If you are planning to visit Uttarakhand and are looking for a place other than Chakrata, where along with peace, you can also see the beautiful view of snowfall, then Lokhandi can be a great option for you. Located at a distance of about 20 kilometers from Chakrata, Lokhandi is becoming increasingly popular among tourists during the winter season.
Situated at an altitude of about 8,500 feet, this area is surrounded by dense oak, birch and cedar forests. Due to the high altitude, there is a greater chance of snowfall here compared to many surrounding areas. This is the reason why tourists who want to see snow have now started visiting Lokhandi along with Chakrata.
White sheet of snow is visible from December to February
Lokhandi usually sees snowfall during winter. Especially from the last week of December to February, there can be good chances of snowfall here. If your aim is to see the beautiful view of snow on the mountains, then a plan to visit here can be made during this period.
However, the weather in the mountains changes rapidly, so it is important to check the weather and road conditions before travelling.
Why is Lokhandi becoming famous from Chakrata?
Lokhandi and the surrounding area is known for its peaceful environment with natural beauty. In January this year, when some parts of Chakrata saw relatively less snowfall, the Lokhandi area had good snow accumulation. After this, the interest of the tourists coming to see the snow increased towards this place.
In winter, snow covered hills all around, pine trees and calm atmosphere together make this place very beautiful.
Distance of about 330-350 kilometers from Delhi
The road distance from Delhi to Lokhandi is around 330 to 350 kilometers. Under normal circumstances it may take about 6 to 7 hours to reach here by road. Moving towards Dehradun Expressway from Delhi, Lokhandi can be reached via Vikasnagar, Kalsi and Chakrata.
However, travel time may increase due to weather, snowfall and road conditions in hilly areas. Travelers going in winter should especially go out after getting information about the latest road conditions.
How to reach by bus and train?
If you want to go by bus, you can take a bus from Delhi's ISBT Kashmiri Gate to Dehradun or Vikasnagar. From there one can get bus or sharing taxi till Chakrata. After this one can reach Lokhandi via local taxi.
Dehradun Railway Station is the main option for those traveling by train. Many trains run from Delhi to Dehradun. After reaching Dehradun, one can reach Lokhandi with the help of taxi or local transport.
It is becoming a favorite destination for tourists in winter.
In summer, Chakrata's Tiger Fall and the surrounding natural beauty attract tourists, while in winter, the snow and calm mountain environment of Lokhandi attracts people.
With the increasing number of tourists, facilities like hotels, resorts and homestays are also developing here. This is also increasing employment opportunities for the local people.
The story of getting the name Lokhandi is also special
The identity of Lokhandi is not limited to its natural beauty only. According to local beliefs, there were once iron mines in the surrounding areas. The people living here used iron to make household items and agricultural tools.
For this reason, the names Lohari and Lokhandi are said to be popular. Even today at the local level, mention of remains related to old mining is found.
If you also want to enjoy snowfall in a quiet hilly place away from the crowd in winter, then you can include Lokhandi in your Uttarakhand trip list.