Chaukori is a small hill settlement in Berinag tehsil of Pithoragarh district, in the eastern part of Kumaon, at about 2,010 m. It has no old bazaar to speak of and no list of famous monuments. What it has is position: a bowl-shaped ridge facing north, with a broad sweep of Himalayan peaks in view when the air is clear, including Panchachuli, Nanda Devi, Nanda Kot and Trishul.
The pleasures here are slow ones. Watch the first light reach the snow, walk the road between tea terraces and oak and pine forest, and sit with a cup of tea while cloud fills the valley below. The area is one of the few parts of Kumaon where tea is grown, and the old estates around nearby Berinag have a documented history that goes back to British rule.
Chaukori also works as a base for gentle excursions. Berinag, with its snake temple and its own views, is about 10 km away. The limestone cave shrine of Patal Bhuvaneshwar and the Hat Kalika temple at Gangolihat are longer drives that suit a full day. The Udiari Bend road junction here connects routes towards Bageshwar, Almora and Thal-Munsiyari, so Chaukori fits easily into a wider Kumaon circuit.
For families and older travellers the trade-offs are honest ones. The village itself is easy and unhurried, and many stays have views from the room. The journey is the hard part: the nearest railhead, Kathgodam, is about 198 km away on mountain roads. Come between March and June or September and November, allow a rest day after arriving, and treat clear mornings as the main event.
Before you plan
Chaukori at a glance
- Best months
- March to June and September to NovemberMarch to June and September to November; July and August bring heavy monsoon rain and landslide risk, and winters are cold with occasional snow
- Ideal trip length
- 2 nights as a minimum given the long…2 nights as a minimum given the long drive; 3 nights if you want to add Patal Bhuvaneshwar and Berinag at an easy pace
- Airport
- PantnagarPantnagar (PGH) is the usual larger airport; Naini Saini (NNS) at Pithoragarh is closer on the map but has limited service. Both involve a long road transfer
- Railway station
- KathgodamKathgodam (KGM), about 198 km by road; Tanakpur is a further option on the eastern side
- Getting around
- A private car and driver is the…A private car and driver is the practical choice. State buses reach Chaukori from Pithoragarh, Bageshwar and Almora, and local taxis cover the nearby sights.
- Daily budget
- Varies widely with how you reach itVaries widely with how you reach it; the main cost is the long-distance car. Village stays and government rest houses are the economical end
- Senior comfort
- Moderate: the village is gentle and…Moderate: the village is gentle and many stays have views from the room, but the mountain drive is long and the altitude (about 2,000 m) brings cold nights
- Language
- Hindi and KumaoniHindi and Kumaoni; English is understood at rest houses and hotels
Prices, opening hours and weather change. Recheck live details before booking.
Best time to visit Chaukori: March, April, October, November. Month-by-month weather →
How many days do you have?
Chaukori itinerary
One good day
1 day in Chaukori
Be at a clear viewpoint before sunrise to watch light reach the Panchachuli and Nanda Devi range, then return for a slow breakfast. Walk the road through the tea terraces in the late morning, and drive the short distance to Berinag for the Nag temple and the view from the town. Come back to Chaukori for tea and the sunset light on the peaks. This is a rushed visit given the road time; treat it as a day stop on a longer Kumaon route.
Day-by-day plan →Two days
2 days in Chaukori
Plan to reach Chaukori by mid-afternoon after the mountain drive. Settle in, take tea and watch the sunset from the village or from your stay. Keep the evening quiet; the altitude and long road make an early night sensible.
Day-by-day plan →Three unhurried days
3 days in Chaukori
Arrive in the afternoon, rest, and watch sunset on the peaks. Early night.
Day-by-day plan →
