Things to do in Chopta
Things to do in Chopta
Chopta, often called the "Mini Switzerland of Uttarakhand," is a serene meadow destination in the Rudraprayag district at an altitude of 2,700 meters and one of the best-kept secrets of the Garhwal Himalayas. It serves as the base camp for the highly revered trek to Tungnath — the world's highest Shiva temple — and further up to the Chandrashila Peak, which offers jaw-dropping panoramic views of peaks like Kedarnath, Chaukhamba, Trishul, and Nanda Devi. Chopta's dense rhododendron forests and undisturbed natural beauty make it a paradise for birdwatchers, trekkers, and nature photographers.
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5–6 hours (round trip from Chopta)
Tungnath – Chandrashila Trek
The Tungnath–Chandrashila trek is arguably the most rewarding short trek in Uttarakhand and one of the most beautiful in the entire Indian Himalayas. Tungnath at 3,680 metres is the highest Shiva temple in the world and the highest of the Panch Kedar shrines. The 1.5-km additional climb from Tungnath to Chandrashila summit (4,130 m) rewards with a 360-degree panorama of Kedar-Dome, Chaukhamba, Nanda Devi, Bandarpunch, and Kedarnath — one of the finest Himalayan vistas accessible on a day trek.
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3–4 hours (round trip from Sari)
Deoriatal Lake Trek
Deoriatal is a high-altitude lake at 2,438 metres that reflects the entire Chaukhamba massif in its glassy surface at dawn — creating one of the most famous mirror-reflection photographs in the Indian Himalayas. The 3-km hike from Sari village to the lake through rhododendron forest is accessible to almost all fitness levels and the sunrise reflection of the Garhwal peaks in the lake is a genuinely spine-tingling natural spectacle.
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Half to full day
Birdwatching in Kedarnath Wildlife Sanctuary
Chopta lies within the Kedarnath Wildlife Sanctuary — the largest wildlife sanctuary in Uttarakhand and one of the finest birding habitats in the western Himalayas. The rhododendron, buransh, and oak forests around Chopta are home to the Himalayan Monal (Uttarakhand's state bird), Koklass Pheasant, Cheer Pheasant, and Khalij Pheasant along with dozens of woodpecker, warbler, and thrush species. It is one of the premier birdwatching destinations in India.
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5–6 hours (round trip)
Rohini Bugyal Trek
Rohini Bugyal is a vast, serene alpine meadow above the treeline near Chopta that remains largely off the radar of mainstream Uttarakhand tourism. The 5-km trail from Chopta passes through dense forests of rhododendron and then bursts out into open rolling grassland with unhindered views of the Kedar Dome, Kedarnath, and Badrinath ranges. In spring the meadow is carpeted with Himalayan wildflowers in every colour — one of the most secret beautiful places in Garhwal.
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1–2 nights
Snow Camping and Stargazing
Chopta in winter (December to February) transforms into a deep-snow wonderland that is almost completely free of tourists — making it one of the best places in Uttarakhand for snow camping and world-class stargazing. The complete absence of light pollution at 2,680 metres, combined with Himalayan dry-season skies, produces Milky Way views that are among the clearest and most dramatic visible from any hill station in India. Waking up inside a snow-covered tent to a mountain sunrise is a pure, transformative experience.