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Maharashtra

Chikhaldara

Vidarbha's only hill station, coffee slopes on the Melghat rim

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Best time to visit Chikhaldara

peak shoulder off-season avoid

  • Go: October to February
  • Shoulder: March to April and July to September, quieter, and the weather is less of a sure thing
  • Skip: May to June

Planning a specific month? JanuaryFebruaryOctoberNovemberDecember

Chikhaldara season by season

Winter December to February Prime time

Dec-Feb drops to 8 C at night, Melghat gates are open and Bhimkund and Panchbol viewpoints stay clear.

Summer March to May Shoulder

March holds at 34 C up here, but by May the town is rationing water and the plains below are at 46 C.

Monsoon June to September Shoulder

Jul-Sep is thick cloud and 1,200 mm; Melghat safaris shut 1 Jul-30 Sep and the ghat road takes rockfall.

Autumn October to November Prime time

Oct-Nov is the pick, Melghat reopens on 1 October, the coffee is in berry and the valleys stay green.

What Chikhaldara is actually like

MTDC rooms and a few small hotels full of Vidarbha families; solo trekkers are rare and get noticed

Getting to Chikhaldara

Amravati railhead 85 km, then 3 h by bus up the hairpins; Melghat's Semadoh gate is 35 km further on

Practical ways in: road

Trip facts

How long to stay
2 days
Budget
Shoestring
How busy
Quiet at its peak
Solo travel
Doable solo with some planning
Altitude
1090 m
State
Maharashtra
Coordinates
21.4016, 77.3289

Common questions

When is the best time to visit Chikhaldara?

October to February is peak season in Chikhaldara. March to April and July to September is shoulder season: thinner crowds, a bit more risk in the weather. Avoid May to June. Oct-Nov is the pick, Melghat reopens on 1 October, the coffee is in berry and the valleys stay green.

How many days do you need in Chikhaldara?

2 days is the usual stay. MTDC rooms and a few small hotels full of Vidarbha families; solo trekkers are rare and get noticed.

How do you get to Chikhaldara?

Amravati railhead 85 km, then 3 h by bus up the hairpins; Melghat's Semadoh gate is 35 km further on. Practical ways in: road.

Is Chikhaldara expensive, and does it get crowded?

Shoestring by Indian travel standards, and it runs quiet at the busiest time of year. Doable solo with some planning.

Nearby, and where to go next

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