Help Needed :: 4-5 day trip to Kumaon Region

nitinshm

Hi All(Kumaon Experts),

I(with my 3 other male friends) am traveling to Kumaon during 12th-15th Apr. I would be doing this by my own car(Santro). Please help me deciding the itinerary. I will start my journey from Delhi Border(Anand Vihar), so the first and last day would be mostly travel. The criteria for itinerary.

- Cover Binsar and Jageshwar for sure.
- Add Kausani via BaijNath if possible.
- Go through the best scenic route even if it is a l'il longer.
- Not to miss the sunset/sunrises from the best places possible. (one on the list is zero point at Binsar)
- Drive should not be more than 6 hours a day in hills. As most of the time I would be driving.

We are very flexible with our accommodation option so we would not be not making any prior booking except Binsar(current status says 2 rooms available on 12th and only one on 13th), so any accommodation tips are also welcome.

I can extend my trip to one more day if necessary which makes trip duration to 12th-16th Apr.

Thanks in advance,

Regards,
-Nitin

capt_mahajan

12th: Delhi/Binsar via Bhowali/Mukhteshwar/Almora-don't stop in the city-, start early from Delhi.

13th Binsar and Jageshwar, back Binsar-Kausani

14th Binsar/Kausani/Baijnath, back to Kausani

15th Kausani/Ranikhet/Kainchi/Naukuchiyatal-stop overnight here or at Bhimtal.

16th to Delhi.

The first days drive will be the longest, but not more than 6 hours in the hills. Do take it easy after Bhimtal, Mukhteshwar will be a good break.

Unfortunately, it's the weekend, when everybody and his mother in law will be en route, so maybe you want to stop at Mukhteshwar on day 1 if the going is slow and adjust accordingly on subsequent days.

Warning, this is a hectic trip, a more peaceful one would exclude Baijnath and do Binsar-Kausani-Ranikhet back.

An even more peaceful one would skip Ranikhet and Kausani altogether

nitinshm

This is very close to what I have guessed. This was what I had initally planned.

12th :: Drive to Mukteshwar through Bhimtal/Naukuchital
> Stay overnight at Mukteshwar. Problem is that GVMN rooms are not available and I am not sure if they offer dormitory. What is the next best option.

13th: Almora(tea stop)->Jageshwar(enroute)->Binsar
> Stay overnight at Binsar. Again in case GVMN is not available waht is next budget option available.
> I want to do the 55 jeep road if it is OK to do using Santro. and is safe enough.

14th:: Bagheshwar->BaijNath->Kausani
> Stay overnight at Kausani.

15th:: Kausani->Ranikhet
> Stay overnight at Ranikhet
> We might have some time to explore some other place as well. Any suggestions.

16th :: Drive to Delhi
Kainchi->Haldwani->Delhi

Thanks. This gives me a good insight. I would tweak it according to the accommodation availability. I would keep the plan flexible, only thing that I am worried about is the place to sleep in night.

capt_mahajan

If Mukhteshwar is not available, the closest KMVN is Ramgarh, just off the road, but you will have to backtrack from Mukh. for that.

The jeep road was not suitable at all for a Santro when I was last there a few years ago- maybe it has improved, you could ask. We were jumping around in a Qualis, and there was hardly any metalled stretch after Mukhteshwar till a few km before Almora. Plus, big ruts and dirt road- but through some very nice forest area.


Budget options will be available on the ridge beyond Almora if Binsar is not available, but not the same views. Again, you will have to backtrack from Binsar for this.

It seems to me, maybe because of the timing, that the accomodation is the main issue here. Try and fix that - specially Binsar- would be my advice.

nitinshm

We have decided to make the first halt at Mukteshwar.

We have decided to prepone by a day and getting the confirmed bookings for 11th(Mukteshwar), 12th(Binsar), 13th(Kausani). On 14th we are driving back to Delhi.

Lol @ everybody and his mother in law will be en route

Thanks, Ranikhet is now gone, we would pass through it though on 14th. It was more of a driving trip rather than peaceful excusion.

Thanks we would avoid that.

We have got the booking at GVMN at all places Binsar/Kausani/Mukteshwar.

11th:: Leave Delhi early. Reach Mukteshwar via Bhimtal and NaukuchiTal. Night stay ar GVMN Mukteshwar.
Distance = ~350Kms
Travel Time = ~9-10 hrs

12th:: Leave Mukteshwar. Go to Jageshwar and reach Binsar.
Night Stay at Binsar.
Distance = 150 Kms
Travel Time = ~6-8 hrs

13th:: Leave Binsar and Reach Kausani
Night Stay at Kausani
Distance = ~80Kms
Travel Time = ~3 hrs

14th:: Return to Delhi
Or Relax and stay at Kausani and do Baijnath(34 kms)

15th:: Return to Delhi


Thank you alot Captain for making this come through. I am quite happy with the outcome. Do you have any more suggestion/tips for he trip in general and Does this itinerary looks fine.

capt_mahajan

Besides reading the Uttarakhand forum and www.kmvn.org, do get the car checked out, including brakes and handbrake.

Shyamal Mukherjee

Nitinshm,
Your programme looks fine. Mukteshwar to Jageshwar and then to Binsar is a slightly long journey. Mukteshwar to Almora via Shitla, Peora, up to Kwarab Bridge is a narrow metalled road but having excellent natural beauty. Jageshwar to Binsar via Barechinna, Paleo Bend, Garar Bend and Forest Checkpost- this route is the shortest but the Paleo Bend to Garar Bend (around 15 Km) is narrow, unmetalled and has some bad patches. The forest checkpost closes by 1730 hrs(sunset time). Hence start early from Mukteshwar so that you can comfortably reach Binsar KMVN by 1600 hrs. Also have a visit to Chhitai temple on the way to Jageshwar from Almora.
Rest plan is ok.
Shyamal

nitinshm

Thanks Shyamal. My guess is that it would take around 10 hours including breaks.

How much approx time do you think this route will take? Will it be OK to drive though this by Santro.

Thanks again for the tip. We would sure visit Chhitai Temple.

Shyamal Mukherjee

Our driver took 2.5 hours to travel from Binsar KMVN to Jageshwar via Paleo bend, Barechinna, Artola with a short tea break. The 11 Km of initial part(Binsar KMVN to Forest check post) was a down hill journey. In your case it will be up hill, hence will take around 3 hrs I think.
Start from Mukteshwar at 0700hrs. You will be able to reach Jageshwar comfortably at 1100-1130 hrs cosidering tea break and 15 mts break for Chhitai temple and start from Jageshwar at 1300 hrs to reach Binsar KMVN by 1600 hrs. Just be careful to spot Paleo Bend while driving from Barechinna. No signboard,no person available, just left side unmetalled bifurcation 3 Km before Dholchinna.
Piyush recommended me to buy honey from Jageshwar. I forgot but you may try and of course sweets of Almora is very famous.
From Binsar to Kausani you may travel via Bageshwar and Baijnath so that Baijnath will be covered enroute.
I have seen less no of santros in those region. Local drivers also do not prefer a lot.
Shyamal

nitinshm

I will keep that in mind. Almora sweets are the must-buy, I know.

Not at all a formal guy, but would like to thank Captain and Shyamal for taking and putting comments. This was really informative.

A small Problem::
We are not getting the KMVN accommodation at Mukteshwar on 11th. But are getting it at Binsar on that day. I am thinking of giving Mukteshwar a miss and just do the Binsar & Kausani(Already booked the hotel for 12th and 13th).

In that case would be driving straight to Binsar on 11th(w/o stopping anywhere). Do Jageshwar and back on 12th. Rest as per the original plan.

Shyamal Mukherjee

Nitinshm,
That means you will stay 2 nights at Binsar and will cover Jageshwar on the 2nd day. If you go to jageshwar through PaleoBend, Barechinna then may proceed to Dholchinna(3 KM from Paleo Bend towards Sheraghat) and slightly more for some himalayan peak views.
Paleo Bend to Barechinna -- the road is a beauty. There is a small RadhaKrishna temple in between at a wonderful location.
Shyamal

Dilliwala

You're not kidding! As I mentioned in another thread, I stayed a night in Dhaulchhina on the way back from Munsyari last year. Next morning on way to Almora, I completely missed noticing Paleo Bend as busy talking to my co-passenger and didn't realise it till we got to Barechhina! Or so I thought, till I read your post, Shyamal - and come to think of it, I do vaguely recall a dirt-road branching off somewhere near Dhaulchhina to my right (opposite direction, so your description matches). THAT'S PALEO BEND?!!! Which is mentioned so often, and shown in so many maps?!! Sheesh, it was totally non-descript! <shaking head>
I'm glad I wasn't on the way to Binsar.

Shyamal Mukherjee

Exactly it is. You are very correct. I asked some local drivers whom I met at Chaukori and to my surprise most of them were not very sure about the location of Paleo Bend. However the journey through (Paleo Bend to Binsar) this road was amazing to me. No vehicles, no persons, only natural beauties.
Shyamal

nitinshm

Thanks that helps. Shayamal, Is it doable by Santro.

Guys, I have given the car to check-up(brakes an oiling)...All set to roll. ...Thanks again

Shyamal Mukherjee

Nitinshm,
I hope the countdown has been started. I am very sure that your santro will never let you down. Please post your feedback after the tour and if possible with the photographs.
All the best and a happy tour to Kumaon
Shyamal Mukherjee