The province of Uttarakhand is a wintry wonderland. And with winters, a lot of hikes start by the end of December and go on until the end of May, until the snow does not start to melt or it stops snowing entirely.
We had the option of Kedarkantha, Chandrashila, Chopta, Chadar, and many other such excursions, but we went with the Chopta Trek. Every journey and route has a unique character and worth. I'm here to share all the important details about the Chopta-Tungnath Trek, which I completed in December last year.
Few Facts About Chopta
In the state of Uttarakhand, there is a tiny area of meadows called Chopta that is a component of the Kedarnath wildlife reserve. The third Panch Kedar shrine and highest Shiva temple in the world, Tunganath, is located at the top of this hamlet. One of India's finest hill towns, this area is still undiscovered and is perfect for the nation's ardent trekkers.
This location, which is still untouched by human interference and is surrounded by Himalayan mountain ranges, offers views of the Chaukhamba, Nandadevi, and Trishul mountains from a height of 2708 meters. This area is abundant in vegetation and wildlife as it is bordered by woods of pine, deodar, and rhododendron.
How to reach Chopta
Drive for five and a half hours in the direction of the state's northeast region from Rishikesh after midnight, arriving in the hamlet by five or six in the morning.
Trekking from Chopta
Since this little town serves as the starting point for the trek, you must purchase a pass for the trip for Rs. 75 at a checkpoint that is monitored by security officers, 200 meters above the ground. Beyond the stop, the ascent begins along precipitous, sloppy, and stony paths that could be a little challenging for novices. However, this journey offers you the chance to prolong your trek and explore Chandrashila, which offers a 360-degree view of the Himalayas, in addition to visiting Tunganath.
The total trekking distance for both treks is 5km: 3.5km to Tunganath and 1.5km further to Chandrashila. Both these points can be covered in a single journey from the base. Start the trek early in the morning so that one reaches Tunganath by around 10 a.m. and further to Chandrashila by around noon, and can start the descent journey by 1 p.m. so that we reach back the base by 5 p.m.
By 12 if you reach the temple, you can try to complete the trek by climbing till Chandrashila which is another 1.5kms from Tunganath and a 2 hour climb.
Best Season to Trek
Heavy snowfall begins in November and lasts through the middle of February. However, December to February is also a very good time to go hiking because it is possible to go hiking even when it is snowing. When I took this journey in December of last year, we experienced the first snowfall of both our lives and the season during New Year's Week. As a result, the trek quickly changed from being a peaceful walk through verdant fields to a magical snowy wonderland.
The satisfaction of finishing it and the view from the summit make us forget about all the challenges we face while hiking. And it becomes a life-changing event that we will never forget.
Every person should trek to such places at least once in their lifetime to cultivate a feeling of gratitude for the environment and the natural world. This happens only after we struggle to get there and encounter some stunning vistas along the way.
If you have been on any such excursions, please let me know in the comments area.
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