Chaukori

Chaukori is a quiet hill settlement in the Pithoragarh district of Kumaon, set at roughly 2,010 m. Its name is thought to come from the bowl-shaped valley it occupies. On clear days the skyline takes in Trishul, Nanda Devi, Nanda Kot, Chaukhamba and Panchachuli, and the lack of town lights makes the night sky good for stargazing.

The slopes carry pine, oak and rhododendron forest along with fruit orchards, and Chaukori is one of the few spots in Kumaon where tea is grown, with plantations spread over the hillsides. Forest and meadow trails suit short walks, and trekkers use the village as a base for the Pindari Glacier route. Berinag lies around 10 km away, and a sanctuary near Pithoragarh shelters musk deer.