Chandrasila trek with Chopta Tungnath is one of the most exciting and challenging treks that you can experience in the Gharwal Himalayas. Right in the lap of Uttarakhand, Chandrashila Trek is an all-year round adventure that can lead you to walk the snow trails and live in charming campsites with some of the most scenic backgrounds.
From the top, you'll have a view of the Himalayan mountains, with Chokhamba peak right in front of you. Impressive, diverse, and accessible trek, you will surely be glad you participated.
Main characteristics
- Area: Gharwal Himalaya
- Best time: June, September to December
- Total trekking distance: 27 kilometers
- Total driving distance: 160 kilometers
- Principal interests: Lake, Peak, Valley, Temple, Flora and Fauna
- Effort: 2 - 5-6 hours of activity. More elevation. Can be in altitude, but it has a low impact. You carry only your day bag
- Comfort: 2 - Some nights in tents, but mostly in shelters, permanent camps, guesthouses, or sometimes at a local's homes. Fresh food cooked in place, even during the trek. No daily but frequent shower access
- Altitude: 3700 meters
Itinerary
Day 1: Rishikesh - Sari - Deoriya Tal
Today, you leave Rishikesh in the early morning and start your 7-8 hours drive to the village of Sari. The road will follow the Alaknanda River, one of the headstreams of the Ganga, and you will pass through Devprayag, Srinagar, Dhari Devi, Rudraprayag, Augustmuni, and Ukhimath.
Sari is located at an elevation of 2000 meters and is a scenic hamlet enclosed by oak and rhododendron trees and residing calmly in the lap of the Himalayas. On arrival at the village, you will enjoy some tea and food and hike 3 kilometers on a steep but easy trail to reach your camp for the night.
On the way to the camp, you will pass by Deoriya Tal, an emerald lake perched 2438 meters above sea level. You will watch the sunset on the lake, with miraculous reflections of Chaukhomba peak on crystal clear water. The base camp has a beautiful view over the snow-capped mountains. You will enjoy some tea and snacks, and then have dinner before going to bed for the night.
Day 2: Deoriya Tal - Chopta
This morning, you will have breakfast early at the camp. You will pack your material and trek towards Chopta, 16 kilometers away. You will start by hiking up a steep path in the forest up to the mountain's ridge. From the top, you will have impressive and clear views over the Himalayan range and the Chokhomba peak. The path becomes flatter once you reach the top and descend into a beautiful forest of Rodhodendrons.
You will walk in the forest, following the trail up and down until you reach an open meadow with a view over the mountains. You will take some rest there and enjoy your packed lunch. After lunch, the path goes progressively down until you reach a river. The route then goes up progressively until you meet a road. Your driver will be waiting for you there, and you will happily get in the car to drive the last kilometer to Chopta.
Chopta is a small settlement in a valley that provides many options for exploration, adventures, and trekking. The entire region is a haven of beauty, especially for those looking for an excellent place to relax. One can visit Chopta valley and gaze in awe at the many peaks located a short distance away.
On arrival at Chopta, you will register at the camp and have dinner. You will have some time to enjoy the place and you'll go to bed early to be ready for your morning trek.
Day 3: Chopta - Chandrashila Peak - Tungnath - Chopta
On the third day, you will wake up around 2-3 am to reach Chandrashila peak (4 kilometers away) for sunrise. You will take the car to the trail's starting point, and start your ascent in the dark, guided by the light of the moon and your head torch.
The path to the summit is steep but easy, clearly defined, and accessible. If you go in winter, you'll be walking in the snow most of the way, making it a bit more difficult. You will pass by the Tungnath temple but return after sunrise to see it better.
Chandrashila is a summit in the Tungnath Range. It means "Moon Rock," and it is at a height of 3,700 meters above sea level. This peak provides views of the Himalayas, including the Nandadevi, Kedar Peak, Bandarpunch, and Chaukhomba peaks. There are various legends associated with this place.
According to one of them, this is the place where Lord Rama meditated after defeating the demon-king Ravana. You will take some time at the summit to enjoy the view and take pictures. Then you will start your descent back to the guesthouse in Chopta. On the way down, you will have a break in Tungnath Temple.
Tungnath is one of the world's highest Shiva temples and the highest of the five Panch Kedar temples located in the mountain range of Tungnath in the Indian state of Uttarakhand. It is located at an altitude of 3,600 meters. It has a rich legend linked to the Pandavas, heroes of the Mahabharata epic.
You will then continue your descent and reach Chopta around noon. You will have time to rest and will have lunch in Chopta. After lunch, you can stay in Chopta for the night and enjoy the mountain view or go back to Rishikesh a day early.
Day 4: Chopta - Rishikesh
You will wake up calmly on the last day and have breakfast at the camp. After breakfast, you will pack your things and get in the car to drive back to Rishikesh. You'll stop on the way to have lunch.