Chopta is a small beautiful hamlet still unadulterated by modern civilization. The tourists have still to discover this hill station in its full form. It is located at an altitude of 2680m above sea level. Chopta offers picturesque views of the Himalayan range including Trishul, Nanda Devi and Chaukhamba. Chopta is surrounded by rich vegetation of pine, deodar and rhododendrons.
Chopta is situated on the connecting road from Gopeshwar with Guptakshi. Chopta is the starting point for the trekking to Tungnath. Chopta has a reach resource of flora and fauna. Anywhere you look you will be seeing dense green woods and high peaked mountains. The environment here is pollution-free and the tranquil and soothing atmosphere will surely calm your mind body and soul.
Famous Treks at Chopta
Tungnath Temple
Tungnath Temple is situated at an elevation of 3680 m above sea level. This is the highest temple dedicated to Lord Shiva. Tungnath is one of the Panch (five) Kedars which are Madhmaheswar, Tungnath, Rudranath, Kalpnath and Kedarnath. The distance of the trek from Chopta to Tungnath is 3.5 km.
Chandrashilla
Chandrashilla is situated at an elevation of 4000 m above sea level. It is the highest point of the mountain which shelters the hamlet of Chopta. This spot offers 270-degree views of the Himalayan range. It is situated 1.5 km further from Tungnath Temple. The total distance of this trek from Chopta is 5 km.
Ukhimath
Ukhimath is the place where the deity of Kedarnath is shifted during the winter days. It is situated at a distance of 31 km from Chopta. There are also local temples of Usha and Anirudh and Shiva and Parvati.
Deoria Tal
Deoria Tal is located at an elevation of 2438 m. This is a huge lake that offers crystal clear reflections of the Chaukhamba range. You need to drive 12 km to Sari village from Ukhimath and from there you can undertake a trek of 2km to reach Deoria Tal.
Guptkashi
Guptakshi is situated at a distance of 13 km from Ukhimath. The holy Vishwanath temple, Ardhnareshwar temple and Manikarnika Kund, where two streams of Ganga and Yamuna meet, are the main hot spots of Guptakshi.
Camping in Chopta Uttarakhand
Chopta is a majestic place truly unexplored by tourists yet. There are many gorgeous places where you can camp in Chopta. You need 4-5 days of trekking to completely explore the region inside out. There are camping facilities in total intimacy with nature. You need to hike to reach the camping spots. There will be hardship while taking this hike but the camp is comfortable enough to make a nice stay. The temperature remains comfortable during summers and it snows during winters.
The camps are organized for groups and finding individual camps is not possible here. Once you are settled in the camps you can undergo famous treks like Chandrashilla, Tungnath and Deoria Tal. You can also opt for the adventurous trek to the high altitude glacial lake. You should try to avoid the monsoon months to avoid getting stuck because of the landslide.
Facilities of the camp
There will be dome tents or family tents which can last all season like snowfall and rains. Toilet is dry pit western style. Food is served in multi-cuisine including Indian and Chinese. For water filtered stock of water will be provided. Self-inflatable mattress and subzero sleeping bags and pillows are also available for sleeping.
How to Reach
By Air
The nearest airport is Jolly Grant at a distance of 226 km. You can hire a cab to reach Chopta from the airport.
By Train
The nearest railway station is Rishikesh at a distance of 209 km. Regular trains ply to Rishikesh from the nearest cities.
By Road
Chopta has good connectivity by roads with nearby towns. There are bus services to reach this hamlet.
Best Time to Visit
Chopta hill station can be visited at any time of the year. The ideal to visit Chopta is from Mars to July during summers and October to Mars During winters. Visiting Chopta in monsoon season is a risky thing but it also has its perks.
