Introduction
Chopta is a small tourist town located at a height of 2600m and is also the last road leading to Tungnath Temple & Chidrashila peak. The distances and nature of the trek make it a popular weekend getaway from Delhi and other parts of North India.
How to get to Chopta?
The Location of the Chopta trek is in the Garhwal region of Uttarakhand on the Ukhimath Chamoli Gopeshwar road. The distance between Chopta from Haridwar is 225 km and the distance from Ukhimath to Chopta is about 29 km. To simplify the reaching part I will start from Delhi. The location of the chopta is at an altitude of approximately 2650 m.
The distance from Delhi to Haridwar is 225 km and there are regular buses from ISBT Kashmere Gate & Anand Vihar ISBT. The time required to cover the distance is usually 5-6 hours. There are three types of buses from Delhi to Haridwar; normal buses, Janrath buses (AC), and Volvo buses (AC). It is recommended to take the bus at 10:00 PM or 10:30 PM to reach the Haridwar bus stand around 4:00 AM.
Haridwar to Chopta:
If you reach Haridwar at 4 or 5 in the morning, there can be quite a bit of confusion about the buses for Kund at the bus stand. Without a proper information channel, no one will deny the availability of the bus, nor will anyone tell you where it comes from and how it goes.
You are most likely to reach Chopta within 14 to 15 hours (if transport links to and from Ukhimath are working well). The journey to Tungnath Temple from Chopta usually takes 3 hours for an average person and another hour for Tungnath to Chandrashila. It can be classified as a relatively easy trek – on the difficulty level and can be ideal for beginners.
Most people stay in Chopta, take a day trip to Tungnath and Chandrashila, and return the same day. It is possible to do this provided you leave early, say by 7:00. It is best to reach Tungnath by 10, pay obeisance at the temple and enjoy the scenery.
Best Timing for Views:
Considering the best views on Tungnath – Chandrashila trek, it is possible to start trekking towards Tungnath after reaching Chopt around 3 PM. Within 45 minutes, the journey reaches a lush green meadow flanked by a ring of snow-capped peaks with 3-4 stone dhabas. In these dhabas one can expect bare and basic accommodation for around Rs 100-150. per person.
Best season to travel in Chopta:
Chopta is a location that looks amazing all year round, in winter it blooms like a fairytale land of angels and in summer the pleasant weather makes it an ideal place to hide from the scorching sun or spend a summer vacation. So please don’t think about the snowfall that made it god’s white country. In monsoon, green pastures and too much news about which time of year is good to visit for Chopt and which is not. However, sometimes there is heavy rainfall during monsoon, so you can check the weather forecast before planning your trip to Chopta during monsoon. However, during monsoon or you can say ‘Savan’ because of Tungnath Temple, Chopta witnesses a large number of travelers.
Activities in Chopta
Trekking in Chopta:
The trek to Chandrashila starts from Chopta and is easy
intermediate level of trekking. Breathtaking hikes lead through enchanting meadows, quiet villages, and conifer and oak forests. You can get a beautiful view of roads covered with snow during the winters. You can also trek to Devariyatal, Bisurital, or treat yourself to a 4-5 day trekking expedition in Chopta.
Photography:
Chopta offers mesmerizing views of the undulating valleys and one cannot resist capturing the majestic snow-capped peak with one’s camera. The 360-degree panorama witnessed from the top of Chandrashila is one of the reasons why Chandrashila is one of the best places to capture snow-capped mountains.
Camping at Chopta:
Located on the way to Tungnath, Chopta is an ideal place for camping and enjoying the beauty of nature. Camping is an amazing experience with family and friends when you are surrounded by the lap of nature
Bird watching in Chopta:
Chopta has a large forest line that has hundreds of different species of birds. Bird watchers from all over the world can visit and explore Chopta. The ideal time for bird watching is from February to April.
Yoga and meditation in Chopta.
Tranquil surroundings, lush meadows, and majestic Himalayan views in Chopta enhance the meditation and yoga activities in Chopta. Many foreigners come to Chopta for mediation as Rishikesh is sometimes overcrowded.
