Mini Switzerland of Uttarakhand- Chopta
A place so blessed with natural beauty that it feels like Heaven on Earth: CHOPTA
Chopta is a valley full of evergreen trees and is surrounded by forests and mountains. The place also has vast stretches of green land which are called as Bugyals. It is situated in the Rudraprayag district of Uttarakhand and is considered as one of the best hill stations not only of Uttarakhand but also of India. The Chopta valley is the part of Kedarnath wildlife sanctuary and is close to the Kanchula Kharak Deer Sanctuary, which is the home for the famous Musk deer. Due to the lush green meadows and the pine and oak trees in the valley, the place is also called as the “Mini Switzerland of Uttarakhand“. Chopta is situated at an elevation of 2600 metres above sea level and is therefore very cool and pleasant even in the summer months.
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This place is an absolute delight for nature and bird lovers as there are a number rare species of Himalayan birds all around. Chopta is also famous for trekking and camping activities. There are many famous trekking routes in and around Chopta like the Tungnath temple and Deorital trek. There are many stay options provided by locals for camping under the open skies and green meadows with stunning views of the snow capped Himalayan peaks.
Why is Chopta getting famous day by Day
Chopta (“Mini Switzerland of Uttarakhand“) is very cool and pleasant even in the peak summer months. It is green everywhere and there is a nice breeze especially during the nights. During Feb- March, the whole valley gets covered by the blooming red Rhododendrone flowers or the Burans flowers. It is really a beautiful sight to see the full blooming red flowers everywhere on the trees. It frequently snows in the winter months and the whole valley gets covered in a white layer of snow. The place gets good rains during the monsoons and the place looks very beautiful after being washed with the rains. Chopta is easily accessible by road from the major towns of Uttarakhand.
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Chopta is situated on the main road to Gopeshwar from Ukhimath. It is also a preferred and famous stop on the Char Dham route as it lies on the road between Kedarnath and Badrinath temple. Chopta is also the base point for the Trek to Tungnath and Chandrashila. Tungnath is the highest Shiva Temple in the world and is very famous among trekkers. The trek to Tungnath is classified as an easy trek so it is preferred trek among beginners and families. Further 1 km above Tungnath is Chandrashila at a height of about 3600 metres. It offers 360 degrees views of the Himalayan peaks like Nanda Devi and Gangotri and the vast green fields of the Chopta valley from the top.
How to reach Chopta
Chopta is situated on the main road from Ukhimath to Gopeshwar and can easily be reached by one’s own vehicle or by the State buses and taxis. The following are the distances of Chopta from major locations –
Delhi to Chopta – 470 Km
Rishikesh to Chopta – 208 Km
Haridwar to Chopta – 231 Km
Dehradun to Chopta – 245 Km
Rudraprayag to Chopta – 70 Km
Kedarnath to Chopta – 78 Km
Ukhimath To Chopta – 29 Km
Caution:- *there is another place the same name some 4 – 5 hours’ drive from Rishikesh. People who will be using Google maps to plan their route, please make sure Ukhimath comes in the way to reach the real Chopta.
Chopta Taxi Service
Himalaya Resort also has its own Chopta taxi services from Dehradun/Rishikesh/Haridwar/Delhi. You can travel to any destination in the hills in our brand new Innova Crysta G(7+1) and Dzire (4+1) driven by courteous Drivers, discounted rates and backed by assured service quality of Himalaya Resort. Book one-way or round trip, plan in advance or just book for your immediate trip. We also provide tour package for Char Dham Yatra, customized sightseeing tour packages in Uttarakhand at very affordable prices. Now travelling has become even more hassle-free with us.
Stay options in Chopta
Permanent construction is restricted in Chopta valley (“Mini Switzerland of Uttarakhand“) to preserve the delicate ecological balance of the region. So the stay options available are mostly Tents and Camps. There are a number of decent stay options available which offer great service and very clean & hygienic tents. Himalaya Resort is one such good stay option with great overall reviews and good customer feedback. One can also choose to camp in the green meadows by setting up Tents provided by the local camp owners. The experience of staying in camps is great and is something that one must try when in Chopta.
Things to do in Chopta
There are many places to visit when one is in Chopta (“Mini Switzerland of Uttarakhand“). Apart from trekking to the Tungnath temple and Chandrashila one can also plan a day trip to Deoriatal. It is a beautiful lake situated at about 22 Kms from Chopta and one has to trek the last 2.5 kms from Sari village to reach there. One can also visit the Chopta Bugyal and Rohini Bugyal which are the 2 famous Bugyals in the valley for camping. The temple of Ukhimath at a distance of 30 Kms can also be visited, which is the winter seat of Lord Kedarnath and Lord Madmaheshwar.
Chopta Deoria Tal Packages- Click here
At a distance of 25 Kms is Makkumath which is the nearest village to Chopta and is also the winter seat of Lord Tungnath. The Doli of Lord Shiva is brought from the main temple to their respective winter seats with a lot of fanfare and enthusiasm. The People can also visit the Kedarnath wild life sanctuary surrounding the Chopta valley for watching the different species of birds. People can visit the Kanchula Kharak Deer sanctuary for spotting the Himalayan Musk deer.
Tungnath Temple
The Tungnath temple, which means Lord of the peaks is the world’s highest Shiva temple situated at a height of about 3500 metres above sea level. Tungnath temple is one of the five Panch Kedars. It is believed that the temple was built by the Pandavas to worship Shiva to ask for forgiveness for killing their cousins and Guru in the battle of Mahabharata. The temple has a great spiritual significance and people visit here to seek blessings and for fulfillment of their wishes. The trek to Tungnath starts from Chopta valley and can easily be completed in 3-4 hours.
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It is an easy trek with great views all around of the Chopta valley and the snow capped Himalayan Mountains. It is a very popular trek for people trekking with their children and families and also for the first time trekkers. Tungnath temple usually opens from mid April to mid November. It is closed during the winter months due to heavy snowfall. However the trekking routes are open even during winter and is preferred by people willing to enjoy the trek on snow covered paths
Chandrashila Peak
Located at a further 1 Km distance above Tungnath is the Chandrashila peak. Chandrashila means Moon rock. It is believed that the Moon God meditated there. Situated at a height of 4000 meter above sea level, the peak offers great views of the entire Himalayan range in all directions. Nanda Devi and Chaukhambha peaks are clearly visible from the top on a clear day. The views of the sunrise and sunset from Chandrashila are also amazing and are worth seeing. People also meditate here for experiencing spiritual bliss and spend time here admiring the natural beauty from the peak.
Deoria Tal
Located at a distance of 22 Kms from Chopta is Deoria Lake or Deoria Tal. It is believed that the God came here for bathing. The lake is surrounded by forests and snow covered peaks. One gets to view the Chaukhamba peak’s reflection in the crystal clear water of the lake. The lake is situated at an altitude of 2430 metres and can be reached by trekking a distance of 3.5 Kms from Sari village. Sari village can be easily reached by shared taxis from Chopta or Ukhimath. The weather of Deoriatal is similar to that of Chopta and the lake completely freezes during the winter months.
Sari Village- Base point of Deoria Taal
Sari village is the last village on the trekking route to Deoria Tal. It is the base point for trekking to Deoria Tal. It is a beautiful village and it has many stay options including some home stays. Here one can experience the local Garhwali culture, food and the simple village life of the people. The people here are very friendly and are usually dependent on tourism and agriculture for their income. One can spend a day or two here and watch the lives of the local people closely.
Rohini Bugyal
Rohini Bugyal is a plain land of green meadow surrounded by thick forests and snow covered mountains. It’s a popular site for camping in Chopta. The Himalayan peaks like Chaukhamba, Nilkantha and others can easily be seen from Rohini Bugyal. It is a very quiet and peaceful spot and people can enjoy in solitude.
Contact for planning your trip -
So when are you planning your trip for Chopta(“Mini Switzerland of Uttarakhand“)? You can comment below for your queries or feedback. You can also tell me what you like about this post and which other treks you would like me to write about in future.
Hope a visit here is in your bucket list.
Thanks.
Neeraj Tiwari
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