Have you ever imagined how it feels standing atop a mountain after an hours-long trek? The breath of relief after a long day in an office and being constantly surrounded by air conditioning? Imagine the calmness and satisfaction that would run through your body when you reach the summit. This is the feeling that a trek to Chandrashila would give you. So, pack your bags, and let’s dive into the details of this famous trek.
The Chandrashila trek is the same as the Chopta Tunganath trek.
Once you reach Tunganath there is an additional 1.5 KM trek to Chandrashila. You can read all about how to get to Chopta for this trek to Tunganath here.
About the Chandrashila Trek
“When life gives you mountains, put on your boots and hike.”
Chandrashila is also known as Trekker’s Heaven.
Chandrashila means “MOONROCK” in Sanskrit. Chandrashila comes from popular mythology that says Lord Chandra worshiped Lord Shiva on this mountain’s summit.
At 3,690 meters above sea level, Chandrashila is a popular tourist destination.
The trek is beginner-friendly and took around a 5-hour journey.
Chandrashila attracts many travelers during the summer months of April to June, despite its reputation as a winter or snow trip. The first 4 hours of the walk were made much easier by the concrete and railed trail.
Tunganath is a place we arrived at after 4 hours. Here, we got to witness the highest Shiva temple in the world. Following this point, you will have to embark on a one-hour trip that will require you to travel over a narrower, non-cemented trail.
Upon reaching the summit, The Himalayas, including Nandadevi, Trisul, Kedar Peak, Bandarpunch, and Chaukhamba peaks, become clearly visible from this vantage point.
This place also has several legends associated with it.
How to reach Chandrashila
Chopta is the trek’s starting point. The national capital, Delhi, is 420 kilometers away from Chopta. There are many forms of transportation available; besides, you will be compelled to take a cab or bus at the end of all options. There are many choices for getting to the trek’s beginning site after arriving in Chopta.
Personal Transportation
Driving your own car or vehicle to Chopta is the best way to get there from your home.
The roads between Haridwar and Rishikesh are well-maintained, ensuring safe travel.
A personal automobile also saves us time and effort by eliminating the need to change trains and buses and quickly transports us to Chopta. I stay in Jaipur so I prefer to drive all the way to Chopta. Check out these options of commute to Rishikesh.
Train Transportation
The nearest railway station to Chopta is Kotdwara, approximately 188 kilometers away. From hereon, you can take a bus or hire a taxi to Chopta. Check out the trains available here.
Transportation by Bus to Chandrashila
Chopta has a lot of buses running to and fro from Rishikesh and Haridwar to Chopta. Rishikesh’s bus station had the most buses departing for Chopta.
Yet, there is a scarcity of late-night buses (post 9 PM). Before making any reservations, check the Uttarakhand bus timetable online.
Flight to Chopta
Well, there are no flights directly to Chopta or Ukhimath. The nearest airport to Chopta is Dehradun Airport, 200 kilometers away. From the airport, take a taxi or bus to Chopta.
Stay Options for Chandrashila
At the Chandrashila summit, there were no available shelters.
The locals at Chopta informed about the same as well. Upon enquiring the officials, it was brought to light that overnight camping was also not permitted at the site.
Some covers are provided at the Tungnath temple, about an hour’s trekking distance from Chandrashila. Still, the quantity was really restricted, and no pre-booking is possible. However, there was an option to camp at Tungnath.
Most travelers prefer to descend to Chopta and spend the night there because there are several lodgings and house stays but this was really overwhelming for us to climb and descend 5 hours the same day.
But again when staying at Chopta make sure that you make the prior reservation as during the peak time it is tough to find accommodation. Check out my experience at Chopta’s stay.
Climatic Conditions at Chandrashila
Chandrashila was decorated with excellent air and subtle temperatures due to its elevation of 4000 meters. The average temperature is around 25 degrees in the month of May. Better than the scorching heat of Jaipur.
From October through January, the entire mountain range was said to be blanketed in snow. The trek’s beauty was enhanced by the hues of white fog sparsely accented with black-colored deodar and pine trees.
Places to see nearby
A visit to Chandrashila includes not only the walk but also magnificent sites and a diverse range of waterfalls. The following are some of my favorite tourist attractions:
Chopta
Yes, Chopta. That’s correct. The base camp is a popular tourist destination in and of itself. Chopta has a stunning panoramic beauty and many waterfalls within a 10-minute drive.
Deoria Tal
Deoria Tal has to be it if there has to be only one heavenly put-up camping place. Deoria Tal-, looked exactly like something out of a Hollywood film. since there were a lot of people camping around the area, the place seemed to be a popular camping site.
Sari Gaon
Sari Village, at an elevation of 2000 meters, seemed like a picturesque hamlet, around 20 kilometers from Chopta hill station. The settlement was surrounded by oak and rhododendron trees and sat peacefully in the Himalayan foothills.
Sari hamlet, also known as Saari Gaon, was also the starting point for a 2.5-kilometer hike to Deoria Tal, a stunningly gorgeous lake where we went camping.
Tourists were usually told to stay in Sari when all the hotels in Chopta are closed due to snowfall or fully occupied. In Sari, there are a few lodges and homestays to choose from.
Kalindi Pass
Kalindi pass, also known as Kalindi Khal, connects Gangotri and Ghastoli at a high altitude. It is also one of the most famous trekking passes in the Garhwal Himalaya, at 5,942 meters (19,495 feet).
The key is heavily glaciated, making it challenging yet breathtakingly gorgeous. Since it required a separate day altogether to visit and explore the pass, the area seemed suitable for longer vacations only.
Kartik Swami temple
The Kartik Swami temple was covered by the cottony clouds that lazily drift above the temple. Located amid the wonderlands of the Garhwal Himalayas, the sacred temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva’s oldest son, Kartikeya. It was situated at the end of a small ridge surrounded by a deep valley.
Bisurital
Bisurital is a high-altitude lake in the Mandakini valley, perched 4000 meters above sea level. It is one of Uttarakhand’s best-kept trekking secrets.
Sagar Village
The Himalayan village of Sagar was one of the most beautiful places we had come across. It is surrounded by dense alpine woods and dwarf Rhododendrons. It is a village that serves as a gateway to some of Uttarakhand’s most critical holy temples and Hindu culture.
Enjoy exploring the unexplored parts of India and keep celebrating life, one destination at a time. Traveling opens up horizons with respect to life and culture. Make the most of it.
If you have any questions related to Chandrshila please leave them in the comment section below.
