When walking in the clouds turn into a reality!
If you want to immerse yourself in deep valleys covered in velvet mist and majestic trees, if you want to smell of coffee first thing in the morning, if you want to experience breath-taking views of hills on one side and lakes on the other, Chikhaldara will not disappoint you. At an altitude of 1118 m, Chikhaldara is one of the most popular summer retreats in the Vidarbha region of Maharashtra.
Being the only coffee growing area around, Chikhaldara also boasts of serene lakes, stunning vista points and exotic and exciting wildlife. The climate is mostly breezy and walking ‘in and on’ the clouds become a reality. Pinch yourself!
Blessed with an abundance of flora and fauna, Gugamal National Park in Chikhaldara is the only place famous for housing Indian Tigers in Maharashtra. This park boasts of having around 750 species of plants and trees like Aola, Ain, Tiwas and much more along with animals like panther, sloth bear, sambar and 25 species of fishes and various types of butterflies.
Melghat Tiger Reserve, spread over 1597 square kilometres also houses around 648 species of flora and a variety of reptiles and has over 80 tigers. This park is a beautiful example of villages and people coexisting with animals. The Korku tribe forms a large percentage of people living in this part and their life seems to be in perfect harmony with the forest life.
Must visit Places in Chikhaldara
Melghat Tiger Project, Gugamal National Park, Hurricane Point, Devi Point, Prospect Point, Gawilgarh and Narnala Fort, Pandit Nehru Botanical Gardens, the Tribal Museum, and the Semadoh Lake.
The Upper Plateau of Chikhaldara is covered in dense trees with no or negligible presence of human life. Shakkar Lake is a place where tourists can enjoy the speed boat, pedal boat, scooter boat and other water sports. This lake is on the way to the Gawilgarh Fort.
Bakadari and Kalkalkund- two magnificent waterfalls, which can be reached from Aadnadi. Dharkhura Waterfall which is about 10 Kms from Paratwada, has a cascade gushing down in the rainy season. Access to this waterfall is not that easy and requires you to walk 5 Kms from the village of Chota Barhanpur.
The beauty and expanse of Chikhladara is magnificent! But if you have limited time and you still want to experience this hidden wonder, TLN has designed a 2 day itinerary for you:
Day 1- Start your trip by visiting the forts in Chikhaldara. Amner, Narnala and Gawligarh Fort will transport you back into the ancient times. If you want to experience history first hand, do not miss the forts. You cannot give Bakadari and Kalkalkund Waterfalls a miss.
Day 2- Start your day interacting with the verdant surroundings in Gugamal National Park. Melghat Reserve shouldn’t be missed either. You can stop at the Muktagiri Temple for that ‘divine intervention’. And if you still have some energy left to walk, Dharkhura Waterfall will not disappoint you.
Best Time to Visit Chikhaldara
Chikhaldara is an ideal summer retreat and the best months to visit this quaint hill station are from March to June. Weather is pleasant, and you will find that much needed solace from the intense heat. Days can be warm but light jackets and shawls are advised for those cool and chilly nights.
How to Reach Chikhaldara
Chikhaldara has no airport or railway station. Nearest Airport: Nagpur which is 230 Kms. Nearest Railway Station: Amravati which 100 Kms. Buses are available from many cities
The only hill retreat in Vidarbha which offers deep misty valleys and placid lakes- the beauty of Chikhaldara is truly overwhelming. You’ll witness a new shade of green with every fold unwrapped. Get ready to unravel the wildlife, explore the architectural marvels- all in the spell binding beauty and that’s Chikhladara for you!
