The mind blowing beauty of Tiger Fall in the valleys of Uttarakhand
The roads leading to plain and clouds floating in the peaks will at times force you wear winter wears while you will be drenched in rain at times in Chakrata.
The mist encompassing the area will bring back memories of the magician whose tricks held spellbound you during your childhood.
When scorching sun makes you sweat and an acquaintance of yours tells you that he is enjoying the pleasant atmosphere, no doubt you find it unimaginable. But it is believable! There is a place on this earth where you would forget all worries of the world and find yourselves in state of joy and happiness.
Many amazing experiences are awaiting you there and you will never feel like returning. So, let us get ready to know about a serene place, memories of which you will cherish for lifetime.
You may have already come to know this is description of Chakrata which is situated in the valleys of Uttarakhand near Mussoorie. When you reach the height of 7000 feet from the sea level at a distance of nearly 100 kms from Dehradun, and find yourself in the midst of tall trees of Himalayan cedar (Devdar/ Cedrus deodara) grown amidst peaks, you can safely assume, you have reached
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Chakrata which is also known as ‘Jaunsar Babar Range’.
It is said that there was a time when the Polyandry families existed in the ‘Jaunsar Babar Range’ and the women here used to marry multiple men. But the system has come to an end with passage of time. There are many beliefs about the tradition but local residents remain silent about it.
Whatever the truth might be but many people here say that agrarian economy prevailed in those days and people were inclined to keen their lands together instead of dividing them. All members of the family would toil and hand over their earnings to the head of the family who would fulfil needs of all family members. But these are things from the past and carry little meaning in the present era. However We are focusing here on the serene natural beauty of Chakrata.
The very name Tiger Fall suggests the speciality of this spot. One has to travel for about ten minutes in a vehicle to reach there from Chakrata. But it would deprive you of the joy of walking on the serpentine roads in the forest experiencing the cool shades of trees the cooing of birds. The streams flowing down the hills and calls of cocks and hens would bring back the memories of your village. The natives of this area live in the wooden cottages (Chanis) but display a lot of brotherhood and respect for the visitors.
The triangle shaped cottages are spectacular. They have small windows and doors. The owner’s family lives on the third floor which is the top storey. Their essentials are stored on the second floor while the ground floor is used as a cattle shed. People seek refuge in the cottages when it snows and look after their cattle and farms from there. Since the natives here dislike warmth and not cold, they avoid going to the plains.
The roads are blocked during the winter and supply of necessities is disrupted but the natives are not inconvenienced as they make provisions ahead of winters.
Tiger Fall where the water of stream falls from the height of around 70 feet is a naturally beautiful and serene place. The sound of water falling resembles the roar of a tiger. The water is crystal clear. The visitors enjoy watching the scenery here and taking its photographs. Places of tourists’ interest like Kanasar, Ramtal Garden which are located in surrounding area too draw crowd of tourists.
How to reach
After reaching Dehradun, you have two alternatives to reach Chakrata. Firstly you may choose road via Kempty Fall, Yamuna Bridge and Lakhwar or you may proceed via Kalsi. The buses are available at Dehradun.
When to go
We must take climatic conditions into account before planning a trip to Chakrata because you may find yourself in trouble because of the heavy rainfall or chilling cold there. Danger of roads getting washed away looms large during monsoon and the mercury dips to the lowest during winters forcing even the wild animals move closer to human habitation. The period from April to June and September to December is the best to plan a tour.
Where to stay
There are good hotels in lush green forests at affordable rates. For that, you will have to reach the main market. You may watch natural scenery even from the windows of your hotel as the clouds float from one peak to other.
Dilip Kumar
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