In the print dialog pick “Save as PDF” to keep it on your phone. A5 makes a pocket booklet; A4 suits a desk printer.
Voykit pocket guide · India
Chikhaldara
Spend a half‑day to one full day in Chikhaldara for hill‑station views and wildlife spots; stay only if you want a quiet night.
Chikhaldara is the only hill station in Vidarbha, perched on the Satpura plateau. It offers viewpoints, waterfalls and access to Melghat Tiger Reserve. Most visitors can see the main sights in a half‑day; a night adds cooler temps and quieter streets.
- Country
- India
- Best months
- Sep–Nov (post‑monsoon greenery)
- Avoid
- Jun–Aug (heavy monsoon)
- Stay
- 0.5–1 nights
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 ₹2,500–₹4,000 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 / General emergencies 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.
Get in
By air
- NAG · Nagpur Airport
- 230 km (143 mi) by road, about 5 h bus143 mi (230 km) by road, about 5 h bus
Typical fares
- Paratwada → Chikhaldara, bus
- ≈ ₹250 one way (check schedule)
- Taxi town → Hariken Point
- ≈ ₹300 each way
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
Regular state buses from Paratwada (30 km (19 mi)) and Amravati (90 km (56 mi)). Hire a taxi for local trips to points of interest; walking is feasible for nearby viewpoints.Regular state buses from Paratwada (19 mi (30 km)) and Amravati (56 mi (90 km)). Hire a taxi for local trips to points of interest; walking is feasible for nearby viewpoints.
See and do
Known for
- Hariken Point
- Goraghat Point
- Malviya (Sunrise) Point
- Monkey Point
- Gugamal National Park
- Melghat Tiger Reserve
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Hariken Point | Taxi from town, ~15 min | ≈30 min round trip |
| Melghat Tiger Reserve (Semadoh) | Hire a guide, 45 min drive | ≈2 h including registration |
Sleep
- Chikhaldara town centre
- Small guesthouses and budget hotels; convenient for early‑morning viewpoints.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Excuse me / Sorry | माफ़ कीजिएmaaf kijiye |
| Thank you | धन्यवादdhanyavaad |
| How much is this? | यह कितना है?yah kitna hai? |
| Where is the bus stop? | बस स्टॉप कहाँ है?bas stop kahaan 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
- Bus schedules can be sparse in off‑season; confirm times at the bus depot.
- Winter nights can be chilly; bring warm clothing.
- Tiger‑reserve safari requires registration at the forest office; check opening days.
Generally safe for tourists; main risks are wildlife encounters in reserves (register for safaris) and occasional chilly nights—carry warm clothing.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Chikhaldara yet. Suggested stay: 0.5–1 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Hariken Point
- Goraghat Point
- Malviya (Sunrise) Point
- Monkey Point
- Gugamal National Park
- Melghat Tiger Reserve
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 – Chikhaldara coordinates: www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q123456
- Wikivoyage: Chikhaldara, revision 5326009 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5326009
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Chikhaldara
कृपया इस पते पर ले जाएँ
To this address, please
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
- Police / General emergencies112
US consulate in Mumbai; Indian embassy in New Delhi.
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/chikhaldara). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.