Chikhaldara is a small hill resort in Amravati district, at about 1,118 m on the edge of the Satpura range. It is the only hill resort in the Vidarbha region, and the only place in Maharashtra where coffee is grown, a legacy of the British, who found the green plateau reminiscent of England after Captain Robinson of the Hyderabad Regiment visited in 1823. The name is traditionally traced to Keechakdara, the valley into which Bhima is said to have thrown Keechaka in the Mahabharata.
The pleasures are modest and outdoor: drive-up viewpoints such as Hurricane, Prospect and Panchbol Points, the Bhimkund gorge, Devi Point's cave shrine and the ruins of Gawilgarh Fort, where Arthur Wellesley's army won in 1803. Beyond the plateau lies the Melghat Tiger Reserve, about 2,768 square kilometres of dry teak forest, with a safari gate at Vairat and a larger forest camp at Semadoh.
It is a quiet place, with limited accommodation and few formal facilities, so it rewards planning. October to February is the most comfortable window; the monsoon brings waterfalls but heavy rain, and summers are warm even on the hill. Seniors will find the viewpoints easy but the long ghat road, bumpy safari jeeps and uneven fort paths worth thinking about.
Before you plan
Chikhaldara at a glance
- Best months
- October to February is most comfortableOctober to February is most comfortable; March to May is warm; July to August is very wet
- Ideal trip length
- 2 days2 days; 3 if you add a Melghat safari stay
- Airport
- Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar International…Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar International Airport, Nagpur (NAG), about 230 km by road
- Railway station
- Badnera JunctionBadnera Junction (BD), near Amravati, on the Mumbai–Nagpur–Kolkata line; Amravati (AMI) is also used
- Getting around
- Hire a car and driver for viewpoints…Hire a car and driver for viewpoints and the ghat road; state buses serve the town; Semadoh and forts need a vehicle
- Daily budget
- Modest compared with big-city tripsModest compared with big-city trips; main variables are the car, stay type and safari. Carry cash as card acceptance can be patchy
- Senior comfort
- Fair: viewpoints are easyFair: viewpoints are easy, but the ghat road is long and the fort, Muktagiri and safaris involve rough ground or steps
- Language
- Marathi and HindiMarathi and Hindi; Korku in forest villages; limited English
Prices, opening hours and weather change. Recheck live details before booking.
Best time to visit Chikhaldara: January, February, November, December. Month-by-month weather →
How many days do you have?
Chikhaldara itinerary
One good day
1 day in Chikhaldara
Reach the plateau early, start with the viewpoints at sunrise, then drive to Bhimkund. After lunch in town, visit Gawilgarh Fort if the weather is dry, and finish at Devi Point or a west-facing viewpoint for the evening light.
Day-by-day plan →Two days
2 days in Chikhaldara
Sunrise at Hurricane (Hariken) Point, then Panchbol and Prospect Points, Bhimkund and a long lunch. In the afternoon rest, then Devi Point in the late light.
Day-by-day plan →Three unhurried days
3 days in Chikhaldara
Drive up from Amravati or Paratwada, rest, then do the viewpoints at a gentle pace and Bhimkund before dusk.
Day-by-day plan →
