Chopta Chandrashila Trek
Uttarakhand
5 Day
13100 Ft
30 Km
Easy
₹ 9,500 Per Person
- Brief Description Brief Description
- Itinerary Itinerary
- Gallery Gallery
- Gallery Essentials
- FAQ's FAQ's
- FAQ's What's Included
- FAQ's How to Reach
Brief Description
Group Size : 15
Season : October – June
Chopta Chandrashila Trek – is most enchanting short trek lies in the Garhwal region of Uttrakhand. This hike is in a protected area and hence there are minimal signs of civilization and abundance of flora & fauna, which adds to the beauty of the Chopta Chandrashila Trek.
The first trail take you up to Deoriatal. This is a beautiful lake at an altitude of 2438 meter and has captivating surroundings with forests all around. The story associated with this scenic place is that when the Pandavas were in exile and were hiding from the Kaurava king, Duryodhan, they stopped nearby for a rest. When their mother Kunti felt thirsty, one by one four of her sons went to fetch water from this lake but died, as they could not answer the question put forth to them by the Yaksha Devta who resided here. When the eldest son’s Yudishtra’s turn came, he answered all questions correctly and with the result the dead brothers also came back to life. Here we will camp by the lakeside.
Next on our trail is Chopta, popularly referred to as the Mini-Switzerland of India because of its undulating green meadows (carpets of snow in winter!) and a breath taking view of the majestic Himalayan peaks. From here we will trek up to the Tungnath temple, which at an altitude of 3680m is the highest Shiva shrine in the world. All along the route, in addition to the abundant flora and fauna, one gets wonderful views of the Himalayan giants including Bandarpoonch, Kedar, Chaukhamba peak and may more. From Tungnath you can trek up a further 1 km to the summit of Chandrashilla peak at about 4000 m and accomplish the Chandrashila Trek.
Itinerary
Your Pick up from Haridwar railway station will be at 6:30 am. We’ll head straight to Sari which is approximately 190 kms. Breakfast and Lunch will be taken on your way to SariVillage (not included in the cost). The village is a pretty picture composed of little houses sketched across a mountain backdrop and lined with green patches of agricultural fields After reaching Sari at around 6 in the evening you’ll be checking in the Lodge for an overnights stay.
The trek on the first day is easy with mixed ascent and descent. A well-defined rocky trail will show you to the end, from where the Chandrashila summit is clearly visible and the Tunganath temple is a speck of color.
The trail will bend through a forest of rhododendrons. Spring treks here in the crimson shadow rhododendron blossoms make it memorable more than ever. Nearly 20 minutes from this point, we will be standing with the waters of Deoriatal glistening down a lurching gentle slope.
It will be mid-noon by the time you reach the spot. Having the entire day to yourself, explore the deep nooks of the forests lying out around, a paradise for bird-watcher’s and nature lovers. Overnight stay will be in tents.
Today’s trail will familiarize you more with the Chaukhamba massif and Mount Kedar summit, rising closely as you process. The trail is sprinkled with little shrines that stand out in the greenness by the red and yellow flags tied on them. After crossing a clearing in the forest lined with scarlet blossoms, we are directly ushered up an ascending path towards Rohgini Bugyal and Chopta.
A resplendent view of the Chandrashila awaits on the other side of the forest margin. After the level-land, you will have to re-enter the forest now characterized with old oaks and maple besides the rhododendrons. A little way up, the meadows start. Here, you will find a cluster of huts. Shepards from local villages come here to graze their livestock. Not far from here, you will find a road head at the margin of a jungle trail. In this area in the vicinity of Chopta village, we have our campsite at a clearing in the forests.
Starting the day in early hours of dark will let us have a beautiful sunrise experience from Tunganath top. The trek runs on a well-defined concrete-bound trail from Chopta to the temple. There will be other shrines on the way, of which a particular temple with a flagpole is notable. This one comes after the 10th bend of the road and marks the opening of a splendid view of Chandrashila up ahead. From here, you will also get a clear vision of a connecting peak to Chandrashila. This one is named Ravanshila.
In the winters, you will find snow from here. The 11th bend marks the entryway to Tunganath above which the splendid Chandrashila peak towers at 12, 083 ft.
At the end of a steep and arduous climb, the summit will be reached with a 360 degree view of the Garhwal and Kumaon mountains welcomingly lying ahead. Notable peaks in this panorama of grandeur are—Nanda Devi, Trishul, Nandaghunti, Dronagiri, Chaukhamba, and Kedar. It will take you about 3 hours to climb down to the Baniyakund campsite.
A ride back from the Chopta road head to Haridwar is scheduled for day 5. After this 7 hour journey full of mellow reminisces of the hills, you will be reaching Haridwar in the evening. An overnight journey to Delhi will hopefully work out best.
Gallery
Trek Essentials
Basic Essentials
o Back Pack & Rain Cover (50-60 liter)
o Day Pack & Rain Cover (20-30 liter, If you hire mule or porter)
o Couple of water bottles (Avoid Bisleri Bottles)
o Hiking Shoes (Should be water proof and ankle support)
o Torch (With extra batteries)
o Glucose, Chocolates, biscuits and nuts
o Personal Medical kit (If you required)
o Original ID Card
Clothing Essentials
o Trek Pants – 2 Nos. (Avoid Jeans, Shorts, Capris, Fitting Denims)
o T-shirts – 4 Nos. (2 Full Sleeves, 2 Half Sleeves)
o Sweater – 2 Nos. (1 Fleece, 1 Woollen)
o Jacket – 2 Nos. (1 Fleece, 1 Down feather)
o Thermal Wear – 1 Nos.
o Gloves – 2 Nos. (1 Woollen, 1 Waterproof)
o Socks – 5 Nos. (3 Cotton, 2 Woollen)
o Warm Inner wears
o Rain Coat / Poncho – 1 Nos.
o Handkerchief/towels – 1 Nos.
o Slippers – 1 Nos.
Protect Your Head
o UV sunglasses – 1 Nos.
o Caps – 2 Nos. (1 Sun Cap, 1 Woollen Cap)
o Balaclava – 1 Nos.
Personal Utilities
o Sunscreen Cream
o Body Lotion
o Lip Balm
o Sanitizer
o Tooth Brush & Paste
o Quick Dry Towel
o Cameras
o Books (If you like reading)
o Music Instruments (Guitar, Flute)
FAQ's
Frequently Asked Questions on Brahmatal Trek
Q Which are the best seasons for the Chopta Chandrashila trek?
A This trek is best done during October to June when the valley comes alive with the alpine flowers that it is known for.
Q What is the style of accommodation in this trek?
A Accommodation on all days of the trek will be in lodges, where you will be sharing rooms with fellow trekkers.
Q What will the temperatures be like during this trek?
A Day time temperatures will range from 12-20ºC and night time temperature will range from 4-10ºC.
Q What will we do if it rains?
A If it starts raining while you’re trekking, we will continue on the trail as planned. Your poncho should protect you from the rain. Carry a backpack cover for extra protection from rain for your belongings.
Q How do we reach Sari Village?
A We will arrange pick – up vehicles/shared cabs from Haridwar railway station to Sari Vilage, the base camp. This transport cost is to be borne by the trekkers and will amount to approximately Rs. 7,000 per vehicle (5-6 seater) or Rs.10,000 per vehicle (11-12 seater).
Q How do we get back after the trek?
A We will arrange for shared cabs from Village Sari to Haridwar.
Q Are backpacks, raincoats and other equipment available for rent ?
A No. Highland trekkers does not rent any equipment. You may purchase trekking poles and other equipment from open market.
Q Is this a good trek for a first timer?
A It is suitable for a first time trekker provided you are fit .
Q Is there an option to offload my backpack on this trek?
A Yes, there is an option to offload your backpack. This will cost Rs.500 if you inform us in advance. If you decide to offload once you reach Govind Ghat, the amount will be Rs.350 per day inclusive of tax. The offloaded bag should not weigh more than 9 kg.
Q What are washroom/toilet facilities like on the trek?
A The guest houses where you will be staying have concrete toilets.
Q Will there be water sources on the way? Will two litres of water be enough?
A For your day’s trek, two litres of water should be enough. You will also find water sources along the trail on all days of the trek.
Q Is there mobile network on this trek? Are there any electricity charging points on this trek?
A Mobile network (BSNL) is available only up to Sari Village. Make sure you inform anxious family members about poor connectivity in the mountains. Electricity charging points are available at lodges. However, you need to be mindful of the fact that here could be power cuts.
Q How do I manage the low temperatures on the trek? Do I need special jackets?
A At high altitudes, temperatures are sure to dip into negative at nights.. For these extreme cold temperatures, you need to wear three layers of woollen, inners and lower.
What's Included
INCLUDED
Transport from Haridwar to Joshimath & Return
Accommodation during the trek (camping)
All meals – vegetarian
Campfire at Camps (If Available)
Trekking permits and forest camping charges
Trekking equipment (tents, sleeping bags, ice axes, ropes, etc.)
Services of an expert trek leader (qualified in basic/advanced mountaineering courses)
Services of an expert trek team (guides, cooks, helpers, porters/mules)
Safety equipment (first aid, medical kit, oxygen cylinders, stretcher, etc.)
Achievement Certificate
Memories of Life Time
NOT INCLUDED
Transport from your city to Kathgodam and Return
Backpack offloading charges (Rs.250 Per Day/Per Bag)
Food during transport from Kathgodam to Lohajung & Return
Backpack offloading charges
Personal expenses of any kind
Anything apart from the inclusions
How to Reach
Flights to Dehradun:
Jolly Grant Airport is the airport serving Dehradun, located about 25 km from the city. There is a daily flight from Delhi to Dehradun
Trains to Dehradun :
Nandadevi Express (12205) From Delhi
Dehradun Express (12687) From Delhi
Doon Express (13009) From Kolkata
Dehradun Express (19019) From Mumbai
Buses to Dehradun:
Regular buses from Delhi and from major cities of North India.
Cancellation Policy
- Before 30 days: Full refund (after deducting any expenses that have been incurred for hotel bookings, transport, etc.)
- Between 21-30 days: 75% of trip cost will be refunded
- Between 11-20 days: 50% of trip cost will be refunded
- Between 0-10 days: No refund
