Deoriatal, Chopta & Tungnath

tungnath cover picture

Situated in the beautiful Kedarnath Wildlife Sanctuary, Deoriatal Chopta Chandrashila Trek offers a great opportunity to those who are just starting out to trek in the Himalayas. The Winter season is the best time to visit this trek as it offers picturesque scenery of Deoria Tal with snow-clad peaks towering in the background that makes the onlookers fall in love with this trek.

The maximum altitude of the trek comes at the Chandrashila Peak which is located at a high altitude of 12,100 ft. above sea level. From the top, you can easily spot the major mountain peaks of the Western & Eastern Uttarakhand region.

Deoriatal, Chopta Chandrashila trek takes 5 - 6 days to complete depending on the starting point. From Sari to Sari it takes 6 days and a round trip from Haridwar or Rishikesh takes one extra day.

Short Itinerary

Day 1

Sari - Deoriatal

From Sari to Deoriatal is a short, easy, 3 km trek with gradual ascents and descents on a rocky trail. Soon, the Chandrashila peak & Tungnath Temple will come into view and the trail will get steeper. From here, we will hike for another hour to reach the first campsite.

Altitude - 6,600 ft. to 7,814 ft. 

Distance -  3.5 Km

Time - 2 Hours

sunrise at tungnath	 chandrashila peak a girl photographing on tungnath trek

Day 2

Deoria Tal to Chopta Via Rohini Bugyal

Deoria Tal to Chopta is a beautiful picturesque trail full of rhododendron & maple trees through Rohini Bugyal. Walking for about 20 minutes, we will enter a clearing and you can spot a clear view of Chandrashila Peak ahead and Sari village down below to your right. 

As we keep walking on the Kedarnath Sanctuary Trail, we will reach Bhadwal temple. Three trek routes leave from this location, one will take you back to Sari Village, the other towards Ukhimath & the third one towards Rohini Bugyal

Soon you will find yourself walking in the meadows and a few minutes of walk will take you to Chopta, our camping spot for today.

Altitude -. 8,700 ft.

Distance -  16 Km.

Time - 7 - 8 Hours.

afternoon at chopta beautiful chandrashila peak a man with indian flag

Day 3

Chopta to Tungnath, Chandrashila Summit & Back to Chopta

We will be starting early in the morning to capture the beautiful sunrise from Chandrashila top. Chandrashila literally means Moon Rock and is located at a height of 12,100 ft. above sea level. The hike to the Chandrashila top is a bit difficult as compared to the previous days with a number of twists, turns & steep climbs.

From the top you will be able to catch the glimpse of Nandadevi, Trisul, Kedar Peak, Bandarpunch and Chaukhamba peaks.

Altitude -. 12,080 ft.

Distance -  8 Km.

Time - 7 - 8 Hours.

tungnath temple view from chopta view from chandrashila peak

Day 4

Chopta to Sari

A 3 km trek from Chopta will take you back to Sari. From there you can easily find a vehicle to take you back to Haridwar or Rishikesh.


 

Trekking Tips

  • If you plan to trek up to Chandrashila, make sure you are physically fit as it is located at an elevation of 4000 m. Although it's an easy trail.
  • Carry an insulated water bottle so that you can have access to hot water throughout the year.
  • Don’t pack heavily for the trek, only carry necessary items and clothes (2-3 layers of light clothing)

Best time to visit Deoriatal Chopta Chandrashila Trek

For those who want to experience snow during this trek, the month of December is the best time to visit. During the months of January & February, this place receives heavy snowfall and therefore it is not suggested to visit this trek during these months. The trek reopens shortly for the months of March & April but closes for the monsoon season as it is not safe to visit mountains during the monsoons due the heavy risk of landslides.

Seasons Breakdown - Deoriatal Chopta Chandrashila Trek

Winter

Winter is a good time to visit this trek. During the month of December during the onset of winters. During this time, the trail is scalable and not blocked by the snow unlike in the months of January & February. During these months it snows heavily & it might block the trail and hence it is not advised to visit this trek post December.

Summer

During summers, this is the best trek to beat the heat and if you are not a fan of snow, but would like to view the flora and fauna of this himalayan region in full bloom, summers will be the best time for you to visit this trek. During the months of May & June, you will be able to spot beautiful colors of trees and forests all around you. 

Autumn

Post monsoon marks the beginning of the autumn season, this is the time when you can get the clear views of the Garhwal Himalayas since there is no fog or clouds to block the view. 

view tungnath temple

How Safe is Deoriatal, Chopta Chandrashila Trek?

Deoriatal trek is an easy - moderate difficulty trek. The moderate part is due to the steep climb which comes when you scale the Chandrashila Peak. That being said, Deoriatal is a safe trek but you should avoid planning any treks in the Himalayan region during the monsoons when the area is prone to landslides.

What to Carry on Deoriatal, Chopta Chandrashila Trek?

This is a brief list of things that you should carry on the trek to make the experience more memorable and much more comfortable - 

 

  • Woollen clothes like sweaters, thermals, pairs of gloves, caps, mufflers, socks.
  • Heavy and complete three to five clothing layers are minimal during Winters as the weather might get unpredictable. Light woolen is enough for summer trips.
  • Windproof jacket
  • Hiking shoes, Snow boots, sandals or slippers
  • Walking stick or a trekking pole
  • Accessories like sunglasses with UV protection, sunscreen lotions, lip balm, headlamp, torch with extra batteries.
  • Toiletries: Sanitizer, tissues, liquid soaps, paste and toothbrush
  • Medicines: Diamox for altitude sickness, essential medicines for headache, stomach upset, and regular medication if you are taking any, band-aids, volini spray, and anything else.
  • Power bank
  • Raincoat, extra shirts/t-shirts, and trekking pants
  • Identity card and photocopies.
  • Insulated water bottle
  • Woollen fleece jackets
  • Few poly bags to keep any wet clothes. 
  • Energy bars, biscuits, chocolates, dry fruits to munch, and ORS or Glucose to not drain energy.
  • Camera with extra memory cards, batteries, chargers.

Nearest Hospitals

Primary Health Center Ukhimath

Distance from Baniya Kund - 30 Km.

Time to Reach - 1 Hour.

Max Medical Center Ukhimath

Distance from Baniya Kund - 30 Km.

Time to Reach - 1 Hour.

Network Connectivity

All networks are available at Sari, at Baniya Kund only Idea & Airtel networks are available. At Chopta Airtel & Idea connections are available but limited connectivity.

ATM’s

The last ATM is available at the Rudraprayag market, but sometimes it remains out of cash. You are advised to make your cash withdrawals from Rishikesh or Haridwar.

FAQ’s About Chopta Chandrashila Trek

Q. How long is Chopta Chandrashila Trek?

Q. How Difficult is Chopta Tungnath Trek?

Q. How Do I Get To DeoriaTal Chandrashila Trek?

Q. Is There Snowfall in Chopta?

Q. What is the Best Time to Visit Tungnath?