- Explore
- Broadcast
- Activities
- Wildlife
- Historical Tours
- Cultural Tours
- Local Tours
- Adventure
- Blog
When it feels like it’s impossible to take out time from your hectic life to plan a holiday for a week, weekend trek comes to your rescue. A weekend trek like the one to Chopta Chandrashila Deoriatal can help you rejuvenate in the lap of nature and take a breath of fresh, mountain air. Planning a weekend trek is a great mode to visit the Himalayas and to satisfy your voyage craving in a short time. In reality, even a few days of escape are enough to do miracles while you get away from mundane life.
Your walk leading to Chopta is surrounded by luxurious natural meadows and the Himalayan ranges. This walk brings you to the Tungnath peak at an altitude of 3680m and is also called known to be the highest Shiva shrine on the globe. The beauty of Deoriatal is not less than a fairy tale where you can see a few animals and birds drinking sparkling water from the lake. The snow filled hills will make you forget every worry and you experience sheer peace in the white surroundings.
The trail is a bit tricky with its abrupt climbs and sudden changes in the terrain. You can also choose to be guests at the dhabas on the trail for a delightful spread. Besides the amazing nature trapped along the route; it's possible to have a glimpse of some amazing peaks like Kedar along with Chaukhamba.
After a kilometre long trek you can reach the summit of Chandrashila which is at approximately 4000 meter. You can have a view of various spiritual temples along the way with many animals and birds adding on to the beauty of that pious place.
The trek is just of four days, so you can plan the trip with your family as well as with friends for the trek and add loads of fun to adventure. The freezing weather, cool breeze and spiritual tunes will make you forget all your worries and you can spend a good time in the lap of nature.
Max Altitude :- 13,100 Ft.
Approx Trekking Km :- 30 Kms.
Day 1 : Drive Haridwar-Sari
Pick Up Point- Haridwar Railway Station
Pick Up Time- 6:00 am
Distance- 190 km
Driving Time- 7 hour
Altitude- 6,601 ft
Network Availability- Available till Sari
Day 2 : Trek to Deoriatal
Distance- 3 km
Trekking Time- 1 hour
Altitude- 7, 841 ft.
Water source-None.
Day 3 : Deoriatal to Beniyakund through Rohini Bugyal
Distance- 16 km
Trekking Time- 7-8 hours
Altitude at Chopta-8, 790 ft
Water source- A ground water source before entering Rohini Bugyal. Waterfalls on the second half of the trail.
Day 4 : Baniyakund to Tungnath, Chandrashilla Summit and back to Baniyakund
Buniyakund to Chopta (Drive 3km)
Chopta to Tungnath, Chandrashilla Summit and back (Trek 8km)
Trekking Time- 7-8 hour
Altitude- 13,100 ft.
Water Source- None
View:
Mountains of Garhwal and Kumaon- Nanda Devi, Trishul, Nandaghunti, Kamet, Dronagiri, Chaukhamba, Kedar dome, Thalaysagar, Gangotri ranges, Jahanukut etc.
Day 5 : Beniyakund to Haridwar (Drive 7 hours)
Drop Off Point-Haridwar Railway station
Distance- 210 km
Time- 7 hour; destination to be reached around 6:30 pm
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1 : Drive Haridwar-Sari
Our tour guides will expect you at Haridwar railway station at 6:30 in the morning today. You can arrange an overnight bus journey from Delhi, reaching Haridwar in the morning or reach a couple of days earlier to the starting day of the trek. Haridwar-Rishikesh by the Ganges is a famous site on the pilgrim trail of Uttarakhand. You can spend your time in Rishikesh immersing in cultural activities and adventure sports in the choppy waters of Ganga. We can pick you up alternatively from Rishikesh as well.
From this point to Sari village is a journey of 7-8 hours. Take in the beautiful vista of lower Garhwal Himalayas as the drive turns uphill. The most picturesquely notable stop on the way will be at Devaprayag- a town marking the gorgeous confluence of Alakananda and Bhagirathi. The river will keep you company throughout, reaching you at Sari by 6:00 in the evening. The village is a pretty picture composed of little houses sketched across a mountain backdrop and lined with green patches of agricultural fields. If you are missing any minor requisite for the journey ahead, visit the market area in Sari, just might find something useful!
Day 2 : Trek to Deoriatal
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. After this point, it’s a steep uphill bend on the ridge back of the mountain. Get ready for an acutely laborious climb, giving you the first taste of challenge. Soon, you will reach the Forest Department built resting stop. Clocked timely by your Trek Leader, you can afford a 20 minutes break here. An excellent view the way of the mountain fall waits here.
Post-rest, the trail will bend through a forest of rhododendrons. Spring treks here in the crimson shadow rhododendron blossoms make it memorable more than ever. We go steadily up. At 7, 434 ft. village localities vanish from sight. Nearly 20 minutes from this point, we will be standing with the waters of Deoriatal glistening down a lurching gentle slope.
A grand vista of Chaukhamba massifs is unveiled in the background of the lake. It will be mid-noon by the time you reach the spot. Wait for the morning when the cloud cover lifts and a diamond-crushed sunlight elucidate the outlines of Chaukhamba, making for the ultimate striking frame. 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. Hot lunch on this day will be served on reaching our lakeside camp in Deorital.
Day 3 : Deoriatal to Baniyakund through Rohini Bugyal
Today’s trail will familiarize you more with the Chaukhamba massif and Mount Kedar summit, rising closely as you process. Rhododendron and maples eclipse the forest path, spreading a cool and rejuvenating vibe. In these thickets you will find two prominent varieties of rhododendrons—red and pink, the concentration of them thickens as you move pass the first forest stretch.
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. The ascending trail gives way to a level land and some leeway in the rigorous uphill hike. 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. This forms part of the Kedarnath Sanctuary, and with some luck, trekkers can spot red fox and other small wild things.
More 25 minutes of trekking in the Kedarnath Sanctuary trail and you will reach the Bhagdwal temple. This is a junction point for three trek routes. One connects to Sari village, another towards Ukhimath, and the central one descending to the meadows of Rohini Bugyal. Along this line, Chandrashila and flanked by the adjoining Kala Parvat Peak gain prominence. You can find the way bending from here to Bisuri Tal lake and a small tarn named Nandikund, situated at the base of Kala Parvat. Further down as you progress, a silvery rivulet coming from Chandrashila meets your way. Here, you can fill your water supplies and move on taking a small wooden bridge on the stream.
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.
Day 4: Baniyakund to Tungnath, Chandrashilla Top and back to Baniyakund
We commence the hike today early morning. Starting in the wee 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. Today,the hike will be fraught with steep climbing challenges with sharp turns to cross by. 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. The route to the peak bends from behind the temple complex. Beware of thick snow on this summit stretch after December till the end of April. Crampons and gaiters are highly recommended for the snow climb and your trek lead is expected top make the path through the cover of snow sludge with the help of an ice axe.
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. Glimpses of the Thalaysagar and Gangotri ranges too could be made out at the edges. The downhill journey is relatively less time consuming and smoother. It will take you about 3 hours to climb down to the Chopta campsite.
Day 5 : Baniyakund To Haridwar
A ride back from the Chopta road head to Haridwar is scheduled for day 6. 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.
How to Reach
By Air :-
Jolly Grant Airport is the airport serving Dehradun, located about 48 km from the Haridwar. There is a daily flight from Delhi for Dehradun
By Train :-
From Delhi -DDN NZM AC EXPRESS (2205.
From Kolkata- Doon Express (13009)
From Mumbai- Dehradun Express (19019)
From Chennai- Dehardun express (12687)
By Road :-
By road, Haridwar is well connected with major destinations of the country. NH72 connects Haridwar to Nahan (125 km) to the north-west, and thereon to Panchkula, Chandi¬garh and Shimla. NH 72 terminates at Dehardun, which is at 54km from Haridwar. Haridwar is located at a distance of 235 km from Delhi. NH72A links Haridwar to NH58 at Roorkee (35 km) and thereon south to Meerut (170 km) and Delhi (235 km). There is regular bus service from Delhi for Haridwar from Delhi's ISBT Kashmere Gate.