Aimless Romany: Chakrata Chakkars

Bissu Celebrations

There are few places that remain in a corner of your heart and there are few places meant for you. Well, these are just my thoughts. 'Chakrata' is the place for me, I can never get enough of visiting this place. However, I will not suggest any "tourist" to visit here. If you are looking for entertainment, exciting sightseeing, loud music, restaurants, bars or any such "hangouts" then, it is better that you avoid visiting Chakrata. But, if you have true respect for nature and people living in-harmony with it then you can think about visiting here. Locals here are proud of their culture and place (and they have all the reasons to be). It is more important to learn from them instead of asking for better facilities and in a way forcing your (urban) lifestyle upon them. I don't want to be rude or selfish here but, trying to avoid the consequences of 'tourism'. Luckily, the regular tourist flow to Chakrata is very low . Majority of the visitors are nature lovers/birders/botanists/wildlifers. Even though, I could see lots of changes happening here ever since my first visit in 2005. I can't even imagine if regular tourists starts coming in good numbers and demand for their needs to hotel-owners / locals/ government. What if they try to fulfill these? what will happen to the locals and their ecosystem?..... I am scared, certainly don't wish 'Chakrata' to turn into another 'Mussoorie'. (Mussoorie is a nice place, you will understand this if you truly understand the importance of natural ecosystems and local life) It is a calm place overloaded with natural beauty and I really hope, from bottom of my heart that it remains as it is including its people. People here are as calm and beautiful as their surrounding nature.

A village house. I so wish that I had one like these here

Chakrata is located in Uttarakhand, about 3 hrs drive from Dehradun. It is a cantonment area. The vegetation consists of broad leaved (oaks, rhododendrons, Berberis etc) and needle leaved trees (mainly deodars and pines). In the year 2008, few nature enthusiasts had butterfly summit here.

Himalayan Vulture

Woodpecker

The bird life is too good. pheasants such as khalij, monal; scavengers - himalayan vulture, griffons; mynas; magpies; bulbuls; tits; red starts inhabit this area.

Red billed blue magpie

Valley view from Himalayan Paradise

The place where I stay - Himalayan Paradise has a spectacular view of Himalayan cliffs (which I keep on staring for no reason at all). On these cliffs, nest the Himalayan vultures. According to me the entire team of this Himalayan Paradise is one of the many reasons why many people intend to visit this place again and again. My first visit was as a student of a post graduate diploma and then in next year I came as a Botany leader for next batch. After that I kept on coming here with my friends. Deoban, Kanasar,Budher are few places that people generally visit.

On the way to Deoban. Making way on the snow covered road

Burans flowering

This time (April 2015) I got a chance to experience the spirit of 'Bissu' fair . It is a celebration of spring. Burans (Rhododendron) indicate the season. The flowers are offered to god, made in to the garlands. Houses, vehicles are decorated with them. It seems this festival is celebrated for flowering of Rhododendrons. People get together in villages, perform traditional dances singing traditional songs. It's lots of fun, happiness, joy and masti.

New construction besides tiger falls.

There is one famous waterfall here - The Tiger fall. All the five times I visited there and have noticed many changes. This year (April 2015) I saw a construction work happening just besides the fall. They were building small hotel/overnight halting place. I do remember that, in 2005 this place was covered with thick vegetation. This really made wonder, will it happen to all the places that I visit after coming here? I do understand that this place will change ultimately but, I just wish that this change takes a very very very long time to Change.