“Aa chal ke tujhe mein leke chaloon
Ek aise gagan ke tale
Jaha ghum bhi na hon, asoon bhi na hon
Bas pyar hi pyar pale”
The lyrics from the old popular Hindi song by Kishore Kumar could never be felt more alive than right here- the picturesque mountain valley of Chakarta. Sipping the hot coffee made by Daulat Ji while watching the magical starry night, I could not but imagine Vincent van Gogh in another part of the world might have been inspired by a similar canvas of nature.
We reached here earlier in the day. A 7 hours comfortable drive from the national capital would take you to this breathtaking mountain village at 2118 meters. The blue sky of November winter day, soothing sunbeams filtering through the dark green pines immediately relax your soul. The curvy mountain roads pass through this charming town which was originally a cantonment of the British Indian Army.
On the route to popular Tiger Fall, one can not miss the board: Oak Camp Valley. Surprisingly there is a place for parking more than one vehicle easily (not very common in the mountains for the difficult terrains). The owner duo, Mr. Chauhan and Mr. Tomar welcomed us right at the entrance. The warmth of their personality, the beautiful campsite aesthetically aligned with nature, instantly made us at home.
The first thing that would captivate you in the Oak Camp is the fascinating view right in the front. Mighty mountain slopes all around you embracing the deep blue sky and the sound of water from the nearby Tiger fall would enthrall you for hours. Once you are through the enchantment of the first look of nature, the spirit of adventure in you would leap in joy looking at the cute wooden cottages waiting to welcome you inside.
Sensing our amazement, Mr. Chauhan informed us that they have used all the raw materials from nature. The fallen and dry trees, mountain rocks and stones and other apparently insignificant stuff are used to build these beautiful wooden huts. “ We locals always respect and worship nature and we would love to see our guests from the cities show the same love and respect for mother nature,” added Vipin Ji. Both of them, residents of Chakrata, have left their respective professions and dared this startup to fulfill a long-cherished dream. In the words of Mr. Chauhan, “the challenging times of Covid 19 have given me a push to finally break the comfort cycle and pursue my passion in the hospitality industry.”
Wooden Huts :
The huts are even more interesting from inside. The cozy rooms with a bed and extremely comfortable bedding with simple and basic interiors would be an ideal place to relax for a true traveler who loves being close to nature at Oak Camp Valley.
Star Gazing :
An unexpected event was waiting for us as the night descends upon the Himalayan mountains. The pitch-dark canvass was gradually illuminated by the millions of smiling stars above. Never have I seen stars so bright and clear. Sitting by the Bon Fire we were all speechless looking at the cosmic mystery unfolding in the sky. Constellations like Cyprus, Orion, Ursa Minor, Gemini, Taurus, Libra were all there, back and alive from our school science book.
Delicious food :
The excited but tired souls were all rejuvenated by the delicious food served in the centrally located canteen space. Chef Daulat Ji could bring magic to even apparent simple dishes both veg and nonveg, alike. He was quick to give credit to the organic vegetables that they grow by themselves around the campus. During our stay on the campus, we enjoyed Mater Paneer , Chicken curry, Rajma, dal, pakoda, kheer and even fish curry- just to name a few.
The warm and comfortable bed and the cosy room beat the 4 degrees celsius outside quite easily. The chirping birds woke me up and as I opened the little window the bright golden sunbeams instantly washed the entire room announcing a fresh new day in our little Himalayan nest.
Nearby Attarcattions :
One can spend days relaxing at this heavenly abode. But, if you happen to be in this part of the world for the first time, you should not miss nearby attractions like Tiger Fall, Deoban, Kanasar, Kalsi and so many of those amazon little treks. Also, a village walk and a glimpse of the life of these simple village folks would be a treasured memory to bring home back.
