Chaukori: A Secret Hamlet in the Himalayas

The world is but a diary, and life is just a prose; He who chose to pen it down, is the one who knows; The path which leads to nowhere, is the path I chose It brought to me fulfilment, and this is how it goes:

I was seeking a breakthrough vacation to a far-off land, away from the creed that now seems to have drawn away from nature, and nearer to the soil which has soul. It took two hardworking weekdays and some contemplating. Then, I fled.

As my bodily being was heading towards Chaukori, my soul was already eyeing the nirvana that awaited me there. The quaint hilltop hamlet is perched 2000 metres above sea level in the Western Himalayas, and casts upon you a spell weaved with nothingness, that can only be felt, not described.

High above, the skies are blue; The delicate grass, dotted with dew; The times are old, but memories brew; As I reminisce the Himalayan view:

Gheraoed by erstwhile tea gardens and verdant expanses, Chaukori welcomes you with a whiff of aromatic conifers in the cool breeze. Though a few upcoming resort properties have no longer left the land uninhabited, the surroundings are untouched, unadulterated and unspoilt.

Vivid vistas await to be awed at, and the horizon is always brimming with the lofty Himalayan peaks of Nanda Devi and Nand Kot. A relaxing evening spent around a bonfire at the Tourist Rest House will warm your senses. Accommodation is best arranged for in one of the cottages here, which wake you up to an excellent early morning view of the Himalayas right out your bedside windowpane.

There is nothing. Well, almost absolutely nothing you can do here, apart from soaking the pleasant sun while observing the panoramic views of the hills and valleys, or explore the nearby age-old temples and a prehistoric cave - from the era of Mahabharata - called Patal Bhuvaneshwar, which is said to house stalagmites of over 33 crore Hindu deities.

Much as you may wish to consider a livelier (read crowded!) and well-endorsed hill station for your next jaunt, this one offers the truest ingredient of a hill station - tranquillity. I found it, basked in its radiance and returned. It’s your turn now.

Your pursuit for the ultimate relaxation refuge ends at Chaukori. Period.

Fact File

Location: Pithoragarh district of Uttarakhand (200 km from Nainital)

Nearest taxi stand: Berinag (10 km)

Nearest railway station: Kathgodam (273 km)

Distance from Delhi: 465 km

Best transport option: Self-drive or taxi

Ideal holiday duration: 2-3 days (add another day if you wish to include Nainital)

Suitable for: Nature lovers, trekkers, solace seekers