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Voykit pocket guide · India
Chakrata
Foreign nationals (except Bhutanese and Nepalese) need prior permission from the Inspector General (Special Frontier Force); without it, skip Chakrata.
Chakrata is a remote hill town at 2,118 m, reachable only by road and requiring entry permission. Its main sights are a few kilometres from town, so a single day suffices if you can get in.
- Country
- India
- Best months
- May–Jun, Oct–Nov, Dec–Feb (ski)
- Avoid
- Jul–Sep (monsoon landslides, road blocks)
- Stay
- 1 night
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- INR
- Money
- Indian rupees (INR, ₹) in small notes for autos, street food, tips and entry tickets.
- Daily spend
- Budget ₹1,200–2,000 excl. bed · Mid ₹2,000–3,500 excl. bed · High ₹3,500+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Jio, Airtel and Vi sell tourist SIMs at airport counters and their shops; passport, visa and a photo needed; activation can take a few hours.
- Emergency
- Police / ambulance 112
- Plugs
- Types C, D, M · 230 V · 50 Hz · Round two-pin C plugs fit most sockets; D (three round pins) is the common wall socket; hotels often have universal sockets. UK and US plugs need an adapter.
- Tipping
- Street food and dhabas: Nothing.; Restaurant: 5–10% if no service charge is on the bill.; Car and driver: ₹300–500 a day at the end of the trip.; Guide: ₹300–500 for a half day.; Hotel porter / housekeeping: ₹50–100.; Auto or Uber: Round up.
- Water
- Not drinkable from the tap. Buy sealed bottles (check the cap), or use RO-filtered refill stations in hotels and cafés; avoid ice from street stalls.
- Toilets
- Western toilets in hotels, malls and airports; squat toilets with a water jug or hose in stations and villages. Carry tissue and sanitiser; paid public toilets (Sulabh) cost ₹5–10.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Tea (roadside stall) | ₹30–50 |
| Local thali meal | ₹150–250 |
| Taxi (per km) | ₹15–20 |
| Entry to Mahasu Devta Temple | ₹20–30 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- DED · Jolly Grant Airport, Dehradun
- 92 km (57 mi) by road, poor condition57 mi (92 km) by road, poor condition
Typical fares
- Dehradun → Chakrata (car hire, round trip)
- ≈ ₹2,500 total (check)
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Access is by road only; the town is 92 km (57 mi) from Dehradun. Hire a car or check for bus services (availability to be confirmed). Roads are rough and may be delayed by landslides.Access is by road only; the town is 57 mi (92 km) from Dehradun. Hire a car or check for bus services (availability to be confirmed). Roads are rough and may be delayed by landslides.
See and do
Known for
- Devban viewpoint
- Kanasar forest retreat
- Tiger Fall trek
- Mahasu Devta Temple
- Skiing at Mundoli (Nov–Apr)
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Devban | Drive 16 km (9.9 mi) from Chakrata (≈30 min, check)Drive 9.9 mi (16 km) from Chakrata (≈30 min, check) | ≈45 min round trip (check) |
| Kanasar | Drive 26 km (16 mi) on Chakrata‑Tuni road (≈45 min, check)Drive 16 mi (26 km) on Chakrata‑Tuni road (≈45 min, check) | ≈1 h (check) |
| Tiger Fall | 5 km (3.1 mi) trek from Chakrata (≈2 h walk, check)3.1 mi (5 km) trek from Chakrata (≈2 h walk, check) | ≈3 h total (check) |
Sleep
- Forest Rest House
- Basic rooms, requires permission to stay
- Private hotels
- Limited, also need entry permit
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Excuse me / Sorry | माफ़ कीजियेmaaf kijiye |
| Thank you | धन्यवादdhanyavaad |
| How much is it? | यह कितना है?yeh kitna hai? |
| Where is the restroom? | शौचालय कहाँ है?shauchalay kahan hai? |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Namaste (palms together) or a handshake between men; wait for a woman to offer her hand; avoid: Hugging or kissing strangers
- Hands and feet: Give and eat with the right hand; apologise if your foot touches someone; avoid: Pointing feet at people or shrines; touching books or food with your feet
- Temples: Shoes off, walk clockwise around shrines, accept prasad (blessed food) with the right hand; avoid: Leather in Jain temples; entering sanctums that say Hindus only
- Home visit: Bring sweets or fruit; accept tea at least once; avoid: Refusing all food; wearing shoes inside
- Questions: Expect personal questions (married? job? salary?) as friendliness; avoid: Taking offence; answer vaguely if you prefer
- Saying no: A firm, polite 'nahi, dhanyavaad' (no, thank you) and keep walking; avoid: Long explanations to touts
- Dress: Loose clothes covering shoulders and knees; kurta tops are cheap and cool; avoid: Swimwear or shorts away from Goa beaches
Scams and watch-outs
- Foreign tourists need prior permission from the Inspector General (Special Frontier Force).
- Roads are in bad shape; landslides can block routes in monsoon.
- Limited accommodation; book ahead if you have permission.
Foreign visitors need prior permission; roads can be blocked by landslides in monsoon, and accommodation is limited.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Chakrata yet. Suggested stay: 1 night. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Devban viewpoint
- Kanasar forest retreat
- Tiger Fall trek
- Mahasu Devta Temple
- Skiing at Mundoli (Nov–Apr)
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikidata – Chakrata: www.wikidata.org/wiki/QXXXXX
- Wikivoyage: Chakrata, revision 5329753 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5329753
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Chakrata
कृपया इस पते तक ले चलें
To this address, please
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
- Police / ambulance112
Indian police (112) handles emergencies; foreign consulates are in Dehradun and New Delhi.
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/chakrata). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.