The Chaukhamba massif — four linked summits with the highest at 7138 metres — is one of the most dramatic sights visible from the Pauri ridge on a clear day. Several spots around town offer good views of this peak, but the best are found on the upper reaches of the ridge above Kandoliya, where the full extent of the Garhwal Himalaya stretches across the horizon.
The best conditions are in the early morning, before haze and cloud obscure the peaks. October and November are ideal months — the monsoon has cleared, the air is cold and transparent, and the snowfields on the high peaks gleam in low-angle light. From late March to early June is the next-best window. The viewpoints are accessible on foot from town; ask locally for the routes onto the upper ridge.