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Chopta (Tungnath)

Chopta (Tungnath)

hill station · Uttarakhand

An offbeat hill station popularly dubbed the 'Mini Switzerland of Uttarakhand', serving as the base for the trek to the world's highest Shiva temple.

State
Uttarakhand
Type
Hill Station
Best season
Summer
Things to do
4+

An offbeat hill station popularly dubbed the 'Mini Switzerland of Uttarakhand', serving as the base for the trek to the world's highest Shiva temple. Chopta is a small, hamlet comprising untouched alpine meadows and evergreen forest stretches in Rudraprayag district. At 2,680 metres it forms part of the Kedarnath Wildlife Sanctuary.

Why visit

An offbeat hill station popularly dubbed the 'Mini Switzerland of Uttarakhand', serving as the base for the trek to the world's highest Shiva temple.

How to reach

Nearest airport: Jolly Grant Airport (DED), Dehradun (211 km). Well connected via state roads from Rishikesh through Kund or Ukhimath. Self-drives or private cabs are highly recommended.

2 days in Chopta (Tungnath)

Take the whole plan, or add any single stop.

Day 1

Day 1

Drive to Chopta

Drive to Chopta

Day 1

Deoria Tal hike

Deoria Tal hike

Day 1

Sunset over the meadows

Sunset over the meadows

Day 1

Camp or guesthouse stay

Camp or guesthouse stay

Tungnath TempleDay 2

Day 2

Tungnath Temple

The highest Shiva temple in the world at around 3,680 metres, and the third of the Panch Kedar. Three and a half kilometres of paved but steep path up from Chopta. Shuts for winter around November.

Day 2

Continue to Chandrashila summit

Continue to Chandrashila summit

Day 2

Himalayan panorama

Himalayan panorama

Day 2

Descend to Chopta

Descend to Chopta

Chopta (Tungnath) guide & itineraries

Chopta (Tungnath) is perfect for

adventurespiritualnature

What & where to eat

chai

Tungnath trail

chai

The standard trekking fuel on the Tungnath path

Tungnath trail

Trailside Maggi

The standard trekking fuel on the Tungnath path

Bal Mithai

Bal Mithai

Kumaon-Garhwal sweet

Garhwali Thali

Local hill meals with mandua roti

Aloo ke Gutke

Spiced Uttarakhandi potatoes

Bhatt ki Churkani

Black soybean curry

Nearby getaways

Rudraprayag

~2.5 hrs

Kedarnath (base)

~3 hrs

Frequently asked questions

How hard is the Tungnath trek?
About 3.5 km of steady uphill from Chopta - moderate, doable in half a day; Chandrashila adds a steeper final climb.
Why is Tungnath special?
It is the highest Shiva temple in the world and one of the Panch Kedar.

Things to do

How to spend your time in Chopta (Tungnath).

Tungnath Temple

The highest Shiva temple in the world

Chandrashila summit

Short summit trek with a Himalayan panorama

Deoria Tal

Lake reflecting Chaukhamba peaks

Chopta meadows (bugyals)

Alpine meadows and forest camping

Hidden gems

Birdwatching in Kedarnath sanctuary

Himalayan monal and forest birds

Popular attractions

The places in Chopta (Tungnath) most people come for.

Chandrashila Peak

Chandrashila Peak

Attraction

Deoriatal Lake

Deoriatal Lake

Attraction

Ukhimath

Ukhimath

Attraction

See all attractions

Reviews & ratings

What travellers say about Chopta (Tungnath)

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