee or timing?

3

Deoban

A dense deodar forest area with wide Himalayan views, popular with birdwatchers.

Distance
About 13 km (one source says 5 km)
Timings
Go in daylight
Time needed
3 to 4 hours

MapWrong fee or timing?

4

Ram Tal Horticultural Garden

A garden on the Chakrata to Mussoorie road with apple trees, conifers and many bird species.

Distance
About 9 to 12 km (sources differ)
Time needed
2 to 3 hours

MapWrong fee or timing?

5

Budher Caves

Limestone caves, also called the Miola caves, with stalactite and stalagmite formations and a local link to the Mahabharata.

Distance
About 30 km
Timings
Go in daylight
Time needed
2 to 3 hours at the caves, plus travel

MapWrong fee or timing?

6

Mundali

Alpine meadows at about 2,776 m with forest and snow-peak views. It is described as a skiing spot from November to April.

Distance
About 16 km by one source.
Timings
Go in daylight
Time needed
3 to 4 hours

MapWrong fee or timing?

7

Kharamba Peak

A summit of about 3,084 m (10,000 ft) above Chakrata, reached on foot through forest.

Timings
Go in daylight
Time needed
Allow most of a day

MapWrong fee or timing?

Getting there

By bus
By road from Dehradun, either through Herbertpur and Kalsi (about 98 km) or through Mussoorie and Yamuna Bridge (about 100 km). Buses and shared jeeps run from Dehradun; buses towards Dehradun and Chakrata leave from ISBT Kashmiri Gate in Delhi. Delhi is about 326 to 339 km away.
By train
Dehradun railway station is the nearest, about 87 to 92 km away. Trains named by the district site include the Shatabdi Express and Mussoorie Express.
By air
Jolly Grant Airport, Dehradun, about 113 km away, with daily flights to Delhi.
Where to base yourself
Stay in or just outside Chakrata town; hotels are few, so book ahead.

Getting around

  • The sights are spread over 5 to 30 km, so most visitors hire a taxi for the day or use their own vehicle.
  • Shared jeeps and taxis link Chakrata with other towns in the Garhwal region.
  • Tiger Falls and Chilmiri Neck can be reached on foot by trekking from the town.

On the way

Worth a stop on the drive from Dehradun, the last stretch whether you arrive by train, bus or air. Stopping needs a taxi or your own vehicle; buses do not wait. Distances are by road.

1

Kalsi Ashokan Rock Edict

A large boulder carved with Emperor Ashoka's major rock edicts from the 3rd century BCE, near the Yamuna at Kalsi. Protected by the Archaeological Survey of India.

Distance
About 60 km from Dehradun, 30 km before Chakrata

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Where to stay

Budget levelTypePrice per night
BudgetHostels, simple hotels and homestays₹500 to ₹2,200
Mid-rangeSmall resorts and hotels₹2,500 to ₹4,700
LuxuryLarger resorts and spa properties₹6,000 to ₹9,000

Food

There are hardly any stand-alone restaurants. People eat at their hotel or resort, or at roadside stalls serving local food, North Indian meals and common Chinese dishes.

Try these

  • Chainsoo
  • Kafuli
  • Kappa
  • Bal Mithai
  • Singodi
  • Gulgula

Vegetarian food is available at hotels and resorts, along with non-vegetarian food.

Daily costs

Budget levelStay per roomFood per personLocal transport
Budget₹1,500₹500₹300 per person
Mid-range₹3,500₹1,000₹2,500 per vehicle
Luxury₹7,000₹2,000₹3,500 per vehicle

Per day. Travel to and from your city is added in the planner above.

Permits and documents

Chakrata is a military cantonment. Indian visitors need no permit but should carry photo ID. Foreign nationals need prior permission from the military authorities (sources name the Special Frontier Force command) before visiting.

Safety

By day
A quiet army cantonment town. Trails to the waterfall and viewpoints are slippery after rain, so wear proper shoes.
At night
There is little activity after dark and few places to eat outside hotels; plan to be back at your stay by evening.
Solo women
No specific warnings were found. Hotels are few and spread out, so book ahead and arrange transport before dark.
Roads
A hill road of about 3 to 4 hours from Dehradun. Landslides and road blocks happen in the monsoon, and there is snow in winter.
Emergency numbers
112 (all emergencies), Chakrata Cantonment Board helpline: 01360-272502

Practical

Mobile network
Coverage is patchy. Ask your stay which network works best there.
ATMs and cash
At least a few ATMs and banks within about 6 km of the centre (PNB, State bank of india), the nearest about 1 km away. Carry some cash as a back-up. Carry enough cash from Dehradun or Vikasnagar.
Fuel
There is no petrol pump in Chakrata. Fill up at Vikasnagar (about 50 km) or Haripur on the way.
Medical
The nearest hospital listed is Government Hospital Chakrata, about 2 km from the centre. In an emergency dial 112, or 108 for an ambulance in most states. The Cantonment Board office can be reached on 01360-272502 during working hours.

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Accessibility

Seniors
The town and the roadside viewpoints are manageable by car, but Tiger Falls and the peaks involve steep walking.
Children
Tiger Falls is a popular family outing; keep children close near the water and on forest trails.
Wheelchair users
Most sights involve uneven trails.

Unless a sight is described as accessible, assume it is not step-free.

Culture and responsible travel

  • This is an active military cantonment. Follow signs and do not photograph army installations.
  • The surrounding villages belong to the Jaunsari community. Ask before taking photos of people or homes.
  • Carry your litter back from the waterfall, forests and meadows; there are few facilities at the sights.

What to pack

  • Photo ID (Aadhaar, passport or driving licence); hotels and permits ask for it
  • Printed copies of your permit, with a few passport-size photos
  • Proper winter wear: a heavy jacket, thermals, gloves and a cap
  • Waterproof shoes with grip if you go in the snow months
  • Walking shoes with a good grip, a small daypack and a refillable water bottle
  • Enough cash for the whole stay, a power bank and offline maps
  • Your regular medicines, plus basics for stomach upsets, headaches and cuts

Multi-stop trips that include Chakrata

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Distance by road.

All of Uttarakhand

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