Chopta is a stunning hamlet nestled in the state of Uttarakhand. Chopta is truly a perfect destination for trekkers. On your trip to Chopta get to indulge in trekking at Chandrashila. Chandshilla is the place where Lord Ram meditated after defeating Ravana. This offers a ravishing 360-degree view of the Himalayas and is a favourite among trekkers. From mid-April to September the motorable road gets cleared of snow and thus it becomes muchmuch easier to access. There is one more exciting trek that is the Deoriya Tal trek. It is an amazing spot and quite famous among the trekkers. There is another trek to Copta like- Kund to Deorital- which is a 3-5 hours trek and starts at Kund a quaint town situated at 1350 m.
Apart from all the scenic places and adventure activities enjoy some festivals here that are celebrated with great pomp and show like Dussehra, Pandav Leela and Mahashivratri and some of the Hindu festivals. Pandav Leela festivals at Tungnath and Mahashivratri are celebrated here with great pomp and show. Chopta offers mesmerizing views of the undulating valleys and one cannot resist capturingthe marvellous snow-covered peak with one’s camera. 360-degree panorama one witnesses from the Chandrashila summit is one of the reasons to make Chandrashila one of the best spots to capture snow-capped mountains.
One can indulge in yoga and meditation in Chopta. Peaceful environment lush green meadows, marvellous Himalayan views in Chopta enhance the meditation and yoga activities in Chopta. Several foreigners come to Chopta for meditation.
There are some astonishing places to visit in Chopta-
1. Tungnath Temple
Located amongst the marvellous mountains of Tungnath in the Rudraprayag district, Tungnath temple is the highest Shiva temple in the world nestled at an altitude of 3680m. It is one of the Panch Kedar and is believed to have belonged to an ancient era almost 1000 years old.
This temple opens when the Chardham of Uttarakhand is opened during April or May every year during VaisakhPanchmi on the date that is decided by the Badri Kedar temple committee on Baisakhi. The temple is closed during the winter season after Diwali and the image of the deity is moved to Mukunathwhich is lying 19kms away from Tungnath by the temple priests during this time.
2. Deori Tal
The pristine Deori Tal is located on the Ukhimath-Gopeshwar road and is reached by a 2km trek through Sari village. This lake is surrounded by pines so beautifully. It is one of the chief attraction of Chopta.
3. KanchulaKorak Musk Deer Sanctuary
KanchulaKorak Deer Musk Sanctuary houses the famous Musk Deer and an abundance of lush green vegetation. This sanctuary is around 7kms from Chopta. It is a protected forest and is spread over 6 sq km area and is full of musk deer.
4. Ukhimath
Ukhimath is also known as the winter Kedarnath is famous for housing Lord Shiva temple that houses Lord Shiva in winters when Kedarnath is shut down. It is a very pretty hill station that offers fantastic scenery of the Himalayas. Ukhimath is a religious town drenched in spirituality. It also provides some fantabulous views of the Himalayan peaks that are covered in snow.
5. Baniyakund
Baniyakund is truly a nature lover’s paradise. It is only 4kms before Chopta and is located at the very beginning of the Kedarnath Musk deer sanctuary. It is 2450m above sea level. It is a small villagethat has several accommodation options for trekkers. Most of the trekkers choose these places as their base camp during the trek to Chopta and also to Chandrashila.
6. Rohini Bugyal
Rohini Bugyal is one of the best spots to camp as it is filled with dense forests. One can capture the fantastic views of the Garhwal Himalayas. Chaukhamba, Neelkanth, and Kedarnath are some of the peaks that one can spot where one is in Rohini Bugyal during the Chopta trek. This is one of the quaintest hamlets located in the hearts of the marvellous Himalayas that is a paradise for all the trekkers.
How To Reach
One can reach Chopta by air train and by road. Chopta is a small hamlet and thus do not have an airport, and a railway station. One can reach here by buses or taxi or by private cars. Jolly Grant airport is the nearest airport that is around 97kms from Chopta. After reaching the railway station one can hire cabs or avail private or government buses to travel from Dehradun to Chopta. One wanting to reach Chopta by train can reach Rishikesh railway station that is around 100kms from Chopta. After reaching the Rishikesh railway station one can hire cabs or avail buses from here to reach Chopta. NH58 is the national highway one can take to reach Chopta. Just take the route to Rudraprayag a follow it to Kedarnath from where take right to Ukhimath on their way to Chopta that is 40kms away.
Best Time To Visit Chopta
The summer season that is between March to May is the perfect time to explore the stunning Chopta when the temperature ranges between 12-21 degree Celcius. The climate at this time is temperate and the terrain is deciduous. One can even visit between October to February as it is also the perfect time to explore as the regions get covered up with snow and trekking in the snow-capped mountains can be a great experience.
Make your stay comfortable in Chopta and most of the villages are here that have accommodation facilities at a budget for the trekkers. One can choose to stay in lodges or tents according to their convenience and preferences. Apart from these, there are also villas and resorts, if you are planning for a luxurious trip to this place. Himalayan Eco Lodge and Forest Eco Resort are some of the great places to stay amidst nature. One can even enjoy camping at Mandakini Eco Tourist and Camping.
So make sure to explore the fantabulous Chopta on your next Uttarakhand trip and spend some time in tranquillity and serenity with your loved ones.
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