Chopta-Tungnath Trek Uttarakhand From Blah Into Fantastic

Chopta Uttarakhand

Chopta is a small region with one of the most striking features of meadows and evergreen forest area, in Uttarakhand. Valley is a part of the Kedarnath wildlife sanctuary and a base point for trekking to Tungnath. It is the third temple of Panch Kedar yatra which lies 3.5 kilometres away from Chopta. Another trek point is Chandrashila located at a distance of 1.5 kilometres from Tungnath at a height of over 4,000 metres. Chopta is an unspoiled natural destination that offers views of the imposing Himalayan range including Trishul, Nanda Devi and Chaukhamba. Chopta village is surrounded by forests of pine, deodar and rhododendron and is rich in flora and fauna including rare species of birds and musk deer. Tucked in the amazing valley of Kedarnath, this is one of the best treks to get involved in during the winter season. The sweeping views of the surrounding mountain would captivate the hearts and minds of all the trekkers.

Chopta-Tungnath Trek

Trekking during the winter season to the Himalayas amidst the snow-capped mountains can be one of the most brilliant experiences. Amongst all the other treks, Chandrashila Peak is a popular adventure trip among hiking lovers. The journey takes one through enchanting forests with panoramic views of the Himalayas. The best time to start a trek for Chandrashila peak is in the morning as around afternoon clouds and rain can smudge the beautiful 360 degrees view of the entire Himalayan valley from the peak. The Kund is the usual starting point and the entire tour can be done in 3-5 days. The pit stop for this Treek is-

• Kund to Deoriatal (3-5 hours trek) – start at Kund, a quaint town situated at 1,350 m.
• Deoriatal to Chopta (4-5 hours trek)
• Chopta to Chandrashila Peak (4,000 m), via Tungnath Temple and back (4-5 hours trek). The distance from Tungnath Temple to Chandrashila peak is only 1 km and serves as a highlight of the trip. This distance is very risky because of the steep slope.

See the Chopta Uttarakhand map for the location with a road route map and driving directions from Delhi via Haridwar.

Chopta Uttarakhand Tourism

Surrounded by Bugyals and pristine snow-capped peaks, Chopta Uttarakhand is an all-year holiday destination. It is at the Centre of the Panch Kedar yatra- the five most sacred Shiva temples in the state. On its left are located Kedarnath and Madmaheshwar shrines and on the right, are Rudranath and Kalpeshwar, and just above it, the Tungnath temple.

Chopta is a birding paradise and visitors can see over 240 species of birds here, including native and migratory species like Himalayan monal, Himalayan swiftlet, Himalayan griffon, and hill partridge. Chopta Uttarakhand has been declared a bird-watching site by national and international conservation and biodiversity organisations. It is situated at an altitude of 2900 m, in the Rudraprayag district of Uttarakhand. Chopta is also part of Kedarnath Wildlife Sanctuary and offers trekkers an excellent opportunity of scaling to a height of 4000 m.

Tungnath

This is one of the must-visit places during trekking in Chopta-Tungnath Trek. Tucked beautifully in the snow-capped peaks of Chandrashila Peak, Tungnath is dedicated to Lord Shiva and is considered one of the five holiest Shiva temples located in Uttarakhand. This temple is 1000 years old and is located at an elevation of 3, 680 meters above sea level.

Sari Village

Chopta Valley trek is a great opportunity to explore the little hamlets and villages on the way to know the lifestyle and culture of Uttarakhand people. Saari Gaon or the Sari village is one of the most beautiful villages that attract a lot of trekkers and travellers. This village is a base camp for trekkers, Sometimes trekkers would stay here when Chopta is closed due to harsh weather conditions.

Baniyakund

Baniyakund is a lovely hamlet in Chopta Trek. This is one of the most attractive meadows that is known abode to trekkers because it have several accommodation options for trekkers. Most of the trekkers choose this place as their base camp during the trek to Chopta and also to Chandrashila.

Deoria Tal

Deoria Tal is a lovely emerald lake on the route of the trek. Snow-capped mountains in the morning are wonderful experiences. The reflection of Chaukhamba Peak in the lake is a sight to click a photograph when you are here. This is one of the best lakes that have to be visited during the Chopta trek. Catching the reflections of the surrounding peaks is really joyous feel.

Rohini Bugyal

Rohini Bugyal is one of the best spots to camp as it is filled with Plain terrain and dense forests. from here One can get to sight the far-reaching views of the Garhwal Himalayas. Chaukhamba, Neelkanth, and Kedarnath are some of the peaks that one can spot from Rohini Bugyal during the Chopta trek. The village is a paradise for trekkers.

Chopta Uttarakhand Camping

Chandrashila Peak is known to render a 360° view of the snow-clad Himalayan Peaks like Nanda Devi, Chaukhamba, and Trishul. Along with the enthralling trek, Chopta is ideal for camping under the twinkling sky. visitors can get their own tent or rent one for a few days, for the best camping experiences in Uttarakhand. Waking up in the morning and viewing the red sun coming out of the mountains from your tent, is an amazing Experience.

Chopta Uttarakhand Best time to visit

Chopta is enjoyable throughout the year, although visitors came here to beat the heat. Summers are very pleasant with a cool breeze and moderate weather. A winter trek is best for adventure lovers. The destination is pleasant in summer and a snow-clad fairyland in winter. Chopta Uttarakhand weather has a maximum temperature from October to January, between 15 to 21 degrees Celsius. During the months of March to May, the average temperature is between 12 to 21 degrees Celsius.

Lachen is the best place to stay in the Chopta Valley. Visitors can try the delicious Lopchu, a sweet dish made from milk and sugar. Tibetan momos and noodles also are quite popular in Chopta.

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How to Reach Chopta 

Chopta is well connected with most of the important cities of Uttarakhand. It can be easily reached via Delhi and Haridwar. Chopta is about 226 km away from Haridwar. located on the Rudraprayag –Ukhimath – Gopeshwar Highway, Chopta has situated 33 km from Ukhimath and 68 km from Rudraprayag.

The nearest railhead to Chopta is Haridwar situated 226 km away. Haridwar is well connected by railway networks with major cities of India.  Jolly Grant Airport is the nearest Airport to Chopta, situated 219 km away in the Dehradun district. The remaining journey has to be covered either in a cab or on a bus. Cabs are easily available to Rishikesh, Rudraprayag, Ukhimath and Chopta from Jolly Grant Airport.