Kanasar Forest & Koti Kanasar is a stunning deodar forest and meadow area about 24–30 km from Chakrata, with the small village Koti Kanasar at its heart. It is famous for huge deodar trees, including one with a girth of about 6.35 m, promoted as one of Asia’s oldest and largest deodars. Gentle grassy slopes, picnic spots, a forest rest house and camping grounds make it perfect for relaxed stays; in monsoon and post-monsoon the forest turns deep green and misty, while in winters it sometimes receives snow.
About this place
History & highlights
Under the British, Kanasar range became an important silvicultural experiment zone for deodar, fir and spruce, with a Forest Rest House built in 1898 as a base for foresters and researchers. Sacred groves here are dedicated to local deities, showing how traditional belief and modern forestry overlapped; some of the biggest trees survive because villagers considered them holy. The area’s reputation as “Asia’s best deodar forest” grew through forest department reports and travel writers, and now many itineraries highlight Kanasar as the iconic deodar landscape of Chakrata. Trekking, village walks and low-impact camping are encouraged, but illegal felling in recent years has also raised alarms, making conservation discussions part of Kanasar’s modern story.
Reviews
No reviews yet. Click “Write a Review” above to share your experience.