Chakrata

2 daysBest: Apr–Jun, Sep–NovMountains#offbeat#waterfalls#weekend

Secluded hill town with Tiger Falls nearby

Why this weekend?

Tiger FallsBudher cavesDeoban forest

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The day-by-day plan

Day 1 · The forest ridge
- Arrival
- Town walk
- Tiger Falls
- Ridge sunset
Day 2 · Deoban & out
- Deoban forests
- Valley views
- Departure

Geography & terrain

Chakrata sits at 2,118 metres in the Jaunsar-Bawar hills of Uttarakhand's Dehradun district, 90 km from Dehradun — an old cantonment town on the ridge above the Tons valley, its forest approaches and waterfalls set in the outer Himalaya.

History & culture

The British established the cantonment's presence in the 19th century on the ridge path toward the hill stations; its later life has been the quiet offbeat stop of the Garhwal hills, with Tiger Falls, the Deoban forest and the Jaunsari villages of the surrounding valleys making Chakrata the weekend-getaway country of the northern hills.

Where to stay

Budget

₹1,000–2,500/night

Mid-range

₹2,500–5,000/night

Comfort

₹5,000+/night

Things to do

Tiger Falls
Deoban forest
Ridge walks
Village country
Snowline views

Eat & drink

Kafuli (spinach curry)
Bhatt ki dal (black soybean)
Aloo ke gutke
Bal mithai (Almora sweet)

Getting there

Fly: Dehradun (DED)
Train: Haridwar, Kathgodam, Dehradun stations
Road from Delhi: 250–450 km depending on valley
Getting around: Shared taxis and buses on hill roads

Budget snapshot

Total: ₹4,500–11,000 (2 days)
Per day · Stay: ₹1,000–5,000/night
Per day · Food: ₹600–1,000
Per day · Transport: ₹600–1,000
Per day · Activities: ₹600–1,000

Month by month

Jan · Snow: −5–8°C · Snow rain
Feb · Snow: −3–10°C · Snow rain
Mar · Good: 2–14°C · Light rain
Apr · Best: 7–20°C · None rain
May · Best: 12–25°C · None rain
Jun · Good: 16–30°C · Moderate rain
Jul · Monsoon: 18–28°C · Heavy rain
Aug · Monsoon: 17–27°C · Heavy rain
Sep · Best: 14–26°C · Moderate rain
Oct · Best: 8–20°C · None rain
Nov · Cold: 2–14°C · None rain
Dec · Snow: −2–9°C · Snow rain

Practical info

Language: Hindi (English understood in tourist spots)
Best window: Apr–Jun, Sep–Nov
Connectivity: Patchy in high valleys — offline maps essential
UPI/cards widely accepted; keep small cash for hill and market stops

Practical tips

The waterfall tracks are forest paths — good shoes and daylight
The mountain roads ask steady driving — the off-season is quiet but cold
The town's meal points are basic — eat at the boards of the settlement

Frequently asked questions

What is Chakrata?

A quiet old cantonment town of the Jaunsar hills — forest, waterfalls and valley views.

What is there to do?

Tiger Falls, the Deoban ridge's birding and the ridge walks of the town.

How long is the visit?

A weekend — two days of the forest and the falls.