Picturesque Chopta, the Mini Switzerland of Uttarakhand

The pristine, picturesque Chopta will enchant and captivate you as it does millions of tourists. Located at a height of 2,680 meters, Chopta is blanketed by forests of pine & deodar, and is guarded by tall mountain peaks such as the majestic Chandrashila. Despite being magical, it’s largely unexplored, offering you the opportunity to discover this hidden gem’s raw beauty. Its thick cover of deodars & rhododendrons and snow-covered peaks will transport you to a new world in no time. Chopta is virginal in its beauty and innocence, which will go straight to your heart!

Why Visit Chopta?

The picturesque hamlet of Chopta has remained fairly unexplored by travellers, however, this ‘mini Switzerland of Uttarakhand’, is grabbing a lot of attention in recent times. This place has caught the eye of adventure travellers and trekkers as well as people looking for some peace, quiet, and time away from the maddening city crowd.

Surrounded by the snow-laden ranges of the Himalayas, this lush green valley offers invigorating views of the surroundings. The entire place is enveloped in a peaceful sense of serenity, which is accentuated by its unparalleled natural beauty. Chopta also serves as a haven for trekkers, who use this place as a base for trekking further to places like Chandrashila peak and the highest Lord Shiva temple, Tungnath.

Places to See in Chopta

This serene hill station offers a plethora of attractions! It doesn’t matter whether you’re a nature lover, a spiritual seeker, or a trekking enthusiast; it has something for everyone. While you’re on your trip here, visit the following for an enriched trip:

Tungnath

Just about 4 kilometres away is where you will find the holy temple of Lord Shiva, one of the five Kedars. You have to trek from Chopta to Tungnath over rough, steep, rocky terrain, though. However, the rewarding trek is so worthwhile.

Chandrashila

It is about 1 kilometre up and above the Tungnath temple and is situated at a height of 4,000 metres. Reach the highest point of the mountain on which Chopta is located, and savour some astonishingly spectacular views.

Deoria Tal

It is a lake in the vicinity of Chopta, located at a height of about 2,350 meters. You can go boating, watch birds, or take in the surrounding breathtaking scenery.

Kedarnath Wildlife Sanctuary

From Chopta, you can take a trip to this beautiful land of flora and fauna. Bounded in pines & oaks and populated with a variety of fauna, the place is home to a wide variety of bird species. Visit Kedarnath Wildlife Sanctuary, and see the animals that roam the Himalayas!

Atri Muni Fall

It attracts tourists with its allure of majestic waterfalls. The trek to here is scenic, going through dense forests and meadows, providing 360-degree views of the Himalayas throughout.

Activities to Do

Chopta keeps you on your toes with all the fun & adventurous activities. Really, there’s a lot you can do here, such as:

Trekking: The trekking expedition for Chandrashila and Tungnath kickstarts from Chopta and is an easy grade of trekking. The trek is famous for its mesmerizing sites, forests of conifers and oak, and breathtaking beauty which is experienced throughout the trekking journey.

Excursions: Enjoy excursions to Madhmaheshwar, Gaurikund, Gopeshwar and Kalimath.

Photography: Chopta is famous for its invigorating views and sites which you cannot easily forget. The Himalayan beauty is worth capturing which makes it a prime centre of photography. The 360 panoramic views of the mountains gives every photography enthusiast an opportunity to capture some one of a kind and unique beauty which this place has to offer.

Camping: Being located at a height, the landscape of Chopta is the best place to spend some time among the beauty of nature. If you want to have some quality time with your friends, family and loved ones then going on a camping expedition to Chopta and sleeping underneath the stars will definitely be a unique experience.

Try Adventure: You can go mountain climbing, rock climbing, rappelling, and snow skiing in winter here.

Bird Watching: The forest of Chopta consists of a thick covering of oak and conifer trees. Apart from being the ideal spot to enjoy some peaceful time away from the hustle and bustle of the city life this place is also home to a range of colourful birds making it an incredible oasis for bird watchers and nature lovers alike. February to April is considered to be the best time to go on bird watching.

Yoga and Meditation: On your visit to Chopta it is the perfect opportunity for you to let your hair down and relax by performing some meditation activities or doing some yoga. The clean air works great in purifying your heart and refreshing your mind. Since the yoga capital of the world, Rishikesh gets crowded during the peak seasons then you can choose to go on a yoga and meditation retreat to Chopta.

Excursion Places from Chopta

Set out from Chopta and explore the nearby places. You won’t be disappointed, to say the least!

Deoria Tal

This high-altitude lake is situated at an elevation of 2,438 metres above sea level. The path leading up to Deoria Tal from Chopta is quite easy. The entire trekking route to this place is 2 km, with the starting point being Sari Village, situated on the Guptkashi–Gopeshwar road. From here, you can savour some beautiful views of the Chaukhamba peak or just relax by the crystal clear water of the lake.

Kanchula Korak Musk Deer Sanctuary

Situated on the Chopta–Gopeshwar road at a distance of 7 km, this place is famous for its breeding of musk deer. This unique sanctuary spans over an area of 5 sq. m. and is the perfect place for every visitor looking to have a unique kind of experience. This is also a great place to witness some rare wildlife of the Himalayan region.

Gaurikund

Gaurikund is situated at a distance of 50 km from Chopta, this place holds immense religious significance for every devout Hindu. This is due to the fact that it is believed that it was here that Lord Shiva agreed to marry Goddess Parvati.

Gopeshwar

Known all over the town for being the administrative headquarters of district Chamoli, the hamlet of Gopeshwar is one of the most loved tourist site for spiritual as well as travel purposes. This place has numerous tourist attractions like – Vaitarni Kund and the ancient temple of Lord Shiva.

How to Reach

You can reach Chopta in the following ways:

By Air: Dehradun is the nearest airport, about 220 kilometres away. From there, you can take buses or travel by taxi for the rest of the way.

By Road: Chopta lies on the road connecting Gopeshwar with Guptkashi, and you can easily get buses to this charming hill station from major towns in Uttarakhand.

By Rail: Rishikesh is the nearest railway station, about 202 kilometres away. From here, you can take taxis or travel by bus to Chopta.

How to Get to Char Dhams from Chopta

Your first and foremost goal should be to reach Haridwar, the gateway to the Char Dhams. By road, reaching Haridwar from Chopta would take about 8 hours to cover this journey of approximately 220 km.

Here’s the route map:
Chopta → Ukhimath → Rudraprayag →Srinagar → Devprayag → Haridwar

Once you’re in Haridwar, accessing the sacred Dhams is relatively easy.

Yamunotri

Firstly, set out for Yamunotri.
Haridwar → Barkot → Janki Chatti
From Janki Chatti, trek to the shrine, which is about 6 km away. Pony/Palki ride is also available.

Gangotri

Enjoy a scenic drive from Barkot to Gangotri!
Janki Chatti → Barkot → Uttarkashi → Gangotri

Kedarnath

From Gangotri, go to Gaurikund first by taxi/cab. After that, there lies a 16 km trek ahead. Either go on foot or hire a Palki ride.
Gangotri → Uttarkashi → Guptkashi → Gaurikund

Badrinath

Last but not least, Badrinath can be reached via Joshimath.
Gaurikund → Guptkashi → Joshimath → Badrinath

Best Time to Visit

The months of summer, which last from April to May, offer pleasant weather where the temperature ranges from 10 to 30 degrees Celsius. Therefore, this period is considered to be one of the best times to visit Chopta.

If you want to experience the cool Himalayan winter, then going on a trekking expedition to Chopta during the months of November, December, January, and February is ideal. This is also a great time to experience snowfall in this beautiful hamlet.

However, remember not to venture out on these hills during the monsoon months, which last from July to September. The entire region remains susceptible to landslides and avalanches during the rainy season, and therefore, is risky.

Food Availability

Being located in a small hamlet and situated at quite a height, this place does not have a plethora of dining options available. Talking about restaurants, there are roadside Dhabas and food stalls available which serve some popular local as well as other North Indian dishes. Here are some well-known dining places in Chopta that you can turn to:

• Mayadeep Herbal Resort
• Magpie Camp Chopta
• Shri Mangalam Dhaba
• Shivoham Restaurant

Accommodation

In terms of staying options, there are a myriad of options. Whether it’s the cozy setting of a homestay that you want, or the full-blown opulence of a resort, or you’re down for some adventurous camping experience, you can find it all in Chopta!

Here are some popular options:

• Himrab Chopta Homestay
• Snow N Shades Resort and Café
• The Himalayan View Resort
• Chopta Resort
• Chopta Meadows Heritage Camps
• Nature Nest Camps

Whether it’s the scented forests, the charm of being an untouched hill station, or simply being a faraway mountainous location, nestled in the Himalayas – whatever your reason is, you’re sure to fall in love with the beauty of Chopta!