Chopta, Tungnath & Deoria Tal
Meadows, rhododendron forests and a 4,000-metre sunrise that makes every Monday meeting look very small.
Highest Shiva temple. Lowest screen time.
Chopta is where Uttarakhand keeps its meadows. From here, a stone trail climbs to Tungnath — the highest Shiva temple in the world — and then to Chandrashila, where Nanda Devi, Trishul and Chaukhamba line up like they’ve been waiting for you. They have. For a few million years. Another decade was nothing.
- You’ve saved 40+ mountain reels and taken zero mountain trips
- You want a real summit without a real expedition
- Maggi at altitude is a core memory you’d like to update
A sneak peek
Day by day
Every day has built-in rest. Timings bend for weather and moods; sunsets don’t.
- Day 01
Rishikesh: river, aarti, early night
Meet the group in Rishikesh and check in by the river. Evening Ganga Aarti, a welcome dinner and a briefing where your trip lead explains the plan (and the packing list you ignored).
- Day 02
The long, pretty drive up
Up along the Alaknanda via Devprayag, where two rivers meet and become the Ganga, then Rudraprayag and on to Sari village. About 7–8 hours with dhaba stops, music and window-seat negotiations.
- Day 03
Deoria Tal: a lake that holds the Himalaya
A steady 2.5 km climb to Deoria Tal. On a clear morning, the Chaukhamba peaks sit upside-down in the water. Picnic, slow descent, then an hour’s drive to Chopta for a bonfire evening.
- Day 04
Tungnath & Chandrashila
A pre-dawn start (yes, again). A stone path of about 3.5 km to Tungnath temple, then another 1.5 km to Chandrashila for a 360° sweep of snow peaks. Hot Maggi on the way down is tradition, not a suggestion.
- Day 05
Birds, forests, downhill
An easy morning walk through oak and rhododendron forest — look out for the Himalayan monal, Uttarakhand’s state bird. Drive back down to Rishikesh for a farewell dinner and a very deep sleep.
- Day 06
Departure
Breakfast and drop to Rishikesh or Haridwar station, or Dehradun airport.
Your Field Guide, previewed.
A taste of what’s printed in your pocket Field Guide. The full edition comes with route maps, local phrases and your trip lead’s number.
Getting there
Fly into Dehradun (Jolly Grant), about 45 minutes from Rishikesh, or take a train to Haridwar or Rishikesh. Overnight buses run from Delhi.
When to go
April–June has pleasant days and rhododendrons in spring. September–November has the clearest views. Winter brings snow and the temple closes for the season. We don’t run in the monsoon.
Pack this
- Trekking shoes with real grip (not gym sneakers)
- Layers: thermals, fleece, windproof jacket
- Beanie, gloves and a rain poncho
- Sunscreen and sunglasses
- A walking pole (we can lend one)
Eat this
- Mandua (finger-millet) roti
- Aloo ke gutke
- Jhangora kheer
- Buransh (rhododendron) juice
- Maggi at Tungnath. Obviously.
Know this
- Phone signal fades after Ukhimath — tell the family in advance
- ATMs are rare beyond Rudraprayag; carry cash
- Chopta sits in a wildlife sanctuary — carry back every wrapper
- Altitude: walk slow, drink water, tell your trip lead if your head hurts
Included
- 5 nights in riverside stays, homestays and cottages
- All meals in the mountains
- Private tempo traveller from Rishikesh and back
- Local trek guides + your Pravaa trip lead
- Forest permits and entry fees
- Your printed Pravaa Field Guide
Not included
- Travel to and from Rishikesh
- Porters or ponies (bookable on request)
- Personal gear and snacks
- Anything not listed as included
Your trip lead
A Pravaa trip lead travels with the group from pick-up to drop: local, unflappable, and suspiciously good at finding the best chai on the route.
Want this one? Send us a postcard.
Tell us roughly when, and who’s coming. We’ll call back with dates, rooms and an honest answer to “will I manage the trek?”
