Kumaon in Sep: Kausani or Munsiyari

shubha_r

Thanks Shyamlal for the reply and inputs.

Yes, I am really a nature lover and cant wait to get to Kumaon! I am aware about weather, that is why I am keeping at least 2-3 days in each place and not just hopping from one spot to another.
I want to stay in KMVN Binsar. If I take a taxi to it, will it still be difficult to access? Will I have a problem in going to places like Jageshwar as a day trip from KMVN Binsar? I want to do that on one of the days I am there. Please suggest.
I am already thinking of adding Choukori to my itinerary. I have actually mentioned this in detail in the thread Escape to Kumaon (sorry). Munsiyari will be too far. Would like to add a third place which is about 5 hours away from Kausani and Binsar and base there for 2 days.

shubha_r

Sorry, not Escape to Kumaon. I meant the thread Kumaon trip...need help.

mousourik

had been to Patal this march and stayed there for a night, but it's not worth staying there. we went inside the cave and came out in half an hour.
Think of Birthi and Munsyari. The falls at Birthi is superb. And Munsyari - you'll have the best view of the peaks there because it's the farthest point and hence nearest to the peaks.

Shyamal Mukherjee

Shubha r, If you take a car on hire from Kathgodam, your journey will be pleasent. Yes there will not be any problem to reach Binsar KMVN TRH with a car/taxi. You have to reach before sunset(1700Hrs) as forest check post normally closes by that time. Secondly Forest checkpost to Binsar KMVN is 11 Km steep up hill journey and you will find yourself to reach out of world at KMVN.
Anyway I would suggest you to do the tour like this.
Stay first 2 nights at Binsar. Start early morning from Binsar(Just after seeing the sunrise) on the third day and proceed to Chaukori. On the way see the Jageshwar temples. Just slightly be careful about the routes. You will safely reach Chaukori by 1600 hrs considering 2 hrs stay at Jageshwar.
Stay 2 nights at Chaukori. On 5th day you come to Kausani. 2 nights stay at Kausani will be ok. May proceed to Gwaldam for enjoying Trishul. You may cover Ranikhet also on 7th/8th day before reaching Kathgodam.
I consider that you will perform the journey with a hired car. I have no idea of travelling with public transport. Anyway if you are interested for a reliable car on hire we can help.
Shyamal

shubha_r

Thanks a lot Shyamal and very sorry about getting your name wrong earlier. Re transport the idea is to take public transport to Kausani and a taxi to Binsar.
I understand that 3 days in Binsar looks like a lot but one of those days would be taken for a day-trip to Jageshwar and back. I prefer doing it at leisure over a day rather than doing it while "on the way". So it would be just 2 days in Binsar effectively. That doesn't sound too much no? I can walk in the sanctuary, and go to the Panchachuli women's coop.

Few queries:
1. Would I have a problem in getting a taxi to visit these places from the Binsar sanctuary?
2. I would like to go to Choukori. How could I work it out from Binsar or Kausani? How long will it take to Choukori from Binsar or Kausani?
3. What can one do in Choukori?
4. Any suggestions about any other places a few hours from Binsar or Kausani?
5. Are the roads to Choukori good?

What would be the best way to organise a trip round Binsar, Kausani and Choukori?

Thanks again.

travel joy

Pointwise replies for your queries:

1.Getting a taxi / hired car from Binsar will be a problem.It is not a town or even a village so there is no such taxi stand in the sactuary.The visitors come from other places in their own hired cars and leave.

2.Binsar to Chaukori will take around 5 hours via Bagheswar. Ffrom Kausani it will be about the same.

3. Chaukori is a great place to enjoy nature. It is not a remote as Binsar but still gives one the traveller the right amount of calm & solitude.Great view of Maiktoli, Mrigthuni & Nanda Devi. One can always go for long walks through the lovely villages or climb the nearby hillocks for a great view.Overall, a lovely place.

4. Only other place I can suggest in the vicinity is Gwaldam.

5. Roads for Chaukori are good.At least they were so in Oct-Nov last year.

The best way to do the trip will be to take a car/jeep on hire for the days from Kathgodam or Kausani.

shubha_r

Mousourik:
Thanks. No I am not thinking of staying in Patal B, just maybe visiting it enroute to somewhere... Birthi and Munsiyari might be far right?

For all the experts:
So... still wondering about a third place to base for 2 days. How long would it take from:
Binsar - Choukori?
Kausani-Choukori?

Are the views from Binsar and Choukori similar? What else is there in Choukori to see? Or would anyone suggest any other place?

Piyush

1)From Binsar hiring a taxi would be a tough one.Even if you get they will charge a lot.
2) Binsar to Chaukori the route as per my knowledge should be
Binsar-->Gairad Bend-->Dhaulchina-->Sheraghat-->Rai Agar-->Udiyari Bend ->Chaukori...
I have a doubt on this route,Gairad bend to Dhaulchina road is not a mettaled road.Do visit the Gairad temple(Golu Devta temple).From Gairad Bend to Dhaulchina would be close to 20-25km(??),the traffic is absolutely zero.I went two years back on this road,till 5 km ahead of the Giarad temple.

other options is
Binsar-->Kasaar Devi(Kapadhkhan route is slightly longer)-->Barechina-->Dhaulchina-->Sheraghat-->Rai Agar-->Udiyari Bend ->Chaukori.

Binsar to Chaukori would take maximum 3hrs(if you opt for the second route)considering some stoppages in between.Fishes are available at Sheraghat for lunch.
3) Chaukori is an excellent place.Close by Chaukori there is a place called Dharamghar(5kms),you can see musk deers.

4)From Kausani you can visit Baijnath temples,it would take not more then 1 hrs to reach Baijnath.Gwaldam is another good place.
5)Overall the road are in good conditions.

shubha_r

travel joy:
Thanks a lot for taking the pains to reply. Extremely helpful. It might then make sense to have a taxi for Binsar and Choukori. I think the taxi would not be needed for Kausani.

I too could not think of any other place besides Choukori. That is why I asked the group. Any suggestions? Also, would the view (assuming it is clear enough that we get to see it!) from Binsar and Choukori be similar?

Perhaps as soon as the plan is fixed I will get to hiring a taxi.

Piyush:
Thanks a lot. So I hear that the best thing is to add Choukori to my itinerary? And Choukori is easily accessible from Binsar (with taxi)?
Yes, Baijnath will be visited during the stay in Kausani.

So if we have Binsar, Kausani and Choukori, what would be teh best way to plan the travel? Kathgodam - Binsar - Choukori - Kausani - Kathgodam?
Or any better way?

Sadanand Kamath

I have travelled on this route in November '07 with my family enroute to Jageshwar. At Paleo Bend, the road bifucates to Dhaulachhina for Sheraghat and to Barechhina for Artola on way to Jageshwar. All I can say is that Gairad Bend-Paleo Bend road is one of the best unmetaled road - both in terms of road condition as well as from the scenic point of view - I have ever travelled in Uttarakhand. You are really in wild as there is absolutely no traffic and no villages enroute. The road is through a dense pine forest. Gairad Bend to Dhaulchhina is 17 kms.

Sadanand

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Manzil tamam umr hame dhunti rahi.

[Just one wrong step on the way of the quest
My destination looked for me all life long]

shubha_r

Hey Dilliwala! Just looked over the previous suggestions in this thread and saw this. Looks like I might finally do this after all! Now just contemplating between Choukori & Naukuchiatal...

Piyush

Yes its a beautiful road,with absolutely no traffic.When I went in June/2006 it started raining heavily,we came back after travelling nearlly 10kms on that road.Even the location of Gairad temple is beautiful.
If this road is ok,I think its the shortest route to reach Chaukori from Binsar.
I forget to write the third option..Binsar-->Takula-->Bageshwar-->Vijaypur-->Chaukori.

shubha_r

So how does this sound:

Day
1. Morning (after landing from Ranikhet Exp or bus): Kathgodam-Binsar(5 hours?)
2. Binsar
3. Binsar
4. morning: Binsar-Choukori (about 4 hours??)
5. Choukori
6. Post lunch: Choukori - Kausani
7. Kausani
8. Kausani
9. Kausani
10. Kausani - Kathgodam (5 hours?) - Ranikhet Exp

earth.anon

Shubha - Binsar-Choukori is a nice drive indeed - like is most places up there. You can stop in Bageshwar to see some cool 10th century temples. 5 hours will go by before you even know it. Ask the locals where you may be able to stop along the roadside to pick and eat delicious local fruit/berries growing wild.

If you go to Choukori - opt for the kmvn cottage instead of the the rooms if available.

In Choukori - go for walks around KMVN - check out the abandoned tea estate buildings and the hills nearby. Very serene. Have hot pahadi alu and parathas at KMVN and drink chai while viewing Nanda Devi. The town itself is nothing but a few shops - I loved the general store where I made a phonecall to Pune from. Tiny shop with 20-something guys playing 'snakes and ladders' with such passion in the back. The shop sold miscellaneous things - of which the most prominently displayed were - a tour book of Kumaon and men's underwear, for some reason - hah!

Jay

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Dilliwala

It wud appear that the Ranikhet Exp. is cancelled from the 6th to 16th Sep. I remember the Bandra-Dehradun slow train is also withdrawn from 6 Sep.
If this train is not reinstated, you're stuck with the Sampark Kranti Exp.! In other words, one night in KMVN Kathgodam.

Aah, I see Jay's just chipped in with his own experience - I was hoping he wud so that I cud save myself the typing, plus he's one of the people who covered this route recently.
(Frankly I can't even remember anymore where all the OP went, after all those (mis)happenings and posts! )

Base yourself at Chaukori and cover Birthi and Patal B. from there. No point going to Munsyari with the time available, specially in the monsoon.