2409:40C2:3E:1DE3:C92E:B1A5:25F7:FA49 at 17:22, 14 July 2025

2025-07-14T17:22:15Z

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{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2017}}
{{Use Indian English|date=April 2017}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name = Chikhaldara
| settlement_type = [[Hill station]]
| image_skyline =
| image_alt =
| image_caption =
| pushpin_map = India Maharashtra
| pushpin_label_position = right
| pushpin_map_alt =
| pushpin_map_caption = Location in [[Maharashtra]]
| coordinates = {{coord|21.21|N|77.72|E|display=inline,title}}
| subdivision_type = Country
| subdivision_name = {{flag|India}}
| subdivision_type1 = [[States and territories of India|State]]
| subdivision_name1 = [[Maharashtra]]
| subdivision_type2 = [[List of districts of India|District]]
| subdivision_name2 = [[Amravati district|Amravati]]
| established_title = 
| established_date =
| founder =
| named_for =
| government_type =
| governing_body =
| unit_pref = Metric
| area_footnotes =
| area_rank =
| area_total_km2 =
| elevation_footnotes =
| elevation_m = 1188
| population_total = 4718
| population_as_of = 2001
| population_rank =
| population_density_km2 = auto
| population_demonym =
| population_footnotes =
| demographics_type1 = Languages
| demographics1_title1 = Official
| demographics1_info1 = [[Marathi language|Marathi]]
| timezone1= [[Indian Standard Time|IST]]
| utc_offset1 = +5:30
| postal_code_type = 
| postal_code =
| registration_plate = MH- 27
| website =
| footnotes =
}}
'''Chikhaldara''' is a [[hill station]] and a [[municipal council]] in the [[Amravati district]] in the [[India]]n state of [[Maharashtra]].

Chikaldhara, literally translates from Marathi to mud stream/falls (''chikal'' + ''dhara''). This place was featured in the epic of the [[Mahabharata]]; it is where [[Bheema]] killed the villainous Keechaka in a herculean bout and then threw him into the valley. It thus came to be known as Keechakadara, which eventually colloquialised to Chikaldhara.{{fact|date=October 2023}}
Current village Manjarkapdi known as "Majkur" before 1950.

The sole hill resort in the [[Vidarbha]] region, it is situated at an altitude of 1118 meters with highest elevation point 1188 meters and has the added dimension of being the only coffee-growing area in Maharashtra. Chikhaldara has an annual rainfall of 154cm. Temperatures vary from 39C in summer to 5C in winter. The best months to visit are from October to June.

It abounds in wildlife, such as tigers, panthers, sloth bears, sambars, wild boar, and rarely seen wild dogs. Close by is the Melghat Tiger Project which has 82 tigers.{{fact|date=October 2023}}

==Tourism and events==

Since the area is heavily forested and the population count is low, there are no big festivals in Chikhaldara like in the rest of India. Only at the Jain temples that exist in the area, the pujas are held regularly.<ref>{{Cite web|title=goibibo|url=https://www.goibibo.com/destinations/chikhaldara/best-time-to-visit-chikhaldara/}}</ref>

Chikhaldara is a small hill station in the Indian state of Maharashtra. As it is the only coffee-growing area in the region, it is visited by tourists who come solely to taste the region's coffee.{{fact|date=October 2023}} Apart from the coffee plantations, Chikhaldara has several lakes, waterfalls, old forts, temples, and viewpoints.{{fact|date=October 2023}}

==History==
Captain Robinson of the Hyderabad Regiment was visited Chikhaldara in 1823. The Englishmen found it particularly attractive because the lush green hue of the place reminded them of England. When the leaves fell in September/October, they were reminded of autumn in England. There was even a proposal to make it the seat of the Government of India.

==Climate==
June, July, August, and September are the four months of Monsoon. Chikhaldara experiences heavy rainfall during these months. The average temperature during monsoon is twenty-five degree celsius and during winter it goes below 15°C. Summer is not pleasant in this place because the temperature is very high . It is good not to visit Chikhaldara during summer because the temperature here lies between 32°C to 40°C.<ref>{{Cite web|title=yesnearme.com|url=https://yesnearme.com/news/temperature-chikhaldara-hillstation/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210827055208/https://yesnearme.com/news/temperature-chikhaldara-hillstation/ |archive-date=27 August 2021 }}</ref>

According to [[Köppen climate classification]], climate of Chikhaldara is categorized as [[Humid Subtropical]], [[Humid subtropical climate|Cwa]]. Chikhaldara has four distinct seasons - [[Winter]], [[Summer]] (Late winter and early summer can be called [[Spring (season)|spring]] but is of very short duration), [[Monsoon]] (Rainy season) and Post-monsoon or [[Autumn]]. Summers are hot and long, from mid-March to Early June. Summer temperature varies from 16°C to 41°C. Monsoon starts in early June and lasts till early October. July and October are wettest months. Chikhaldara receives averagely 1600 mm of rainfall annually. Mist following morning rain is common. Monsoon temperature ranges from 18°C to 26°C. Post-Monsoon starts mid-October and lasts till mid-November. Autumn, which is a transition between Post-Monsoon and Winter, is of short duration and lasts from mid-November to mid-December. Temperature during post monsoon and autumn ranges from 12°C to 30°C. Winters of Chikhaldara are mild with chilly, foggy mornings; pleasant, clear and sunny days; hazy and calm evenings and hazy, cool nights. Temperature in winter ranges from 4°C to 23°C.
{{Weather box
| location = Chikhaldara
| metric first = yes
| single line = yes
| Jan high C = 24.6
| Feb high C = 27.3
| Mar high C = 31.6
| Apr high C = 35.6
| May high C = 37.1
| Jun high C = 31.9
| Jul high C = 26.4
| Aug high C = 25.1
| Sep high C = 26.8
| Oct high C = 28.2
| Nov high C = 26.3
| Dec high C = 24.3

| Jan mean C = 17.6
| Feb mean C = 19.8
| Mar mean C = 23.8
| Apr mean C = 27.2
| May mean C = 29.3
| Jun mean C = 25.8
| Jul mean C = 22.1
| Aug mean C = 21.2
| Sep mean C = 22.1
| Oct mean C = 22.0
| Nov mean C = 19.6
| Dec mean C = 17.4

| Jan low C = 10.7
| Feb low C = 12.4
| Mar low C = 16.0
| Apr low C = 18.8
| May low C = 21.5
| Jun low C = 19.7
| Jul low C = 17.9
| Aug low C = 17.4
| Sep low C = 17.5
| Oct low C = 15.8
| Nov low C = 13.0
| Dec low C = 10.5
| rain colour = green
| Jan rain mm = 16.5
| Feb rain mm = 14.7
| Mar rain mm = 10.7
| Apr rain mm = 8.6
| May rain mm = 20.1
| Jun rain mm = 214.1
| Jul rain mm = 537.0
| Aug rain mm = 445.0
| Sep rain mm = 305.8
| Oct rain mm = 76.7
| Nov rain mm = 46.0
| Dec rain mm = 12.7
| Jan rain days = 1.1
| Feb rain days = 1.1
| Mar rain days = 1.0
| Apr rain days = 1.0
| May rain days = 2.0
| Jun rain days = 10.3
| Jul rain days = 21.0
| Aug rain days = 19.7
| Sep rain days = 13.4
| Oct rain days = 3.2
| Nov rain days = 1.8
| Dec rain days = 1.2
|source 1 = Maharshtra state Gazetteers Amravati District (rainfall and rainy days)<ref>{{cite web
|url = https://cultural.maharashtra.gov.in/english/gazetteer/AMRAVATI/gen_climate.html
|title = General: Climate
|publisher= The Gazetteers Department
|accessdate = July 15, 2021}}</ref>}}

== Demographics ==

{{As of|2001}} India [[census]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.censusindia.net/results/town.php?stad=A&state5=999|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20040616075334/http://www.censusindia.net/results/town.php?stad=A&state5=999|archivedate=2004-06-16|title= Census of India 2001: Data from the 2001 Census, including cities, villages and towns (Provisional)|accessdate=2008-11-01|publisher= Census Commission of India}}</ref> Chikhaldara had a population of 4711. Males constituted 58% of the population and females 42%. Chikhaldara had an average literacy rate of 80%, higher than the national average of 59.5%, with male literacy at 86% and female literacy at 72%. 12% of the population was under 6 years of age.

{| class="wikitable"
! rowspan="2" |Year
! rowspan="2" |Male
! rowspan="2" |Female
! rowspan="2" |Total Population
! rowspan="2" |Change
! colspan="8" |Religion (%)
|-
!Hindu
!Muslim
!Christian
!Sikhs
!Buddhist
!Jain
!Other religions and persuasions
!Religion not stated
|-
|2001<ref>[https://censusindia.gov.in/nada/index.php/catalog/21494/download/24626/PC01_C01_27.xls Census India 2001].</ref>
| style="text-align:right;" |2787
| style="text-align:right;" |1924
| style="text-align:right;" |4711
| style="text-align:center;" | -
| style="text-align:right;" |67.820
| style="text-align:right;" |13.628
| style="text-align:right;" |5.201
| style="text-align:right;" |0.000
| style="text-align:right;" |13.076
| style="text-align:right;" |0.127
| style="text-align:right;" |0.085
| style="text-align:right;" |0.064
|-
|2011<ref>[https://censusindia.gov.in/nada/index.php/catalog/11382/download/14495/DDW27C-01%20MDDS.XLS Census India 2011].</ref>
| style="text-align:right;" |2789
| style="text-align:right;" |2369
| style="text-align:right;" |5158
| style="text-align:right;" |0.095
| style="text-align:right;" |63.571
| style="text-align:right;" |15.083
| style="text-align:right;" |8.259
| style="text-align:right;" |0.000
| style="text-align:right;" |12.776
| style="text-align:right;" |0.136
| style="text-align:right;" |0.155
| style="text-align:right;" |0.019
|}
{{Graph:Chart
| width=400
| height=150
| xAxisTitle=Year
| yAxisFormat = %
| showSymbols =
|colors = orange,green,blue,red,pink,grey,purple,black
| yAxisTitle=Religion
| legend=
| y1Title=Hindu
| y2Title=Muslim
| y3Title=Christian
| y4Title=Sikhs
| y5Title=Buddhist
| y6Title=Jain
| y7Title=Other
| y8Title=Religion not stated
| x=2001,2011
| type = line
| y1=0.6782,0.63571
| y2=0.13628,0.15083
| y3=0.05201,0.08259
| y4=0,0
| y5=0.13076,0.12776
| y6=0.00127,0.00136
| y7=0.00085,0.00155
| y8=0.00064,0.00019
}}
{{Graph:Chart
| width=400
| height=150
| xAxisTitle=Year
| yAxisFormat = %
| showSymbols =
|colors = orange,green,blue,red,pink,grey,purple,black
| yAxisTitle=Religion
| legend=
| y1Title=Hindu
| y2Title=Muslim
| y3Title=Christian
| y4Title=Sikhs
| y5Title=Buddhist
| y6Title=Jain
| y7Title=Other
| y8Title=Religion not stated
| x=2001,2011
| type = rect
| y1=0.6782,0.63571
| y2=0.13628,0.15083
| y3=0.05201,0.08259
| y4=0,0
| y5=0.13076,0.12776
| y6=0.00127,0.00136
| y7=0.00085,0.00155
| y8=0.00064,0.00019
}}

== Water supply ==
Water is supplied from Shakkar lake.

== Local features of importance ==
* [[Melghat Tiger Reserve]], which includes the [[Gugamal National Park]]
* [[Gawilgad]] fort
* Bhim-kund, where Bhima washed his hands of the blood of Keechaka
* Forest garden
* Wildlife museum
* [[Paratwada]] [[City]]

===Tourist points===
{{div col|colwidth=20em}}
* Malviya point (sunrise)
* Bhimkund (Kitchakdari)
* Vairat Devi
* Sunset Point
* Bir Dam
* Panchbol Point
* Kalapani Dam
* Mahadev Mandir
* Semadhoh Tiger Project
* Hariken Point
* Mozari Point
* Prospects Point
* Devi Point
* Goraghat
* Shakkar Lake
* Government Garden
* Museums
* Waterfalls
* Dharkhora
* Bakadari
* [[Muktagiri]]
* Kolkaz
* Pancha Dharag waterfall
* Gawilgad Fort
{{div col end}}

== Connectivity ==
Chikhaldara is well connected to the cities of [[Paratwada]], [[Amravati]], [[Akola]], [[Betul, Madhya Pradesh|Betul]], [[Khandwa]] and [[Burhanpur]] by road. The nearest airport is [[Nagpur]]: 229 km via Paratwada-Chandur Bazar-Katol route and 231 km via Paratwada-Amravati-Kondhali route. [[MSRTC]] plies buses from Nagpur to Chikhaldara via [[Amravati]]-[[Paratwada]].

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
* {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20100122145417/http://chikhaldara.org/ Chikhaldara.org]}}
* https://infosutra.in/chikhaldara-places-to-visit-chikhaldara-hill-station/

{{Geographic Location
|Centre = Chikhaldara
|North =
|Northeast =
|East =
|Southeast = [[Paratwada]], [[Amravati]]
|South =
|Southwest =
|West =
|Northwest = [[Dharni, Amravati|Dharni]]

}}


{{Amravati district topics}}

[[Category:Geography of Maharashtra]]
[[Category:Cities and towns in Amravati district]]
[[Category:Talukas in Maharashtra]]

Chikhaldara - Revision history

2409:40C2:3E:1DE3:C92E:B1A5:25F7:FA49 at 17:22, 14 July 2025