need help for a trip to chakrata, mussoorie, dhanaulti

Dilliwala

Hi Kousik,
27/6 - I'm puzzled - why wud you back-track to Haridwar after visiting Rksh? Just stay there. Avoids having to do a re-backtrack (front-track?) the next morning. Unless you have friends/relatives living in Haridwar, that's different.

1/7 - Ukhimath is before Chopta. Chopta to Joshimath is about 100 km, 3 to 3.5 hours. You have to leave Joshimath at 4.30 pm to catch the last gate-opening to Badrinath. Auli-Joshimath-Auli driving will take 1 hour total. All in all, I don't see a problem to visit Auli on this day. Even if you leave Chopta by 9 a.m. you shud be able to spend 3 hours in Auli e.g. You can adjust your morning-departure accordingly as desired. I wud suggest you decide at short notice when you reach J'math re whether you go to Auli or not (maybe there are road-blocks/delays on the way). Just remember to keep 1 hour as driving time to Auli and back.

When you say for Chakrata you will follow Yamuna Bridge route, I take it you mean via Kuwa/Lakhamandal? That's fine, just factor in the extra time.

The rest of your plan looks fine, if you're happy with it. Starting at Dehradun/Chakrata and ending at Pauri/Haridwar is actually more 'efficient' as a road-journey, but that's not the only factor to be considered. Plus I'm guessing you have your train tickets already, so no point taking a risk if you can't get new tickets confirmed.

If you wish, though, I can outline the route to take in the reverse direction (small changes).

And you can drop the 'ji' now.

KOUSIK MUKHERJEE

DEAR DILLIWALA,
I ONCE AGAIN WOULD LIKE TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUGGESTIONS.
1) 0N 27/6 I will return to Haridwar to see the evening mode of the Ganges . Next Morning we will start early ( say at around 6.00 a.m.or 7.00 a.m.) so that we can reach Gourikund on that day ( 238k.m. as I know) comfortably viewing points on the route like RP,CHANDRAPURI,SYALSORE.

2) WE will be four in the team ( 2 male aged 33, 2 female aged 28) . Will it be possible for us to walk upto Kedar in a single day, (if we do not get rain) ?

3) As I got information there might be occasional rains at that time , that's why I had kept one extra day in my hand & so Chakrata was not initially in my plan. Can you give some idea about rainfall/ precautionary requirements at that time. We will hire a Sumo/Bolero type car for the entire journey , carry raincoat for all.

4) Suppose on reaching Haridwar we find that it is raining & then we can make DHNLT, CHKR, trip early & then go for Kedar trip. So as you expressed you can suggest a modified plan accordingly. We are reaching HRD ON 27/6 MORNING( & want to stay that day on Haridwar) & leaving on 07/07 evening from Dehradun. we always prefer to keep 3 hrs cution on return day (i.e. to catch a train at 6.00p.m. would like to reach dedradun by 3.00 p.m.) in hilly areas.

5)how cold we will feel there at that time ?

6) I mean that We will prefer to go to Chakarta via the shortest route i.e. via Kempty falls ( not via 2.5 hr alternate opening route of Kalsi) & return thru the same route.

Dilliwala

Hi Kousik,

1) Ok, I didn't think of the evening arti, etc at Haridwar. Yes, then it wud make sense to stay the night too.
May I ask what exactly there is at Chandrapuri and Syalsaur that you intend to see? I'm genuinely puzzled becos I stayed once at GMVN Chandrapuri and don't know of any local attractions, maybe I missed something! They're both nice quiet places along the river, but that's all that I recall.

2) Yes, I reckon you shud be able to do it in 6-8 hours, depending on fitness. Just see to it that you all have good walking shoes, with laces!

3) You will definitely encounter some rain, but a lot of good weather too. It's very difficult to predict exactly, specially with the weird weather we've been having in N. India, but you won't have a full-blown monsoon.
Example: 2006 - 27-29th June in Mussoorie, rain all days. Left for Yamunotri on 30 June, it's raining in Muss, but it stops sometime after Kempty and Yamuna Pul is dry. No rain the rest of the way, and 1st Jul the good weather holds all day while going to Yamunotri and back. 2nd Jul back to Muss, no rain, sunny and humid all the way. But that same evening it rained again! Also a Q of altitude - Chakrata is similar BTW.
2007 - 3rd Jul, Dehradun-Rishikesh-Devprayag - raining first, stops before getting to Rishikesh, then sun, starts pouring down in Devprayag around 7.30 pm for an hour or two. Next day - Devprayag-Karnprayag-Gwaldam, good weather all day, as we reach Gwaldam around 8 pm, downpour for at least an hour. 5-7th similar pattern enroute to Munsyari. 8th intermittent light rain in the afternoon/evening, then heavy by 8 pm. 9th no rain all day.
So as you see, it's not exactly predictable, but all in all you can expect sunshine too.

4) It cud just as well be raining at Dhanolti and Chakrata . Or not, imposs to tell. In any case the alternative route wud be:
Dehradun-Mussoorie-Yamuna Pul-Chakrata
Chakrata-Yamuna Pul-Mussoorie-Dhanolti
Dhanolti-Chamba-Tehri Dam-Gadolia(route bifurcation here)-Ghansali-Tilwara-Chandrapuri/Syalsaur-Kund-Gauri Kund/Kedarnath
Gauri Kund-Kund-Ukhimath/Chopta
Chopta-Chamoli-Joshimath-Auli-Joshimath-Badrinath
Badrinath-Joshimath-Chamoli-Rudraprayag-Shrinagar-Pauri
Pauri-Adwani-Satpuli (beautiful drive), onto Kotdwara or Najibabad -train home.
This is what I wud do, it wud be pointless going back to Haridwar. However if necess, there's a direct road to Devprayag, then Rishikesh-Haridwar on NH 58.
Of course this means either way you have to drop DDN as departure station.

5) A sweater or light jacket will be enough. Or a jacket which can double up as raincoat will be ideal. Always make sure you have one change of dry clothes available, specially socks!

KOUSIK MUKHERJEE

HI DILLIWALA,
thanks again for suggesting an alternate route , which is matching to that what I had planned.
1) We do not have any plan to stay at C'PURI/SYLSR .These places are in the route so if we feel we can spend 15-20 mts there. I hope if we start by 7.00 in the morning from HRDW we could reach G'KUND BY 5.00 P.M. spending some time at places ( say 1 hr & 1 hr for lunch, tea break = total 2 hr break)

2)We have planned for flat footed shoe with lace

3)As I have got information on Kedar route we may get occasional rain, for that we will carry one set dress to Kedar & rain coat.

4)Alternate route is a good guidence to us. But during return our ticket is from D'DUN, so we will have to return there.

shaleen

There Is No Gate System If U Go Via Ponta Sahib. I Went There August End .. Nahan-renukaji-pota Sahib-chakrata-delhi

Dilliwala

Yes, similar info has been noted elsewhere already:

Road/Traffic Conditions in Uttarakhand


In any case, you still must have gone to Chakrata via Kalsi. Didn't you cross the Yamuna at Paonta and then go via Herbertpur and Vikasnagar?

shaleen

yes. i crossed the river twice .. i didn know which river it was but ya you will have to if you go via ponta. on return we came via vikas nagar route . it took me 9 hours to reach back to delhi from chakrata

shaleen

i took this route-

day 1--delhi-sonepat-panipat-karnal-kurukshetra/pipli-yamuna nagar-sadhaura-kala amb-nahan-dhaula kuan-dadahu--renukaji

day 2--renukaji-sataun-paonta sahib-herbertpur-vikas nagar-
after driving past vikas nagar there is division of road-with a sign board which says-

straight road to chakrata- this is the route via KALSI , i took this route. kalsi-sahiya-chakrata. this road when i go was in very bad shape

second sign was TO YAMUNOTRI-the road was taking a u turn-this was the road from which i return (via kharapathar)

chakrata-nagthat-lakhwad-after which there was bifurcation -towards left to kemptyfall-moussourie & to right(which i took) to kharapathar-vikasnagar-herbertpur-then to ambala & back to delhi,
there was heavy rain at night during my stay at chakrata & so i got few landslides on the chakrata-kharapathar road. otherwise the road was much better than the kalsi sahiya-chakrata road


i was told it is not the season.so i did not find tourists.market was very small just for the basic needs of the locals that too was closed that day.you dont have any petrolpump & the nearest pump is at vikas nagar which is more than 100 kms, but there is one guy who sells prtrol

chakrata really is very peaceful n full of natural beauty

Dilliwala

Umm, there is a river which flows right down from Paonta, separating your state from Haryana most of the way, even entering and exiting Dilli. You may have noticed it whenever you come this side.

You ACTUALLY drove Renuka-Sataun?!! Wow! you're the ONLY person I know other than me who's driven that route (in Oct '05). A real car-adventurer like me, I see.
Man, was it awful then, 25 out of 28 km kachcha/broken! Is it still like that?

REALLY? I was in Chakrata end-June (but from/to Muss) and only saw the first few kms going south. That stretch was in fantastic condition, newly laid. So how much of the total distance Kalsi-Chakrata (42 km) is bad? The only time I went that way in 2003 it was ok.

You cud have come via Mussoorie-Dehradun also, but your route wud have been faster, yes.
Next time take the Baghpat-Saharanpur-Behat-Herbertpur road (avoiding Loni), it's in very good condition and the shortest of all. Some info here.

Yes, that's NH 123 from Herbertpur to Yamunotri (Phulchatti actually), as you noted earlier. The section you drove on was done recently I think, but not the rest of it going north.

Yup, 2 trips and 2 visits . Diesel the first time, and a burst radiator hose this time!
There was a pump at Ambadi, north of Vikasnagar. Was it closed?

Obviously you didn't have more time, but plan a longer trip thru the region next time. Kanasar is fantastic. I wanted to drive to Tiuni also, but didn't have time.

I am now giving you my official for being one of very few people to have done the southern Chakrata/Jaunsar circuit, both routes.
When you finish Lakhamandal/northern Jaunsar, you will get .

shaleen

hi.

ya i first got in two minds whether to go ahead n cross the river or not.. then i saw bikers crossing it and so just without stopping continue pressing my acelerator.. moreover after trevelling all the way from renuka i was in no mood to turn back all the way .. it was real great fun because the flow was really fast :rolleyes:

You ACTUALLY drove Renuka-Sataun?!! Wow! you're the ONLY person I know other than me who's driven that route (in Oct '05). A real car-adventurer like me, I see.
Man, was it awful then, 25 out of 28 km kachcha/broken! Is it still like that?

yes.. it was still all kucha bumpy road .. i had plan to go and come backafter passing an houror so at chakrata but seeing the beauty and the wheather i could not resist myself staying there overnight...also the road factor was therebeacuse in case i return the same day i would have to trevel at night starting back at 5.30 or so..but the day light remains there till 7.30 or so



straight road to chakrata- this is the route via KALSI , i took this route. kalsi-sahiya-chakrata. this road when i go was in very bad shape
REALLY? I was in Chakrata end-June (but from/to Muss) and only saw the first few kms going south. That stretch was in fantastic condition, newly laid. So how much of the total distance Kalsi-Chakrata (42 km) is bad? The only time I went that way in 2003 it was ok.


i guess 30 km was bad after that it was good (12 km)


You cud have come via Mussoorie-Dehradun also, but your route wud have been faster, yes.
Next time take the Baghpat-Saharanpur-Behat-Herbertpur road (avoiding Loni), it's in very good condition and the shortest of all.

thanks.actually i avoid saharanpur. yess i could have come via mussourie but while coming back i asked the localites and was told that mussourie route will take more time & i was short of time.i was to reach by 2.30. if i go next time i will definitely do via saharanpur or mussourie..


Yes, that's NH 123 from Herbertpur to Yamunotri (Phulchatti actually), as you noted earlier. The section you drove on was done recently I think, but not the rest of it going north

yes i think it is NH 123 SO WAS MAINTAINED WELL. YOU ARE RIGHT



Yup, 2 trips and 2 visits . Diesel the first time, and a burst radiator hose this time!
There was a pump at Ambadi, north of Vikasnagar. Was it closed?

I DIDNT CHECKED . I BUY 10 LITRE PETROL FROM THE LOCAL MARKET AT CHAKRATA AND THAT I FOUND SUFFICIENT. NEXT I FILL THE TANK AT AMBALA. I WAS TOLD THAT YES THERE AT VIKASNAGAR THERE IS PETROL PUMP BUT I REALLY DONT REMEMBER WHETHER I CAME ACROSS ONE OR NOT


I am now giving you my official for being one of very few people to have done the southern Chakrata/Jaunsar circuit, both routes.
When you finish Lakhamandal/northern Jaunsar, you will get


OH ....... SO NICE OF YOU. TELL ME WHAT IS SPECIAL ABOUT Lakhamandal/northern Jaunsar. I AM NOT HARD OF IT MUCH.

PLEASE GUIDE ME WHICH WILL BE THE BEST PLACE TO VISIT FROM 25-28 SEPTEMBER..

I HAVE IN MIND-

1.KEYLONG-JISPA
2.MUNSIYARI
3.HARSIL
4.hatkoti
5.GREAT HIMALAYAN NATIONAL PARK
6.JAISELMER

Lakhamandal/northern Jaunsar as you adviced

how should i plan it day wise

Dilliwala

shaleen, I didn't understand this:

Quote:

ya i first got in two minds whether to go ahead n cross the river or not.. then i saw bikers crossing it and so just without stopping continue pressing my acelerator.. moreover after trevelling all the way from renuka i was in no mood to turn back all the way .. it was real great fun because the flow was really fast

You had to drive THROUGH the river?!! Where? where?!!
At Paonta there is a regular bridge leading to Kulhal on the UA side. At and near Sataun one sees the Giri river, which merges with the Yamuna near Paonta.

As for the Jaunsar region, it is the last unspoilt paradise of Garhwal, maybe even the whole state, reachable by road. By northern Jaunsar I mean everything north of Chakrata - Koti-Kanasar, Lokhandi/Budher cave, Tiuni, Dara Gad etc. Near Chakrata, Devban is very much worth a visit, but you need a big vehicle for that (kachcha/jungle road).
Hanol and Hatkoti can be comfortably tied in with a visit to Chakrata, no point making a separate trip, unless you want to explore Pabar/Rohru region in HP. You can also stay a night in Hanol if you like and go to Hatkoti from there, there's a GMVN at Hanol.
Lakhamandal is a small village to the west of the Yamuna. It's claim to fame is an ancient Shiv temple, and it's supposed to be the site of the Pandavs' escape from the house of 'lakh' of Mahabharat fame (I've mentioned it on page 1). From here one can reach Chakrata as well - beautiful drive. This is best tied in with a route via Muss, otherwise it's a bit off-route. I.e. Muss-Lakha-Chakrata while going (my route in June), or reverse direction while returning.
Here's a website with decent info on the whole region, click on all the links: http://www.pandeyji.com/chakrata/chakrata.cfm

For 3 days the only other option I'll suggest is Harsil, for the others you really need more time to be able to enjoy.
If you like, start a thread with your Q as given above under 'Itinerary Advice' and wait for more suggestions to roll in.

shaleen

so nice of u.. for giving useful information. after finalizing i will tell u, i also will put a new thread as u adviced..

yes 25-28 is short period but i cant get more leaves i guess. so harsil or chakrata and surroundings..

i was told by locals there that that its off season for chakrata and the fall will be dry & the best season is around MAY. is it so ??

i got to cross the river twice while coming from the renukaji to the road going to paonta..just before i touch the main road from(some NH) that goes i think from ambala to paonta
.

Dilliwala

Actually, winter is the best time for Himalayan views. If you were going 3 weeks later it wud be ideal. May is nice becos it's summer, but not the best time for views.

shaleen

when i went last month the climate, wheather was great but there was so much fog / clouds that nothing was visible ... ya that clouds around u itself was awsome

shaleen

hi dilliwala. i went to rohtang-keylong. got lot of snow. it was just wow