Kumaon region in Uttarakhand has many villages spread over different districts from where you can get a spectacular 180-degree view of snow-capped Himalayan mountain peaks. Some of them are frequently visited, and some are getting popularised very fast. Chaukori is one such destination that has had a KMVN rest house for a long time, but not many tourists visit this place often, at least not the number that visit Nainital, Kausani, Ranikhet or Mukteswar.
As a Himalayan lover, if you want to isolate yourself in nature and enjoy the magic of light on Himalayan peaks throughout the day, Chaukori is perfect. The location of Chaukori is such that it seems a perfect balcony for viewing mighty Himalayan peaks closely. If you can manage the travel time of 6-7 hours from Nainital, Chaukori offers the best view compared to all other popular places in Kumaon.
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About Chaukori
Chaukori is an idyllic hill station in the Pithoragarh district in the Kumaon region of Uttarakhand. It is situated at a height of 2010 metres from sea level. The majestic view of snow-capped mountain peaks on the western makes this place an open balcony for Himalaya darshan.
Apart from that, the beautiful nature walks through pine and deodar forests and the lush green tea gardens also make this place very popular among travellers who want to beat the crowd of Nainital and enjoy nature up close.
On a clear sky, the views of Himalayan peaks from Chaukori, when the first and last rays of sun hit the peaks of snow-capped mountains like Trishul, Nandadevi range and the Panchachulli range, will make you realise that you are the luckiest person on earth to witness this.
How to reach
The distance from Nainital to Chaukori is 170 kilometres, and it takes around 6-7 hours to reach by car. The road goes via Almora and Bageswar. Road condition is good and narrower once you drive towards Chaukori.
How to reach by road
You can reach Nainital or Almora by bus from Delhi. From Nainital, Almora or Bageswar, you will get Uttarakhand Transport buses or shared cabs to reach Chaukori.
How to reach by train
The nearest railway station to Chaukori is Kathgodam, at a distance of 180 kilometres. Taxis are available from Kathgodam to Chaukori. Buses are available from Kathgodam to Almora and Bageswar. From there, you will get shared cabs to Chaukori.
How to reach by air
The nearest airport to Chaukori is Pantnagar Airport, at a distance of 210 kilometres. Flights run via Delhi or Dehradun. The distance from Delhi airport to Chaukori is 490 kilometres, and it is a 14-hour journey to reach Chaukori directly from Delhi airport.
Book your flight to Pantnagar or Delhi!!
When to visit
The best time to visit Chaukori is September to November and March to June.
The summer vacation time in mid-May to mid-June is the peak tourist time in Chaukori. The place becomes crowded with a scarcity of hotels.
Read more: Munsiyari in Uttarakhand | A Travel Guide
From June end until mid-September, monsoon prevails in Chaukori, which is not a good time to visit the place. The views of the Himalayas are best in November and March.
The winter months of December to February are freezing when the minimum temperatures can hit sub-zero, and you will get a blanket of snow in Chaukori.
Where to stay
The best place to stay in Chaukori is the KMVN (Kumaon Mandal Vikas Nigam) Tourist Rest House. The view of the Himalayas is best from this place. Although a recent construction obstructs the clear view from the KMVN TRH, you can hope for the best possible sights of the snowcapped mountain from this place only. The rooms on the 2nd floor offer the best views.
There are a few other private hotels nearby KMVN where you can stay in case you do not get a booking in KMVN TRH. Ojaswi Resort and Hotel Himsikhar are two other hotels that provide decent accommodation. The in-house restaurant in KMVN is the best place to have your meals.
What to see
Himalayas, Himalayas and Himalayas
The view of Himalayan peaks from Chaukori is the prime attraction of this place. You can spend days literally looking at the snow-capped mountains from the balcony of your hotel room. The range that can be seen from here is almost similar to the views from Kausani or Binsar, but the mountain ranges are much closer and bigger from Chaukori compared to others.
From left to right (west to east), you can see Trishul, Mrigthuni, Maiktoli, Nandadevi, Nandadevi East, Nandakot and Panchachulli I-V. The colourful cottages surrounded by pine and deodar forest with lofty snowy mountain peaks at the backdrop make Chakouri a perfect place for landscape photography.
Tea gardens
Chaukori has a few tea gardens that can be explored in the morning. The Ojaswi Resort is located inside a tea garden. The gardens are primarily from the British era. These gardens are mostly abandoned due to reduced profit, and new hotels and resorts are being constructed in these estates. In fact, the KMVN TRH was also constructed in one of these tea estates that was long deserted.
Berinag Temple
According to folklore, it is believed that when Lord Krishna defeated KaliyaNag in the river Yamuna he advised him to settle somewhere in the mountains. KaliyaNag came here to Berinag with his disciples and has settled here since then. Berinag was a main worship centre during Chand Dynasty and had many temples constructed there.
The Nag Devta Temple in the Berinag main market is a popular place of worship among locals. Apart from this temple, the sprawling tea estates of Berinag also attract tourists to this place.
Nearby places to visit
Patal Bhubaneswar
Patal Bhubaneswar is a limestone cave temple situated at a distance of 36 kilometres from Chaukori. The cave is 160 metres long and 90 ft deep. The passage to the chamber is very narrow, with a wet floor. One has to crawl through the holding iron chain to witness the unique creation of nature – the number of stalactite and stalagmite formations that takes the shape of different gods and goddesses in Hindu mythology.
Read more: Binsar In Uttarakhand | A Majestic Panoramic View Of The Himalayas
It is believed that this cave is resided by Lord Shiva and thirty-three other gods in the Hindu religion. This cave is believed to connect to the earth’s centre, making it a place of worship with high devotion and respect.
Askot Musk Deer Sanctuary
Askot musk deer sanctuary is 60 kilometres away from Chaukori. This sanctuary primarily aims to conserve the musk deer and its habitat. The sanctuary is spread over an area of 600 square kilometres, with the Kali River bordering Nepal on the west side. Other mammals that can be found here are leopards, barking deer, jungle cats, brown bears and goral.
Bageswar
Bageswar is 50 kilometres from Chaukori. It is a central town and district headquarter in Kumaon, Uttarakhand. Bageswar was once an important town in Indo-Tibet trade and had an old history of civilisation with a rich culture.
The Bagnath temple at the junction of rivers Gomati and Saryu is a pilgrimage site in the Kumaon region. The shrine of Bageswar, the “Tiger Lord”, is an alias of Lord Shiva. This place has a cluster of many other temples, including the Bhairav Temple, Hanuman Temple, Durga Temple, Kalika Temple etc.
Mobile connectivity
The mobile connectivity in Chaukori is good. There is no issue in getting the network of Jio and Vodafone here. Jio works better in Chaukori compared to other networks.
An itinerary for Chaukori
You need at least two nights and three days to visit Chaukori from Nainital. The distance from Nainital to Chaukori is approximately 170 kilometres, and it takes around 7 hours to reach the place. You can visit Patal Bhubaneswar on the way to Chaukori. After Chaukori, you can either return to Nainital or Binsar or proceed towards Munsiyari.
Day 1 – Nainital / Binsar / Kausani to Chaukori via Bageswar.
Day 2 – Spend the day in Chaukori
Day 3 – Chaukori to Binsar/Nainital via Patal Bhubaneswar and Berinag. You can also proceed towards Munsiyari if you visit Patal Bhubaneswar while arriving at Chaukori.
Book your trip: Resources
- Flight
Use Skyscanner or Google Flights to book your flight.
- Accommodation
Tripadvisor and Agoda are perfect for booking your hotel. If you want to stay in a hostel, then Hostelworld would greatly help you find one at your convenience.
- Travel Insurance
World Nomads is perfect for travel insurance. You can get comprehensive protection from them. Let them take care of unexpected situations while you concentrate on your trip.
- Package Tour and Activities
You can book a package tour from G-Adventures and Viator. They are a reputed company arranging small group tours and customising them per your requirements. You can also use Get Your Guide to book your private transport, city tours, heritage walks, food walks and other experiences like a cooking lesson or a Yoga session.
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