Chopta

Chopta
Village
Chopta, starting point for Tungnath & Chandrashila trek
Country	India
State	Uttarakhand

On Way to Chandrashila

Chopta is a village located in Uttarakhand state, India and a base for trekking to Tungnath, third temple of Panch Kedar which is at a distance of 3.5 km. Located at a distance of 1 km from Tungnath is Chandrashila Peak at 4000 metres plus above sea level, which offers a splendid view of snow clad Himalayan peaks.

Chopta, an unspoiled natural beauty destination lying in the laps of Uttarakhand Himalayas offers amazing views of the imposing Himalayan range including Trishul, Nanda Devi and Chaukhamba. It is located at an elevation of 2680 m above sea level. Chopta village is surrounded by forest of pine, deodar and rhododendron and is rich in variety of flora and fauna.

Location

This place is popularly known as 'Mini Switzerland' in Uttarakhand, India. It is 36 km from Gopeshwar, 254 km from Rishikesh and 450 km (approx) from Delhi. The best time to visit is from May to November. Chopta is also a popular destination during the winter months due to the snowfall that the area experiences. Tungnath temple and Chandrashila are covered with snow from December to March. It has another approach from Guptakashi.

Activities in Chopta

The Chopta - Tungnath - Chandrashila trek is a famous destinations for trekkers. The Chopta region has many treks and trails cutting through jungles and grasslands. Chandrashilla, Tunganath and Devariyatal are the best known trekking routes in the Chopta region. Because of an abundance of birds, Chopta is becoming popular among birdwatchers.

Some Activities in Chopta - Camping and Trekking, Yoga, Survival Activity - Snow Trekking, Snow Skiing - Rock Craft, Rock climbing, Rappelling

Places of interest

Dense forest of Kedarnath Wild Life Sanctuary; where temperate and alpine trees are found in abundance. Trees like, oak, pine, burans and other himalayan species occupy major land part of Chopta, Uttarakhand region.
Flora and fauna with high diversity
Grass land patches (Bugyal/ Meadows)
Chandrashilla peak 4090 m
Tungnath temple at 3680 m
Deoria Tal (lake) at 2350 m
Atrimuni falls
Visibility of 41 Himalayan peaks - Meru, Sumeru, Ganesh Parwat, Chaukhamba, Bandarpunch, Nilkantha, Tirsuli, Nanda Devi etc. and Panoramic view of Himalayan mountain range.

Seasons to Visit Chopta

It is a place that is yet to be fully explored and one of the best hill stations in India. Chopta is a must visit destination for nature lovers and those who are passionate for trekking. Chopta has a very cool and pleasant climate from March to May with the temperature between 10 °C and 30 °C. After that comes monsoon season that starts from July and ends in October. Chopta witnesses snowfall from November to March and the temperature is between a minimum of −15 °C and a maximum of 15 °C. It starts snowing in the month of November and increases significantly day by day. By January it is a 4- to 7-foot-thick layer of snowfall. It is fully covered with snow during winters and during the same time, some of the routes going to Chopta are blocked. An alternative route to Chopta is from Deoria Tal, which is 10–12 km trek that starts from Deorial Tal. Deoria Tal can be approached from Saari Village. It can be taken during winter season. So, trekkers must visit the place during winters if they want to see snowfields.

Summertime in Chopta does not offer clear view of Himalayas due to cloudy weather from June to August. All the peaks are covered in clouds and the view is unclear. During winters, the sky is crystal clear and all the mountains are clearly visible. It amazingly offers a 360-degree view of snow-clad mountains.