Chakrata Travel Guide
Deodar forests and the 98 m Tiger Falls in the restricted, unspoilt Jaunsar hills.
- Altitude
- 2,118 m
- Best season
- Mar – Jun · Sep – Nov
- From Dehradun
- ~90 km
- Category
- Offbeat
Why visit Chakrata
- Tiger Falls (98 m) is among the highest single-drop waterfalls in Uttarakhand and sees a fraction of the visitors that Kempty Falls attracts
- Deoban, a flat deodar plateau above town, gives a silent, wide-open Himalayan panorama with the Har-ki-Dun range visible on clear mornings
- The Jaunsar-Bawar cantonment keeps commercial development minimal — the town's 1950s feel is not curated, it is simply preserved
- Budher limestone caves and the Pandava-era Lakhamandal temples (65 km) add a heritage dimension uncommon for a hill station of this size
- Only 90 km from Dehradun but a world apart in atmosphere — the forest road from Vikasnagar is one of the finest drives in lower Garhwal
Chakrata sits in the Jaunsar-Bawar hills west of Dehradun, kept unspoilt by its cantonment status. Tiger Falls — about 98 metres, among the highest direct falls in the state — is the main trek.
Note that the cantonment area is restricted for foreign nationals; Indian travellers roam freely.
Explore around
Places near Chakrata
98 m single-drop waterfall; 1 km walk through oak forest from the road; best flow June–September but accessible year-round
Dense deodar plateau at 2,400 m; flat meadow-level clearing with 180° Himalayan view; ideal for a half-day excursion
Narrow saddle viewpoint above the town; sunrise walk from Chakrata; views into the Yamuna valley on the west side
Cluster of Pandava-era Shiva temples; stone sculptures dating to the 7th–10th century; on the Yamuna bank; very rarely visited despite its quality
Limestone caverns accessible with a torch; the approach trail passes through dense forest; no commercial infrastructure at the site
What to do
Activities at Chakrata
Tiger Falls trek
A 1 km trail through oak forest from the road-head (5 km from Chakrata) leads to the base of the 98 m waterfall. The final 200 m are over boulders — sturdy footwear is essential. The pool at the base is cold and clean; swimming is possible in summer. The falls run year-round but peak from June to September.
Deoban plateau walk
Drive 13 km to Deoban and walk the flat deodar plateau — the trees are old-growth, 30–40 m tall, and the clearing at the eastern edge frames Bandarpoonch, the Har-ki-Dun range and the western Gangotri peaks. The walk from the road to the viewpoint is about 1 km on a flat forest path.
Lakhamandal temples
The 65 km drive to Lakhamandal on the Yamuna bank is itself a highlight — through the Yamuna gorge on a narrow road with little traffic. The temples are from the 7th–10th century, set in a compound on the river. Stone carvings of rare iconographic quality fill the interior.
Budher Caves exploration
The limestone cave system at Budher (15 km) requires a torch and reasonable fitness. The caverns extend several hundred metres into the hillside. No guided infrastructure exists — enquire at Chakrata bazaar for the approach trail and cave entry route.
Before you go
Chakrata travel tips
- Foreign nationals require an Inner Line Permit for Chakrata (it is a cantonment restricted area) — Indian nationals travel freely
- The road from Dehradun via Vikasnagar to Chakrata is 90 km and takes 3 hours; it is forest-lined and rarely congested but the last 30 km are narrow
- Tiger Falls parking area fills on weekends (May, October) from Dehradun day-trippers — arrive before 9 am or after 3 pm
- Chakrata town bazaar is very small — stock up provisions in Vikasnagar before the forest section begins
- Mobile connectivity is weak above Vikasnagar (Jio has the best coverage) and absent in the forest areas toward Deoban
- The road to Lakhamandal (65 km, Yamuna gorge) requires a full day as a return trip from Chakrata — ideally combine with an overnight in Barkot
- Deoban in October offers the most consistent Himalayan panorama; the morning light clears cloud by 7 am in post-monsoon season
Getting there
How to reach Chakrata
Jolly Grant Airport, Dehradun (90 km to Chakrata, 3 hrs via Vikasnagar). Taxi from the airport.
Dehradun Junction (90 km). Taxi or bus to Chakrata via Vikasnagar. Local buses run from Dehradun's Parade Ground bus stand in the morning; taxis are faster and more flexible.
Dehradun → Vikasnagar → Kalsi → Chakrata (90 km, 3 hrs). The road passes through the Yamuna valley at Kalsi (where Ashoka's rock edict stands) before climbing steeply into the cantonment. Self-drive is comfortable; the road is paved throughout.
Where to stay in Chakrata
- GMVN Tourist Rest House at Chakrata is the most reliable accommodation option
- Private guesthouses (Hotel Devlok, Woodpecker Nest) are small and need advance booking
- A handful of forest homestays near Tiger Falls cater to the nature-travel market
- Accommodation is very limited; mid-week visits are easier than weekends for walk-in options
Food & dining
- Chakrata bazaar has a few dhabas serving standard pahari food — dal, rice, sabzi and roti
- The GMVN property has a kitchen; inform in advance if you need dinner after a late arrival
- Carry dry snacks for the Tiger Falls trek and Deoban walk — no vendors beyond the bazaar
- Vikasnagar (50 km below) has a wider range of restaurants for arrival and departure meals
Background
History of Chakrata
Chakrata was established as a military cantonment in 1869 by the British specifically to control the Jaunsar-Bawar hill region, whose Jaunsari people had a tradition of independence that made colonial administration difficult. The station served as both a military post and a sanatorium for British troops from the Dehra Dun and Saharanpur garrisons.
The Jaunsar-Bawar region surrounding Chakrata is culturally distinct from both Garhwal and Kumaon — the Jaunsari people have linguistic and cultural links to the Kinnauri communities further west, and practice a distinctive polyandrous social structure that has persisted alongside mainstream Hinduism. The Lakhamandal temples (65 km) reflect a medieval synthesis between this local culture and mainstream Shaivism.
Frederick Wilson, the British adventurer who established apple cultivation at Harsil on the Bhagirathi, also operated a timber concession in the Chakrata forests in the 19th century, felling deodar on a scale that later required the area to be declared reserved forest. The mature deodars at Deoban are largely second-growth planted or regenerated after Wilson's timber operations ended.
Plan your trip
Suggested Chakrata itinerary
- Day 1Drive from Dehradun via Vikasnagar (3 hrs). Arrive Chakrata. Afternoon walk to Chilmiri Neck viewpoint (3 km). Evening in the bazaar. Night at Chakrata.
- Day 2Early morning drive to Deoban (13 km) for sunrise panorama. Return for breakfast. Afternoon Tiger Falls trek (5 km drive + 1 km walk). Evening at leisure.
- Day 3Morning Budher Caves visit (15 km). Return via bazaar. Depart for Dehradun or continue to Lakhamandal (65 km) and Barkot for an extended Yamuna circuit.
Common questions
Chakrata FAQ
- Do Indian tourists need a permit for Chakrata?
- No — the restricted-area status applies to foreign nationals only. Indian citizens can travel to Chakrata freely without any permit or registration.
- Is Tiger Falls better than Kempty Falls near Mussoorie?
- Very much so for the experience — Tiger Falls is 98 m of single-drop water in a forest gorge with minimal infrastructure. Kempty is heavily commercialised with changing rooms, stalls and buses. Tiger Falls wins on atmosphere; Kempty on accessibility.
- How long does the Deoban excursion take from Chakrata?
- The 13 km drive takes about 30 minutes on a forest road. The walk from the parking to the viewpoint is 1 km (20 min). Allow 2–3 hours total including the drive back.
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