Chopta

Chopta is a heavenly hamlet located in the Rudraprayag district of Uttarakhand. Famous for its green meadows and majestic mountains, Chopta is one paragon of this deadly combination of beauty and tranquillity. A quaint town where the quietude of mornings is broken only by the chirping of birds... But Chopta is just not another Thorpe, it has certainly much more to offer. Especially for the trekking enthusiasts, it is a heaven! What attracts tourists the most to Chopta is the Chopta – Tungnath – Chandrashila trek. It serves as the base to trek to the famous Tugnath Temple, Devariyatal and Chandrashilla peak. Also, Chopta is the epicentre of Panch Kedars (five temples dedicated to Lord Shiva). For an offbeat place like Chopta, admiration of tourists is genuine. They come here in search of solace and purity. And its rich flora and fauna does accomplish their travel goals. Some rare species of birds are found here, hence making Chopta a bird watching site too.
Maximum Altitude: 13,100 Ft.
Attractions :

• Kanchula Korak Musk Deer Sanctuary
• Tugnath Temple
• Chandrashila
• Devariyatal
• Ukhimath

• How to Reach
Chopta is approximately 400 km away from Delhi (on road). All the roads are well connected to major Garhwal towns. To start the journey, there are a number of public transports as well as taxis available at Haridwar as well as Rishikesh. If you opt to go by bus, the last stop is at Ukhimath. Afterwards, only taxi services are available to reach Chopta.

Route: Delhi –> Haridwar – >Rishikesh – > Rudraprayag (take Kedarnath Road) –>Ukhimath– > Mastura- Maku->Chopta Nearest Railhead: Haridwar Nearest Airport: Jolly Grant Airport

• Tugnath trek
The Tugnath trek is one of the most desirable and quite easier trek. The trek is mostly famous for the Tugnath temple, the highest Lord Shiva temple. Perched at an altitude of more than 11,000ft, one can have the view of majestic Himalayan ranges. Being encircled by these gigantic mountains seems like a surreal dream. However the story isn’t over yet. The good thing is that there awaits another such mind blowing trek of Chandrashila.
• Chandrashila trek
According to one legend, the moon god had penanced here. Hence the name Chandrashila- Chandra (the moon) and Shila (a rock). Chandrashila trek is 1.5km away from the Tugnath temple, at an altitude of 4000m. Though the trek is relatively at higher elevation, it is not that difficult. Needless to say, the trek to Chandrashila offers many eye capturing views. The trek buffs can imagine themselves walking through those dense deodar forests and being thoroughly immersed in nature.
• Devariyatal Trek
Devariyatal trek is yet another easy trek amidst the Himalayas. This lake comes under the region of Kedarnath Musk Deer Sanctuary. The overall trek is of 2 km. Here you will witness a crystal clear lake, pristine beauty of nature and a peep into wildlife.

The best time to visit Chopta, undoubtedly, is during the summers that is from March to May. During this season, weather is really pleasant and Chopta is packed with tourists. This period of time is ideal for birdwatching and trekking. Chopta witnesses moderate rainfall and can be visited during monsoons as well. The rain washed meadows looks rather picturesque. However, the route to Chopta often faces landslides. While in the winters, the valley is all snow-capped and isolated. This is the time when Chopta offers solitude at its best.