Chikhaldhara - Hill Station

Are you bored of visiting the vast expanses of glistening snow in the hill stations of Northern India? If so, than explore the summer resorts of South India.

Similar to the hill resorts of Northern India which are nestled in the lap Himalayan mountain ranges, the South Indian summer resorts too have their own share of natural charms.

Unlike the Himalayan hill stations, summer resorts of south India are less explored. One such virgin hill station of India is Chikhaldhara.

Lies in the Amravati district of Vidarbha region, Maharashtra, Chikhaldhara hill station is embellished with numerous treasure troves of Mother Nature. This sole hill station of Vidarbha region has abundance of wildlife, panoramic view points, deep valleys, tranquil lakes and cascading waterfalls.

Apart from its natural charms, this place also has an interesting history. According to a legend, Chikhaldhara which has derived its name from 'Keechaka', is the place where Bheema of Mahabharata epic has end the life of villainous Keechaka and threw him into the valley. It thus came to be known as "Keechakadara", which is the original name for "Chikhaldara".

Perched at a height of 1,118 m, Chikahaldhara is blessed with pleasant weather which helps it to earn the title of only coffee-growing area in the state. This summer resort has endless arrays of tourist spots which will surely captivate your attention at the very first glimpse.

Some such worth-visiting tourist spots of Chikhaldhara are Government Garden, Malviya or Sunrise Point, Shakkar Lake, Goraghat Point, Gawilgarh Fort, nearby Narnala Fort and Amner Fort.

Chikhaldhara is also a paradise for wildlife enthusiasts. It has one of the well known national parks of India known as Gugumal National Park and a natural abode for Indian Tigers named as Melaghat Tiger Reserve.

These natural habitats are home to numerous wildlife species such as Tiger, Crocodile, Bison, Gawa, Neelgai, Wild deer, Sambar and a host of migratory birds.

And to showcase these beauties of Chikhaldhara to world, Maharashtra Tourism Board, every year organizes Chikhaldhara festival.

This festival offers an excellent opportunity to witness cultural events, exhibition of local arts and artifacts, and also the opportunity to participate in adventure activities such as Para-gliding and rock climbing, So, plan a trip to virgin Chikhaldara as soon as possible and explore its numerous hidden treasure troves.

By : Sanjeev_Verma