Description

Chopta

Chopta is a hill station situated amidst the mountains of Uttarakhand at an altitude of 2600 meters. It is also known as the Mini Switzerland of Uttarakhand, which is still unknown to travelers that lie 29 km from Ukhimath and 162kms from Rishikesh on the road from Gopeshwar to Guptkashi. Chopta is a small region of plains and evergreen forest area, which is a part of Kedarnath Wildlife Sanctuary located in Uttarakhand state, India, and a base for Tungnath, the third temple of Panch Kedar, which is 3.5 kilometers (2.2 Miles) away. The whole area is a center of beauty, especially for those who are looking for a suitable place to relax without the hustle and bustle of a tourist destination.

Tunganath

Among five Panch Kedar temples, Tunganath is one of the highest Shiva temples in the world, located in the mountain range of Tunganath in Rudraprayag district. The literal meaning of Tunganath is- 'Lord of peaks' that connects with the Mandakini and Alaknanda river valleys located at an altitude of 3680 m (12,073 ft) just below the peak of Chandrashila. The trek of a temple from Chopta is at a distance of about 4km (2.5 miles).

Chandrashila

Chandrashila is the summit of Tungnath. It directly translates to Moon Rock. Located at the height of about 4,000 meters above sea level, Chandrashila offers a 240-degree view of all the major mountains of Uttarakhand, including Nandadevi, Trisul, Kedar Peak, Bandarpunch, and Chaukhamba peaks. There are various legends associated with this place. According to one of the mythological legends, Chandrashila is the place where Lord Rama performed penance after killing Ravana.

Deoriatal

Deoriatal is a small lake amidst green meadows (Tal means lake). The main charisma of this place is the reflections of the snowy peaks during sunrise. The Deoriatal-Chandrashila trek is an extension of the popular Chopta Chandrashila trek. The Deoriatal Chandrashila trek begins at a small village called Sari, which is 12 km away from Ukhimath town in Rudraprayag district. Sari lies about 195 km away from Rishikesh. The road drive takes about 8 – 9 hours.

The famous trekking destination for the trekkers is Chopta to Tunganath to Chandrashila and Deoriatal. The Chopta region has many treks and trails through forests and grasslands. Chandrashila, Tunganath, and Deoriatal are the most popular trekking routes in the Chopta region.