Rahagir
Chaukhamba reflected in Deoria Tal

Destinations / Uttarakhand

Sari and Deoria Tal

A small Garhwal village and the short forest trek from it up to the Deoria Tal lake.

Lesser-knownTrekLakeVillageMeadow

Sari is a farming village at about 2,000 m where a short uphill walk leads to Deoria Tal, a lake at about 2,380 m. It suits fit beginners and families who want an easy first Himalayan trek, and it is also the starting point of the longer walk to Chopta, Tungnath and Chandrashila. People come for village life, forest trails and mountain views rather than for hotels or shopping.

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Chaukhamba reflected in Deoria Tal
Chaukhamba reflected in Deoria Tal
Deoria Tal
Deoria Tal
Sari village
Sari village

Photos from Wikimedia Commons. Select a photo for its author and licence.

Best time to go

WhenWhat to expect
March to AprilSpring. Daytime about 13 to 17 C. Rhododendrons start to flower and some late snow may remain higher up.
May to JuneSummer. Daytime about 18 to 24 C, green forest and the easiest conditions for beginners.
July to AugustMonsoon. Best avoided because of heavy rain and landslide risk on the roads.
September to NovemberAutumn. Daytime about 10 to 15 C and the clearest mountain views of the year after the rains.
December to FebruaryWinter. Temperatures range from about -6 to 14 C and the trails are usually under snow from January.

Sights and activities

1

Sari village

A farming village known for rural tourism, where visitors see local culture and terraced farming. It is the base for all the walks in this guide.

Distance
Base area
Entry
Free
Timings
Open all day
Time needed
1 to 2 hours

MapWrong fee or timing?

2

Deoria Tal

A lake at about 2,380 m reached by an uphill forest trail from Sari. Small shops near the lake sell tea and snacks and close at sundown.

Distance
About 2.5 to 4 km on foot from Sari, about 2.5 hours up
Entry
Forest checkpoint fee of about 150 rupees per adult
Timings
Daylight hours.
Time needed
Half a day to a full day

MapWrong fee or timing?

3

Rohini Bugyal

A meadow clearing ringed by rhododendron forest on the trail from Deoria Tal towards Chopta. It is known as a good area for seeing wildlife and is walked in summer and autumn.

Distance
On the forest trail beyond Deoria Tal.
Entry
Covered by the forest checkpoint fee, as far as could be confirmed
Timings
Daylight hours
Time needed
Full day with a guide

MapWrong fee or timing?

4

Bisuri Tal trek

A longer trek that also starts from the Sari area. Go only with a local guide.

Timings
Daylight hours

MapWrong fee or timing?

5

Chopta

A small hill station that is the starting point for the climb to Tungnath. It has no mains electricity, and lodges run on limited solar power.

Distance
By road from Sari.
Entry
Free
Timings
Open all day
Time needed
1 hour, plus the Tungnath walk

MapWrong fee or timing?

6

Tungnath temple

A high Shiva temple reached by a trek of about 4 km from Chopta. The temple is open only from about May until Diwali.

Distance
About 4 km on foot from Chopta
Entry
Free
Timings
Temple open about May to Diwali.
Time needed
4 to 5 hours return from Chopta

MapWrong fee or timing?

7

Chandrashila summit

A summit at about 3,680 m, a steep 1.5 km above Tungnath, with an all-round view of the Garhwal peaks including Chaukhamba and Nanda Devi.

Distance
About 1.5 km on foot above Tungnath
Entry
Free
Timings
Daylight hours; start early
Time needed
2 hours return from Tungnath

MapWrong fee or timing?

8

Omkareshwar temple, Ukhimath

The temple in Ukhimath town where Kedarnath is worshipped in winter when the Kedarnath shrine is closed. Ukhimath sits at about 1,317 m and has views of snow peaks.

Distance
In Ukhimath, on the road to Sari.
Entry
Free
Time needed
1 hour

MapWrong fee or timing?

Getting there

By bus
Take a bus from Delhi to Rishikesh or Haridwar (about 252 km, 5 to 6 hours), then travel about 190 km (7 to 8 hours) by road via Rudraprayag and Ukhimath to Sari. Public buses run only as far as Rudraprayag or Ukhimath; the last stretch needs a taxi. Tour operators also run organised trips with transport included from Delhi and Rishikesh; see Guided trips and packages below.
By train
Haridwar is the main railhead, about 212 km from Sari by road. Dehradun is the other option at a similar distance.
By air
Jolly Grant Airport, Dehradun, about 21 km from Rishikesh and roughly 210 km from Sari by road.
Where to base yourself
Stay in Sari village, which has homestays, small hotels and tented camps and is where the trail to the lake starts.

Getting around

  • Deoria Tal, Rohini Bugyal and the village are reached on foot from Sari; there is no fare.
  • There is no direct public transport to Chopta, so a hired taxi is needed for Chopta and Ukhimath.
  • A pack-carrying service on organised treks costs about 1,600 rupees per bag for the whole trek.

On the way

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.

1

Devprayag

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.

Distance
About 70 km from Rishikesh, 120 km before Sari and Deoria Tal

Map

2

Dhari Devi Temple

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.

Distance
About 110 km from Rishikesh, 80 km before Sari and Deoria Tal

Map

3

Rudraprayag

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.

Distance
About 140 km from Rishikesh, 55 km before Sari and Deoria Tal

Map

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Guided trips and packages

Private operators run group treks and short camping trips that reach Sari village and Deoria Tal, usually combined with Chopta, Tungnath and Chandrashila. Most start from Rishikesh and a few from Delhi, and they run for most of the year except the July and August monsoon. Prices found ranged from about Rs 4,500 to Rs 15,000 per person for 3 to 6 days. No government-run tour to Deoria Tal was found.

OperatorTripFromLengthPrice fromIncludes
eUttaranchal
Private operator		Fixed-departure group camping and trekking trip (Chopta, Tungnath, Chandrashila, Deoria Tal)Rishikesh3 days / 2 nights₹6,500 per person
Rishikesh to Rishikesh, per person for Indian nationals, quad-sharing camps, as listed on 2026-10-04		Transport from Rishikesh with fixed pickup points, 2 nights camping, 2 dinners and 2 breakfasts, guide and trek leader. Departs every Saturday morning. Day 3 drives to Sari and walks to Deoria Tal.
Red Chilli Adventure
Private operator		Guided trek with transport (Deoria Tal, Chopta, Chandrashila)Rishikesh3 days / 2 nights₹15,000 per person
Rishikesh to Rishikesh, per person, twin-sharing tents, as listed on 2026-10-04		Road transport by car from Rishikesh and back, twin-sharing tent stay, meals from day 1 lunch to day 3 lunch, permits and entry fees, English-speaking guide. Deoria Tal is walked from Sari on day 3.
The Trip Times
Private operator		Package trip with transport (Chopta, Tungnath, Chandrashila, Deoria Tal)Delhi4 days / 3 nights₹4,500 per person
From Delhi, per person, twin sharing, as listed on 2026-10-04		Private or shared tempo traveller from Delhi, 2 nights camping at Chopta, 2 breakfasts and 2 dinners, treks to Tungnath, Chandrashila and Deoria Tal. Deoria Tal is walked from Sari on day 3.
Indiahikes
Private operator		Group trek based at Sari, with shared transport arranged at extra costRishikesh6 days / 5 nights₹11,650 per person
Trek fee Sari to Sari, per person, as listed on 2026-10-04. Shared transport from Rishikesh is not in the fee: Rs 1,250 to Sari and Rs 1,400 back, plus 5% GST.		Dormitory stay at the operator's campus in Sari, two-person tents on the trek, all meals from day 1 dinner to day 5 dinner, trek leader and guides, sleeping bags and safety gear. Pickup from Rishikesh at 7:00 AM. Runs all year except July and August.

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.

Where to stay

Budget levelTypePrice per night
BudgetVillage homestay or simple guesthouse in Sari₹800 to ₹1,500
Mid-rangeSmall hotel or tented camp in Sari₹1,500 to ₹3,000
LuxurySwiss tent camp with meals; There are no true luxury hotels₹3,000 to ₹6,000

Food

Most visitors eat at their homestay or camp in Sari. Near the lake there are only tea and snack shops, and they shut at sundown. Groceries and supplies come from Ukhimath.

Try these

  • Tea and snacks (sold at small shops near the lake until sundown)
  • Home-cooked meals at homestays

Vegetarian food is easy to find.

Daily costs

Budget levelStay per roomFood per personLocal transport
Budget₹1,000₹400₹0 per person
Mid-range₹2,200₹800₹1,500 per vehicle
Luxury₹4,500₹1,500₹2,500 per vehicle

Per day. Travel to and from your city is added in the planner above.

Permits and documents

A forest checkpoint fee is charged on the trail: about 150 rupees per adult, 75 for seniors and students over 18, and 38 for ages 5 to 18. Carry photo ID.

Safety

By day
The trail from Sari to the lake is a well-used uphill forest path suited to fit beginners. Carry water and a rain layer.
At night
Shops near the lake close at sundown and the forest trail is unlit, so be back in Sari before dark unless you have a confirmed place to sleep.
Solo women
Staying in a family homestay and walking with a guide or group is the sensible choice.
Roads
The mountain road from Rishikesh via Rudraprayag and Ukhimath takes 7 to 8 hours. Avoid it in July and August because of landslide risk.
Emergency numbers
112 (all emergencies)

Practical

Mobile network
Reports differ: one trek operator says 4G works along the route, another says signal is poor beyond Sari. Do not rely on it.
ATMs and cash
No ATM in Sari. The last one is in Ukhimath and is often out of service, so withdraw cash in Rudraprayag or earlier.
Fuel
Fill up in Rudraprayag or earlier.
Medical
Basic medical help is in Ukhimath. The nearest government hospital is in Rudraprayag, with major care in Dehradun.

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Accessibility

Seniors
Sari village is reachable by road, but the lake needs a steady uphill walk of about 2.5 hours. Organised treks ask people over 58 for a fitness test.
Children
The short walk to the lake suits active children. The forest fee has a reduced rate for ages 5 to 18.
Wheelchair users
Not suitable.

Unless a sight is described as accessible, assume it is not step-free.

Culture and responsible travel

  • Sari is a working farming village; ask before photographing people, homes or fields.
  • The lake and forest lie in a protected forest area with a checkpoint, so carry all litter back down.
  • Tungnath and Omkareshwar are active temples; dress modestly and follow the priests' instructions.
  • Electricity is limited in the Chopta area, so carry a power bank and use power sparingly.

What to pack

  • Photo ID (Aadhaar, passport or driving licence); hotels and permits ask for it
  • Proper winter wear: a heavy jacket, thermals, gloves and a cap
  • Walking shoes with a good grip, a small daypack and a refillable water bottle
  • Enough cash for the whole stay, a power bank and offline maps
  • Your regular medicines, plus basics for stomach upsets, headaches and cuts

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