Discover Chakrata: Uttarakhand's Best Kept Secret
Chakrata is a small cantonment hill station in the Dehradun district of Uttarakhand, situated at 2,118 metres in the Jaunsar-Bawar region. Far lesser-known than Mussoorie or Nainital, Chakrata has remained beautifully unspoilt — its forests of deodar cedar, oak, and rhododendron are among the densest and most pristine in Uttarakhand. Declared a cantonment area under the Indian Army, photography restrictions within the town have helped preserve its original character.
The area surrounding Chakrata is home to the Jaunsar-Bawar tribal community, one of Uttarakhand's most distinctive indigenous cultures with ancient traditions, polyandrous family structures, and temple architecture that predates the medieval period. The Mahasu Devta temple at Hanol (95 km) is the most important pilgrimage site for this community, featuring extraordinary 9th-century carved stone panels.
Chakrata's forests are exceptional for wildlife. The Chakrata Wildlife Division shelters leopards, jungle cats, porcupines, Indian civets, yellow-throated martens, and a remarkable diversity of Himalayan birds. The Tiger Falls (6 km from Chakrata) — at 312 feet one of the highest waterfalls in Uttarakhand — cascade through dense deodar forest into a natural pool that is perfect for a refreshing dip.
The Chilmiri Neck viewpoint (3 km from Chakrata) at 2,470 metres offers panoramic views of the Himalayan range from Kedarnath to Bandarpunch. Deoban (23 km) at 2,800 metres is the highest point accessible by road in the Chakrata range, with extraordinary views of the Swargarohini group of peaks. In winter, Deoban receives heavy snowfall and is one of the best places in Uttarakhand for a true snow experience without the crowds of Mussoorie or Auli.