Chopta Chandrashila Tungnath Trek

Here’s how day 1 of Chopta Chandrashila and Tungnath Trek looks like:

Our journey starts from Rishikesh, with the pickup point at Natraj Chowk. We depart early in the morning, driving along the Ganga River. 

Along the route, we pass through Byasi and Kaudiyala, both known for their beaches, camping, and river rafting. The stretch from Kaudiyala to Shivpuri is particularly famous for its challenging and thrilling river rafting zones, popular among both Indian and foreign adventure enthusiasts.

Before reaching Devprayag, there’s a popular halt called Teen Dhara. As the name suggests, Teen Dhara is a spot where three water springs are located. This place is well-known for its dhabas and small restaurants, a popular stop for both locals and pilgrims.

We then arrive at Devprayag, the holy confluence of the Alaknanda and Bhagirathi Rivers, where they merge into one and take the name Ganga. Devprayag is one of the Panch Prayag in Uttarakhand. It is mentioned in the Skandapurana that after killing Ravana, Lord Shri Ram performed penance at this sacred confluence.

Interestingly, this confluence is also known as ‘Saas Bahu Sangam,’ with Bhagirathi being the ‘Saas’ due to its gushing sound and Alaknanda the ‘Bahu’ for its calm flow.

Moving ahead, we reach Srinagar, a beautiful hill town on the banks of the Alaknanda River. It is the largest town in the Garhwal hills. It was once the capital of the Garhwal kingdom, and now renowned for its cultural and educational significance.

Just 12 km drive from the Srinagar, we stop at the Dhari Devi Temple. You will find yourself mesmerized by the first view of the temple situated in the middle of the Alaknanda River. The temple is dedicated to Dhari Devi, the guardian deity of Garhwal and protector of the Char Dham in Uttarakhand.

We continue to Rudraprayag, as we move forward, we reach Rudraprayag, one of the Panch Prayag in Uttarakhand and the second and last Prayag we will encounter on our journey.

This is the confluennce where the Mandakini and Alaknanda Rivers meet. At the confluence, there is a beautiful temple called Rudranath, dedicated to Lord Shiva. It is believed that Narada Muni performed a severe penance here, and Lord Shiva, pleased with his devotion, appeared in his Rudra avatar to bless him.

This place also has historical significance, as this was the place where the man-eating Leopard of Rudraprayag, which killed more than 125 people, was hunted by Jim Corbett near the Rudraprayag in Gulabrai.

As we move forward, we pass through Agastyamuni, known for its temple dedicated to Maharishi Agastya, as the Hindu/Yogic Siddhar Agastya, one of the Saptarishis. The town is named after him.

A few kilometers from Agastyamuni lies Bhiri, where you might catch the first glimpse of the snow-capped Himalayan peaks if you’re fortunate.

We then reach Kund, where the road bifurcates into two routes. One leads to Kedarnath Dham, and the other to Chopta Valley. As we take the route towards Chopta Valley, we begin to ascend in elevation.

Next, we pass through Ukhimath, famous for the Omkareshwar Temple. this is the place where Baba Kedar is worshipped during the winter season when the portals of Kedarnath temple remains closed. From here, you can see the majestic Kedarnath peak along with other snow-capped Himalayan ranges.

As we continue from Ukhimath, you’ll get your first glimpse of Chandrashila Peak, where we will be summiting the next day. Just after few kilometers we finally arrive at our destination for the day, Sari Village. This beautiful village serves as the base camp for many popular treks nearby.

Upon reaching Sari, a 150-meter walk through village houses and fields will take you to our cottages, located in a secluded area away from the crowd. As you freshen up, the first sight from your window will be the stunning view of the Tungnath and Chandrashila peaks. Surrounded by trees of Deodar, Oak, Rhododendron, and lush green fields, our cottages offer the peace you came to seek in the mountains.

In the evening, we take a nature acclimatization walk near our cottages. We’ll visit Bhim Pathar, a large stone located in the middle of fields, a spot rarely visited by the tourists. The top of this stone is completely flat and can comfortably accommodate over 50 people. Local legends say that Bhim placed this stone here. It’s a serene place where you can meditate, surrounded by the sounds of chirping birds.

After spending a beautiful evening at Bhim Pathar, we return to our cottages for a delicious dinner, often including local cuisines to bring you closer to the local culture, though availability may vary.

Before dinner, we have a briefing session with our trek leader, where we get to know each other and discuss the plans for the next day’s trek.