Kumaon trip ..need help

EOS

Hi! all

I am planning a trip to Kumaon in May. I have finalized an itenary and i need help in fine tuning it.
I have gone through the threads on Kumaon and have come with following plan. The plan is Ex Haldwani. A friend of mine will be joining me in his maruti swift at Haldwani. If he doesn't makes it I'll hire a Taxi. The idea is to have a driving holiday in the hills.

Day 1 (May 20th) - Haldwani to Kausani
Day 2 - Kausani
DAy 3 - Kausani to Chaukri via jageshwar
Day 4 - Chaukri
Day 5 - Chaukri to Munsyari
Day 6 - Munsyari
Day 7 - Munsyari to Pithoragarh
Day 8 (May 27th) - Pithoragarh to Haldwani


OK now the querries..

1. Is the plan OK or does it need some modifications ?

2. I don't want to travel more than 5-6 hrs in a day. Will any
of the distances require more than 6 hrs of travelling..??

3. I need to finalize the plan now since i would like book the
KMVN hotels. As it is the KMVNs are half full on those
dates. My budget for hotel is 1000 Rs per day. If there are
any other hotels in this range then please suggest.

4. Any other suggestions regarding what not to miss...

Thanks

hitchhiker

thats ok. I have done it last year... except choukri you have plenty of options for hotels.. choukri has only kmvn TRH and two private tented accomodations. So be prepared for that...all the best..you will have a drive of your lifetime.....try to accomodate binsar on your trip...

Piyush

Kausani to Chaukori via Jageshwar??????? or via Bageshwar...

EOS

yes i was also a bit confused about this. I saw a map which showed the route via jageshwar... Is it a detour from kausani to chaukri...???
I read the thread about jagehswar and bageshwar and out of the two jageshwar got the most votes...

But if its a big detour then i might skip it...?? how much distance is kausani to chaukri..??

hitchhiker : I thought of binsar but then i don't have extra days hence decided to omit it...other wise it would have become too hectic..

Shyamal Mukherjee

EOS, Now the experts(Piyush) are coming on line for you. I have also doubt of going to Chaukori via Jageshwar or Bageshwar!?
Kausani to Chaukori via Jageshwar will be no less than 180 KM and will be around 7-8 hours journey.
It may be thought of to go to Pitharogarh from Kausani via Jageshwar, then Pitharogarh to Munsyari, Munsyari to Chaukori and Chaukori to Kathgodam. What do you say Piyush?
Kausani to Chaukori via Baijnath, Bageshwar, Kanda and Vijaypur will be around 80-85 KM.
Shyamal Mukherjee

EOS

Thanks shyamlal ji....
this means i travel other way round ....OK fine....now i would like to how much time will it take to reach pithoragarh from kausani via jageshwar..?? I have a 5 year old kid who gets really bored when travelling long distance in taxis

Shyamal Mukherjee

Though I have not gone to Pitharogarh but still if Jageshwar needs to be included then it came to my mind as an alternate. I think Jageshwar to Pitharogarh will be around 90 KM and the road condition is good. Let see what other IM members say about it.
Shyamal

EOS

I got a wonderful map...thanks to shyamlal ji. I was seeing a wrong one. me bad... so now its clear that its bageshwar which is enroute to chaukri from kausani.

So if i stick to my original plan then i have two options

1. On day 1 of my plan i am reaching kausani via almora. So if i do a detour from almora to jageshwar and come back to almora and then continue my journey to kausani the same day. Is it possible..

2. I skip jageshwar.

Piyush

Shyamal I am also confused now....Kausani-->Jageshwar-->Pithoragarh-->Munsyari(via Didihat,Thal)--->Chaukori..interesting..
Kausani to Jageshwar..I assume the route would be..
Kausani-->Someshwar-->Kosi river-->NTD(Almora)-->Barechina-->Panuanaula-->Artola-->Jageshwar..

I remember Kausani to Bageshwar is 50km and Bageshwar to Chaukori is 30-35km....Yes Shyamal u are absolutely right,it would be close to 85km..

shahronakm

There are one or two homestays also at Chaukori. There was one teacher couples home (both husband & wife are teachers in a local school) where we had stayed in Feb 05. Current status is not known. It's two mins. from KMVN (take a left from KMVN).

Patal Bhuvaneshwar is also an option for you to visit.

Ronak.

Trishul

Kathgodam-Kausani-Chokori(Via Bageshwer)-MUnsyari-Pithogarh(Via Doidihat)-Jageshwar-Kathgodam

Piyush

Jageshwar to Pithoragarh is 90km exact..jageshwar to Ghat is 60kms and Ghat to Pithoragarh is 30km..
Jageshwar to Pithoragarh the route is..
Jageshwar --> Artola-->Danya-->Panar--->Ghat--->Gurna(temple)-->Aincholi--->Pithoragarh

ananda2193

Agree with Trishul, that is the route to go if you want to see Jageshwar. And I would definitely see Jageshwar if in the area. I loved it there. But you must go up to the ridge at Vriddha Jageshwar for the views.

From the map I have here's some mileage count's:

Kausani-Chaukori via Baijnath and Bageshwar: 71 km.

Chaukori-Munsyari via Thal and Birthi: 95 km.

Munsyari-Pithoragrah via Jauljibi and Ogla: 128 km.

Pithoragrah-Jageshwar via Ghat: 80 km.

Alot of driving, might want to alter your plans a little. I would definitely see Jageshwar and maybe throw in Binsar and maybe Patal Bhuvneshwar like was mentioned above.

Could you pass on Munsyari? Though I've never been there, it seems like alot of driving to get there and out for such a short time.

shahronakm

Not advisable. Munsiyari is a must visit place. In case of time constrain i would cut down on Pithorgarh instead.

Ronak.

Shyamal Mukherjee

The first option would be the best one. Just start early in the morning from Kathgodam/Haldwani. Visit Chhitai Golu temple on the way to Jageshwar from Almora. Jageshwar will require 1 to 1.5 hours of stay. Also buy honey from there (Piyush recommendation). I think if you start at 0800 hrs from Kathgodam you will be able to reach Kausani before 1600 hrs after seeing Jageshwar. Also take a tea and pakora break at Kaichi temple.
Shyamal