A high meadow hamlet in Garhwal and the start of the short trek to Tungnath temple.
Lesser-knownTrekPilgrimageMeadowSnow
Chopta sits at about 2,900 m on the Gopeshwar to Ukhimath road and is the start of a 3.5 km walk to Tungnath temple at about 3,680 m, with Chandrashila summit a further 1.5 km above it. It suits walkers, pilgrims and bird watchers who are happy with basic rooms, no ATM and patchy phone signal. Rhododendrons flower in spring and the area is under snow from December to March.
Trip planner
Photos from Wikimedia Commons. Select a photo for its author and licence.
| When | What to expect |
|---|---|
| April to June | Cool and mostly clear, about 15 to 24 C by day. Rhododendrons flower in spring. Tungnath temple opened on 22 April in 2026. This is the main trekking season. |
| July to September | Monsoon. Heavy rain can cause landslides on the mountain roads, and July and August are best avoided. |
| September to November | Clear skies after the rains and good mountain views. The temple closes for winter in November; the exact date changes each year. |
| December to March | Snow and temperatures from about minus 15 to 5 C. The road is often closed 1 to 8 km before Chopta, so the last stretch may have to be walked. The temple is shut but people still trek in the snow. |
A Shiva temple at about 3,680 m, described as the highest Shiva temple in the world. It is reached by a 3.5 km uphill path from Chopta.
A summit at about 4,000 m, a steep 1.5 km climb above Tungnath. It gives an all-round view of peaks including Chaukhamba, Nanda Devi, Trishul and Kedarnath Dome.
A clear lake at about 2,440 m, reached by a 3 km walk from Sari village.
A small conservation area of about 5 sq km for musk deer, on the road towards Gopeshwar.
A high meadow reached by a long forest walk from Chopta. It is a quiet spot away from the temple path.
The temple in Ukhimath, at about 1,317 m, where Kedarnath is worshipped in winter when the main shrine is closed. Ukhimath is also the nearest market town.
Worth a stop on the drive from Rishikesh, the last stretch whether you arrive by train, bus or air. Stopping needs a taxi or your own vehicle; buses do not wait. Distances are by road.
Where the Bhagirathi and the Alaknanda meet and become the Ganga. It is the last of the Panch Prayag (five holy confluences). Steps lead down from the town to the sangam, with the old Raghunath temple above it.
Temple of Dhari Devi, worshipped as the guardian goddess of the Char Dham, set on the Alaknanda between Srinagar and Rudraprayag. The shrine was raised onto a platform above the river in 2013 because of the dam reservoir. A short walk down from the highway.
Confluence of the Alaknanda and the Mandakini, one of the Panch Prayag. The roads to Kedarnath and Chopta branch off the Badrinath highway here. Koteshwar Mahadev, a cave temple on the Alaknanda, is about 3 km away.
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Organised trips to Chopta, Tungnath and Chandrashila do run. The state corporation GMVN lists a guided trek from Rishikesh with a tempo traveller, and several private operators run 3 to 4 day group departures from Delhi with road transport and camp stays. Private operators list the season as roughly October to June, with snow from December to March; prices found were about Rs 5,000 to Rs 9,500 per person from Delhi with private operators. GMVN’s 2026-27 tariff card lists Rs 6,775 per person for a group of 1 to 6.
| Operator | Trip | From | Length | Price from | Includes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GMVN (Garhwal Mandal Vikas Nigam) Government-run | Guided trek with transport (Rishikesh - Deoriatal - Chopta - Chandrashila - Rishikesh) | Rishikesh | 7 days, as shown on the tariff card | ₹6,775 per person For a group of 1 to 6 people. As shown on GMVN’s site on 2026-10-04. | Non-AC tempo traveller, twin-bed stay in tourist rest house or tent, all meals, porterage of 8 kg of personal luggage, camping equipment, first aid, personal insurance and trained tour escorts (as stated on the page) |
| Enlive Trips Private operator | Group trek with transport, including Tungnath, Chandrashila and Deoria Tal | Delhi | 3 days / 2 nights | ₹4,999 per person Delhi to Delhi, quad sharing, plus 5% GST, as listed on the operator's site on 2026-10-04. | AC bus or tempo traveller, 2 nights in Swiss camps, 2 breakfasts and 2 dinners, evening snacks, guided trek and a trip coordinator (as stated on the page) |
| Manchala Mushafir Private operator | Group trek with transport | Delhi | 4 days / 3 nights | ₹6,000 per person Delhi to Delhi, quad sharing, plus 5% GST; triple sharing Rs 6,700 and double sharing Rs 7,500. As listed on the operator's site on 2026-10-04. | AC tempo traveller from Delhi, Swiss camp stay at Chopta, meals from dinner on day 1 to breakfast on day 3, trek leader with first-aid training (as stated on the page) |
| Explore Hills Private operator | Group trek with transport | Delhi | 4 days / 3 nights | ₹9,500 per person Delhi to Delhi, shared rooms and camps, as listed on the operator's site on 2026-10-04. | Delhi to Delhi tempo traveller, hotel and camp stay, daily breakfast and dinner, trek leader and support staff, first aid. Lunch, forest permits and entry fees are not included (as stated on the page) |
Checked online on 2026-10-04. A listing here is not a recommendation; we have no tie-up with these operators. Before you pay, check that the operator and its website are genuine, and confirm dates, price and what is included.
| Budget level | Type | Price per night |
|---|---|---|
| Budget | Basic homestay, lodge or simple camp | ₹900 to ₹1,500 |
| Mid-range | Homestay or Swiss tent camp with attached bathroom | ₹2,000 to ₹3,500 |
| Luxury | Chalet or premium camp | ₹5,600 to ₹7,000 |
Food comes from small roadside eateries and from the kitchens of camps and lodges. Only basic eateries are found on the Tungnath path.
Food at Tungnath is vegetarian only.
| Budget level | Stay per room | Food per person | Local transport |
|---|---|---|---|
| Budget | ₹1,100 | ₹400 | ₹80 per person |
| Mid-range | ₹2,800 | ₹900 | ₹400 per vehicle |
| Luxury | ₹6,000 | ₹1,800 | ₹2,000 per vehicle |
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Chopta lies inside Kedarnath Wildlife Sanctuary. Camping needs prior permission from the Forest Department, and camping in the open is reported as currently banned. A small fee is reported at check posts on the trek routes; Carry a photo ID.
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Unless a sight is described as accessible, assume it is not step-free.
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