WONDERLAND MUNSIYARI via CHAUKORI
MUNSIYARI via CHAUKORI
TOUR SUMMARY
# 1. Delhi - Moradabad - Kaladungi - Nainital
# 2. Nainital - Almora - Berinag - Chaukori
# 3. Chaukori - Thal - Tejam - Munsiyari
CONTENTS
INTRO : A crisp Introduction to the Destination & Super Stop.
THE JOURNEY : Driving experience, General Information(Trivia) & Suggestions etc (Notes).
GROUND REPORT : A summary of the Destination & important Stopovers. Safe pit stops during the journey(refreshment breaks). Details like Altitude, Distances, HOTELS' INFORMATION WITH TELEPHONE NO & Tourist Attractions etc.
INTRO
Destination Munsiyari
Nanda Devi Temple - MUNSIYARI |
An unmatched colourful spectacle of nature comes alive. Paradigmatic Pines & Devine Deodars,all lined up to welcome you. Lively water streams running downhill like naughty kids. Roaring waterfalls proclaiming there overwhelming existence, picturesque exhibition of lush green meadows & unbelievable variety of flora n fauna. Move on...its kaleidoscope at work...
The Glitter,the Glory, the beauty & the grace of snow-capped peaks of majestic Himalayas will make you speechless...where, despite an extreme chill in the air, you feel the warmth of the lap of a Mother. The Mother Nature.
For a while, forget your camera. Play Original. Soak it up through all your senses, and...
Bow to Panchachuli
This is MUNSIYARI...the lofty Himalayan sequence
Super Stop Chaukori
A View from KMVN TRH, CHAUKORI |
Chaukori's holiday mantra
eat, sleep, eat. Then repeat.
Chaukori is a dreamers' paradise. It has special beauty and charm. Due to less tourist activity, it has remained unspoiled over the years. For the tourists, searching for a peaceful location, Chaukori is a land of nod. Imperial Himalayan peaks with their towering presence will leave you awestruck.
Breath the salubrious mountain air, listen to the sound of silence & watch the magic of Pines, Oaks, Rhododendrons...along with prismatic butterflies fluttering around in lush green surroundings.
A grand bouquet gifted by the Mother Nature...call it CHAUKORI
THE JOURNEY
Month : October
Starting point : New Delhi
Destination : Munsiyari via Chaukori
Mode of transport : Car
...with her eyes wide open at 2 AM, my granddaughter, SHANVI, who was ready for her second tour to hills, was more into it than any of us.
NOTE : Leaving as early as possible help, (if the route is safe...)as you cover most of the route before rush hours. This saves a lot of time and energy. Reaching the foot of the hills almost with the rising sun is a great idea. Another reason for the early rush was that we had to reach Chaukori (around 470 kms, out of which big chunk of the journey involved hill driving) before sunset.
So, we were on our way, eagerly awaiting cool times ahead. Roads were definitely not asleep even at this hour of the night. Once on NH-24, vROom...& there goes Ghaziabad...gajraula...Moradabad...kaladhungi...and
Into the hills...!
NOTE : Avoid roadside breaks during night travels. Find a safe place carefully for the break.
Vibrant Colours of the dawn, peculiar fragrance of the hills & gentle breeze with fluttering butterflies in a lush green environment confirmed that we were in the lap of Mother Nature. A perfect setting for a well-deserved BREAK... So, hot water thermos, paper glasses, tea bags, sugar & condensed milk sachet,bikaneri bhujia,mathi, fan etc.are out. We took a good half an hour break there. SHANVI, after a nice sleep during the journey, looked as fresh as the nature around us. After clicking few pics we moved on.
As you ascend from here landscape will change dramatically & glimpses of eternal beauty and grace of the grand Himalayas would force several such BREAKS on you. Take them.
NOTE : Drive slow, drive safe, make the journey more beautiful. You will never feel tired. Destination will follow.
Kaladhungi is approx. 30 km from Nainital. After a couple of breaks ( one at KhurpaTal), we reached Nainital. I have been to Nainital several times but I never get enough of this water body. It's always entrancing to watch the movement of light on water. After visiting Naina Devi Temple we had a light breakfast at a lakeside restaurant. With sweetened fennels in our mouth, we left for Almora (approx 65 kms from Nainital).
Naina Devi Temple, Nainital |
NOTE : Keep on consulting local TAXI DRIVERS about route & present road conditions throughout your journey, especially when going to the lesser-known stations in hills.
At an altitude of (1400 mtr), On the Nainital – Almora Road, at a distance of 17 Kms from Nainital, is Shri Kainchi Hanuman Mandir & ashram(famous as Kainchi Dham). This is the ashram of Shri Neem Karoli Baba Maharajji. It is called Kainchi Dham because of two sharp hairpin bends of the motor road.
During the town hall meeting with PM Modi, Mark Zuckerberg (Facebook) revealed that when his company was going through a rough patch, Steve Jobs (Apple) advised him to visit the temple in India.
For more information on Kainchi Dham, visit:https://hillheart.blogspot.in/2017/12/destination-jageshwar-via-nainital.html
CHAUKHAMBA peak, Deoriatal |
MIGHTY HIMALAYAS & FAIRYLANDS around DELHI, visit: https://hillheart.blogspot.in/2018/04/long-drive-hill-stations-around-delhi.html
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As we approach Almora the first stunner appears, the snow-laden peak of Trishul. Old oaks, classic pines & and usual hustle & bustle of the city... Spread across 5 km.ridge atop Kashyap hill...this was Almora. After having a quick lunch, we were on the way to Chaukori, our Super Stop. ( To avoid city traffic, Almora bypass can be used.)
NOTE: Drive slow(15-20 km/hr) if any of the passengers is struggling with nausea. Eat light during the journey.
a BREAK... |
My Way, Hi-Way |
TRIVIA : Patal Bhuvneshwar is a limestone cave Temple. Legend has it that this underground cave enshrines Lord Shiva & 33 crore Gods. Elevation of Patal Bhuvneshwar is 1,350 mtr. KMVN tourist rest house is available here.
Though we skipped Patal Bhuvneshwar, as it was already dark, we took a long refreshment break here at a nicely located restaurant. As Chaukori was only about 20 km from here, we were relaxed. SHANVI, though little tired, was enjoying the chill in the air & was enthusiastically watching the surroundings from her mother's lap.
PILGRIMAGE IN HIMALAYAS - 22 SPECIAL TEMPLES around famous HILL-STATIONS, click here to know more;
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KNOW ALL ABOUT HARIDWAR & RISHIKESH (safe pit-stops, road conditions, driving experience, altitude, distances, tourist attractions, HOTEL INFORMATION WITH TELEPHONE NUMBERS etc.), visit:
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White Wave - Nanda Devi |
TRIVIA : Nanda Devi, with an elevation of 7,816 mtr.is the highest Himalayan peak entirely inside India. Kangchenjunga(8,586 mtr), though higher than Nanda Devi, is on the Indo-Nepal border.
Slowly, as we sunk into it, we realized that what we were witnessing, is another wonderful shade of nature. With a couple of heavy showers,rest of the day was quite wet. KMVN complex looked simply ravishing. We passed rest of the day, enjoying chill in the weather by sipping steaming hot tea or coffee with pakoras, maggies, namkeens etc & sometimes, walking in the lawns, wrapped into the jackets (whenever the drizzle stopped ) or playing cards or ludo(till the time little SHANVI allowed us to).
A rainy day... |
Though not an early riser, we got up before the sunrise in anticipation of a special treat today. The sky was clear. A bone-chilling cold was making us shiver. After few minutes, we could notice the colour of the sky getting lighter & the shadows of Himalayan ranges getting more visible. Activity around the lawns was increasing by the time.
And The Magician starts the act. Cameras around the park start capturing the miracle, frame by frame. The first crimson ray of the Sun kisses the highest of the Panchachuli peaks. It Glows....and gradually, whole Silver on Himalaya turns Gold.
The lawns were now bustling with activities but as l was holidaying, I went back to sleep.
Glowing Himalayas |
To witness the uninterrupted mesmerizing view of snow cladded peaks throughout the day & relaxing in the lush green surroundings of Chaukori, was nothing but a dream come true. KMVN has constructed a tower(machaan) to catch an extra magnificent view of the Himalayas.
Sunset view of the Himalayas was no less mesmerizing than the one in the morning. We enjoyed it over a cup of tea from the lawns of the rest house.
Next day morning we left for our final destination...Munsiyari.
Set among the lofty peaks of Himalayas, Munsiyari is approx. 98 km from Chaukori. Though the roads were a definitely much narrower, but in quite a good condition.
KANATAL...at 10,000 ft. |
For WEEKEND HILL-STATIONS around DELHI (THE 7 HOURS' DESTINATIONS), visit: https://hillheart.blogspot.in/2018/04/weekend-hill-stations-around-delhi.html
NOTE : Travelling in monsoon can be risky due to landslides & cloudbursts. Check with the local authorities before travelling & the local drivers throughout your journey. Avoid driving in low visibility. In unavoidable circumstances, drive at slow speed with blinkers and fog lights turned ON & high beams turned OFF. Keep safe distance from the vehicles ahead.
From Chaukori to Thal (about 25 km), most of the journey was downhill. Thal is a crowded little town, with a lot of commercial activity. From Thal, after crossing the bridge over Ram Ganga, ascend towards Munsiyari started. In the company of playful Ram Ganga, we were into some of the most fascinating shades of nature. Strikingly beautiful, sea green coloured Ram Ganga(a tributary of sacred Ganga), was one such shade. With every other bend bringing in a fresh view, we were sure that The Grand Himalayas would unfold their magic, mysticism & grace, at will now!
Crystal Clear, Sea Green... |
...Ram Ganga |
Kala Muni Top is the highest point on the road to Munsiyari. When we reached Munsiyari, it was already dark.
We covered, under 100 km journey in almost eight hrs. We enjoyed the journey up to the hilt with a lot of big BREAKS throughout. There were many refreshing waterfalls on the way. The most famous being the Birthy Fall (35 kms. before Munsiyari). The misty surroundings & large volume of water falling from 125 meters, made the fall quite photogenic. A nicely located KMVN tourist rest house is also available here.
Sliding Waters and Nodding Flowers |
Drizzles on the Rock |
Birthi Fall (KMVN TRH on the extreme right) |
Birthi - The Noise Factory |
In the company of lush green meadows, towering pines, gigantic Himalayas,roaring waterfalls with several water crossings right through the road,it was an enthralling journey.
Sprawling Lush Green Meadows - Way to Munsiyari |
Figure it Out ! |
Stunners on the Way to Munsiyari |
Finally, we checked in at 7 pm (Vijay Mount View Resort) & promptly ordered tea & pakoras. After going through some of the photographs, we clicked during the journey, we ordered dinner. As the sky was clear, we were hopeful for an appointment with PANCHACHULI, the most prominent cluster of five peaks, next morning. Good Night.
Though tired, we were up before the sunrise. A live show of LIGHT & SOUND of silence was waiting to happen. Soon, the ruddy morning stole up the horizon, casting a crimson glow over the big baskets of soft snow, spread across the silently standing towering peaks of the Himalayas. This was an awesome sight. After clicking an almost infinite number of photographs, I went back to sleep.
Sky - Piercing PANCHACHULI |
A small drive to NANDA DEVI Temple (1.4 km), seems like going straight into the Panchachuli, and then about a 100-meter uphill walk puts you right in front of the towering Himalayas.
Way to Nanda Devi Temple (above pics) |
Trek to Nanda Devi Temple |
Nanda Devi Temple -Munsiyari |
Hammered by the Hail in evening |
As we left Munsiyari, the horn of the car started troubling us & soon,it went off. This was bad, considering its usefulness in the hilly terrain's. But the worst was yet to follow. As we crossed Kalamuni top, while applying slight break, I heard 'thud' kind of voice. We tried to find the fault, but couldn't. I was driving steeply downhill on a narrow mountainous road. After a couple of kms. the situation got more grave. I could feel the breaks, getting less efficient by the time. On enquiring, some locals told us that we could find a mechanic at kwiti (a village ahead, not sure how to spell ). I was driving the car mostly in 1st gear, firstly to keep the vehicle well under control and secondly, it will resist extra acceleration provided due to the slopes & in turn use of the breaks will be reduced.
NOTE : In hindsight, I should not have driven the fully loaded car downhill, with my limited experience in the hill driving. Should have parked, with an almost full day at our disposal to arrange a mechanic.
Finally, we found Nakul, the mechanic. The young boy repaired the horn within minutes. Regarding breaks, he informed me that the brake pads were finished & it will be difficult to find the part here. And please note that, as always, on this occasion too, I got my car serviced a week before leaving for the tour. So, don't believe the machine.
Now, It was upto Nakul...the namesake of one of the Paanch(five) Pandavas, to rescue us from the situation. As we were coming from Panchachuli, Pandavas first step to heaven...we were hopeful !
TRIVIA : As mentioned in Hindu mythological text, The Mahabharata, the 'Panch Pandavas' are the five sons of Pandu(King of the Kuru dynasty), by his two wives Kunti and Madri. Their names are Yudhishter, Bhim, Arjun, Nakul and Sahadev.
Nakul left on his motorbike & came back after 15-20 min with a set of used brake pads. He got them from one of his customer's home. Nakul had repaired his car around 3-4 months back. He informed me that, in hills, people generally don't throw such spare parts easily. After repairing the breaks, he told me that these brake pads can take me up to Haldwani, but it would be better to get them replaced with the new ones at Thal, which I did. I gave him a hundred rupee note, he returned me Rs 40.
NOTE : Get in touch with local tourism office while planning the tour. If you are not a regular hill driver, don't overestimate your driving skills. Drive slow, follow signs, keep testing breaks & steering of your car. Have BREAKS to keep yourself fresh.
Going one hundred kilometers away from towering shadows of gigantic Himalayas, that is, from Munsiyari to Chaukori, made us feel that after seeing the Himalayas from such close quarters, now Chaukori may not be as exciting as it was earlier. But, Chaukori just dismissed our concerns. Come here to believe it. To me, Chaukori is in a different league. This is nature lovers' Shangri-La. On this day we wandered around Chaukori as if this was our native place. Everybody around was very friendly.
Finally, we had to leave this heavenly place. At 9 AM, next morning, we left the dreamland.
The golden moments of this tour are in the recesses of my heart, photographs are for the ones who have yet to visit Munsiyari.
GROUND REPORT
PIT STOPS
Gajraula : Approx 125 kms from Delhi. Besides Bikanerwala, here one can find a number of good restaurants & dhabas.
Moradabad : Approx 175 kms from Delhi. Tadka restaurant(at Bharat Petroleum), McDonald's.
TOP STOPS
TOP STOP #1 :
NAINITAL
Altitude -2,084 mtr.(6,837 ft.)
State - Uttrakhand
District - Nainital
Division - Kumaon
DISTANCE:
Nainital Delhi - 298 km.approx.
Nearest railway station - Kathgodam(41 km)
Nearest airport - Pant Nagar (72 km)
Main attraction - Known as 'Lake City', Nainital is famous for the pear-shaped NAINI LAKE (with approx 2 miles circumference).
WHERE TO STAY *
KUMAON MANDAL VIKAS NIGAM (KMVN), Delhi Office (booking, information & guidance)-
Address : 103, Indra Prakash Building, 21, Bara Khamba Road, New Delhi. Phone No.: (011) 23319835, 23712246. +91 9312633181(M). Fax No.: (011) 41519366. E-mail: kmvnnewdelhi@yahoo.com, kmvnjanpath@yahoo.co.in
1. Alka hotel
Add.: The Mall, Nainital, Uttrakhand -263002
Ph.- 05942 235 220
2. KMVN, Oak Park House, Mallital
Ph - 07055 715 251/08650 002 501
3. KMVN, Thandi Road, Nainital
Ph - 05942 231 436
Many Luxury & budget hotels & resorts.
TOP STOP #2
ALMORA
Altitude - 1,642 mtr (5,387 ft)
State - Uttrakhand
District - Almora
Division - Kumaon
DISTANCE :
Almora Delhi- 365 km
Almora Nainital - 63 km
Main attraction - Almora is famous for its picturesque landscape, panoramic view of the Himalayas, rich cultural heritage, handicrafts & baal-mithai(a sweet dish).
WHERE TO STAY*
KMVN tourist rest house, Almora, Uttrakhand. Ph : 05962 263 028
Many Luxury & budget hotels & resort.
SUPER-STOP
CHAUKORI
Altitude : 2,010 mtr.(6,590 ft)
State : Uttarakhand
District : Pithoragarh
Division : Kumaon
DISTANCE from :
Delhi : 468 km
Nainital : 174 km
Almora : 112 km
NAME OF THE PEAKS visible from Chaukori : Trishul, Mrigthuni, Maiktoli, Nanda Devi, Nanda Devi East, Nanda khat, Rajramya, Panchachuli, Annapurna.
I was told that on a clear day, 300 km. of the Himalayan range is visible from here. Chaukori is one of the few places in Kumaon where you will find tea gardens
KMVNs tourist rest houses are generally placed at the best locations of the area. But this one contributes to the landscape of Chaukori. This is perhaps one of the most tastefully designed & maintained property of KMVN. The huts have large glass windows in the rooms, from where an uninterrupted view of snow-capped Himalayas is always visible. Huge lawns with colourful flowers is the home of countless butterflies. KMVN Chaukori tops, next being Ojaswi resorts.
What to do :
... do holidaying. Eat & sleep.
Other than this ,Just do simple things,take deep breath to reintroduce your lungs to the real air,do nature walks,sit with yourself , listen to the birds chirping around, feel the gentle breeze cutting through the lush green forest. Still if you want to do something more...do photography. Village tourism can be another attraction.
Suggested stay - 2 nights
WHERE TO STAY*
1. KMVN Tourist Rest House
Add. Pithoragarh road, Chaukori. Uttrakhand- 262531. Ph.-08650002542.
2. Ojaswi resorts:
Add. Tea garden, near police chowki, Chaukori
Ph-09639121420
3. Hotel Himshikhar :
Add. Bageshwar-Munsiari Road, Chaukori.
Ph-09412057808
4. Hari Darshan Resort :
Add. Bigul, Munsiari Road, Khantoli. ( 15 km before Chaukori)
Ph- 07830639330
5. Chestnut Grove Himalayan lodge :
Add. Vill. Vijay Pur, distt. Bageshwar,( between Bageshwar & Chaukori)
Ph-08006702718
6. The Misty Mountain
Add. Jhaltola Estate,P.O. Jadapani, Gangolihat.( between Patal Bhuvneshwar & Chaukori)
Ph- 08006667722
7. Hotel Gaurav resort
Add. Gaurav resort, Chaukori, TRC,Chaukori.
Ph- 09250006770
8. Aangan Resort
Add. Bageshwar-Didihat road, Udiyari,Uttrakhand-262531
Ph- 09412042455
DESTINATION
MUNSIYARI
Altitude : 2.200 mtr. (7,200 ft.)
State : Uttarakhand
District : Pithoragarh
Division: Kumaon
DISTANCE FROM :
Delhi : 570 km.
Nainital : 280 km.
Almora : 209 km.
Chaukori : 98km.
Munsiyari is hill station & trekking destination. PANCHACHULI is its identity.
What's In The Name : Pandavas, on their way to heaven cooked their last meal here. Hence, the name Panchachuli, panch(five) & chuli(cooking hearth). Another theory is that in ancient times this region was part of the Nepal Kingdom and in the Nepalese language Chuli means peak. Hence the five peaks.
In kumaon, Munsiyari is the closest tourist destination to the himalayas.
It is the base camp for many treks -
Nanda Devi - 13 to 15 days
Milam glacier - 9 days
Ralam glacier - 9 days
Namik glacier - 10 days
Khaliya round trek - 3 days
Bird watcher's paradise: Besides picturesque landscapes,birds like raven,monal, wagtail,falcon & Himalayan griffon can be spotted here.
Come March -April & entire forest turns into the scarlet red as the flowers of rhododendron blossom in this season.
Suggested stay - 2 nights
WHERE TO STAY*
NOTE: Munsiyari has limited number of hotels. In peak season,book your accommodation in advance.
1. KMVN Tourist Rest House, Panchachuli.
Munsiyari
Ph -05961222339
Web:kmvn.gov.in
2. Milam inn
Thal road,Munsiyari,Uttrakhand-262554
Ph. 05962258012
3. Vijay Mount View Resort
Thal Road, Munsiyari
Ph. 05961222123/08449329977
4. Hotel Pandey Lodge
Madkot road,view point,near roadways bus stand,Munsiyari.
Ph- 09411130373
5. Zara/Zuha Resort
G.I.C. Munsiyari,Madkot road
Ph- 05964225256
HOW TO REACH
Air: The nearest airport is Naini Saini at Pithoragarh & Pant Nagar.
Rail : The nearest Railhead is Kathgodam. Some of the important train connections for Kathgodam are Shatabadi Express, Howrah Express, Ranikhet Express, Nainital Express.
Road: Chaukori & Munsiyari are connected through metalled hill roads with all the major towns of the area.
PETROL PUMPS ARE AVAILABLE THROUGHOUT THE ROUTE upto Munsiyari.
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NOTE : ALWAYS drive carefully there...remember, mountains have a way of dealing with overconfidence. |
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PHOTO GALLERIES
1. NAINITAL & JAGESHWAR...the lake city & the land of Shiva
2. MUSSOORIE & DHANAULTI
3. MUNSIYARI...the lofty Himalayan sequence
2. MUSSOORIE & DHANAULTI
3. MUNSIYARI...the lofty Himalayan sequence
QUICK READS
Respect Nature. She Reciprocates!
Mountains are the World’s Water Towers. Water, stocked as Glaciers, flows downwards in form of rivers. Besides satisfying our thirst, it also sustains most of the food production in addition to the maintenance of various green belts that generate the basic requirement of our life, the oxygen.
My birthplace, Delhi is a wonderful place, just a few hundred kilometers away from world's most famous water towers, The Towering Himalayas. And whenever we want to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city we head straight into the lush green wilds of the Himalayas to breathe easy in the lap of raw nature. With an almost endless list of destinations, blessed with delightful landscapes and colourful trails for all tastes, capacities & capabilities, Himalaya, we believe is the abode of Gods. However, spending time in such serene surroundings brings its own responsibilities too...
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