A Short Trip to Chakrata – the Miraculous Creation of Mother Nature
My intense liking for nature is inherent. I belong to one of the beautiful hilly areas of India which might be the reason for this penchant. When it comes to discovering the surreal beauty scattered all over the country, I never think twice. As a passionate traveller, I never leave a chance to explore India’s boundless natural beauty. This blog of mine is based on my recent trip to Chakrata – a picturesque small hill town, located at a height of approximately 7,000 feet near Dehradun, the capital of Uttarakhand. When I landed in this secluded place, the pleasant weather welcomed me. After a tiring bus journey (as I could not manage to get a taxicab), it was actually a big relief.
Chakrata
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After completing all formalities at the reception, I checked into my hotel’s room. It was a small, low-budget property (however, very well-maintained) still, I preferred it over all the major names for the panoramic views of the mighty Himalayas it offered. The hotel staff served me with tea and snacks. Once I satisfied by hunger, I set out to meet the local people of Chakrata to gather concrete information on its must visit places. I found the owner of the shop, which was just a stone’s throw away from my hotel, is reliable as he gave me important information on where to start off my journey.
But before divulging my tour to Chakrata, let’s have a little information about this charming place. Chakrata was formerly known as ‘Jaunsar bawar’ – a small hamlet of Jaunsari tribe. The place was a visual treat for me. The place is flooding with coniferous forests contributing to its lush greenery. Other thing which impressed me a lot in Chakrata is its beautiful waterfalls.
So, I began my Chakrata tour next day with Deoban, which means ‘God’s Own Forest’. It was around 20 kms from my hotel. At a height of 7,218 feet, Deoban had everything which my camera was starving to capture – expansive views of the Himalayan ranges, dense deodar forests with dispersed villages of the Jaunsari tribe around the area, Himalayan Woodpeckers, white collared blackbirds, Brown Dipper, Green Backed tit and what not. No wonder, it is a heaven for nature lovers and bird watchers. The extreme silence enveloping the area with only chirping of birds touched my heart. Though, I did not opt for it, one can trek to Vyasa Shikhar, where Vedvyasa wrote the epic Mahabharta, which will take around 15 minutes from Deoban.
Deoban
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The next morning, I headed for the magnificent Tiger Falls which was one of the highest waterfalls in India at 312 feet height. I trekked all the way (almost 5 kms), with a group of trekkers, to reach the waterfall. We all were careful while covering the treacherous walk. After a gruelling walk, we finally made it. A spectacular backdrop of beautiful deodars was covering the waterfall, and believe me it was absolutely overwhelming. While the trekkers’ group was having fun, I was quietly enjoying the water droplets on my face sitting by the side of the fall. Tiger Falls is a famous picnic spot which is surprisingly still untouched by commercialisation. After spending a good time capturing its tremendous beauty and the trekkers’ group, I retreated to my hotel.
Tiger Falls
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My next visit was to Kanasar, some 27 kms from my hotel. The place is surrounded by high peaks and dense rain forests. I enjoyed walking over the green meadows, a major tourist attraction. Kanasar boasts about its very old deodar trees. There is a tree with a circumference of 6.35 meters which is believed to be the biggest deodar tree in Asia. I visited the local temple and got an insight of Pahadi customs. I highly recommend this place to nature lovers who wish to experience Kanasar’s gorgeous beauty. With Kanasar, I concluded my 3-day Chakrata tour.
Kanasar
