Why Chandrashila and Tungnath Temple Hike?
Vistas, Bugyals (velvety alpine pastures in Himalayan region), lower Himalayan peaks, meadows and misty clouds – it is an absolute peach of a hike!
The entire hike had many surreal points like above
The revered Tungnath temple is the highest Shiva (Hindu lord) temple in the world. If you continue on the hike, you reach Chandrashila peak which towers above 13,000 ft. It is known that Hindu Lord Rama meditated at the peak after defeating the daemon Ravana.
Entire Chopta region allures hikers of all over India due to its exquisite trails and pristine natural beauty
Road Trip From Dehradun to Chopta (base for Tungnath hike)
250 Km, 7 hours
The entire roadway meanders around different rivers, including the holy Ganga – the longest river in India.
#FunFact – The confluence of rivers Bhagirathi and Alaknanda, forms the revered 1500-mile Ganga river, the holy Indian river.
You can spot the distinct shades of Bhagirathi (left) and Alaknanda (right) rivers at Devprayag
Stay at Chopta
We stayed at this cottage at Chopta from PeaceTrips and had a pleasant experience.
The entire Chopta region looks ethereal.
This was taken early morning!
Tungnath Temple & Chandrashila Peak Hike
5.2 miles out-and-back hike.
5-6 hours with a few short breaks.
2500 ft. elevation gain
Moderate to Difficult
The hike is notoriously famous for serving all 4 weathers in a single day so you gotta be appropriately dressed.
We started around 10 AM.
The inconspicuous entry gate
The elevation is steep but the trail is paved and has plenty of resting areas.
There is local flora on offer too.
The weather kept flipping throughout the hike.
Going from misty..
to clear as glass with clouds at a distance (notice the Bugyal)..
and back to dreary..
We reached the Tungnath temple in a couple of hours.
After taking blessings from Lord Shiva at Tungnath temple, we headed to the pinnacle – Chandrashila.
The Chandrashila hike has some narrow, eery curves at the beginning.
After the initial narrow path, the hike was pretty much open.
Towards the end of the hike, we saw some Bugyals at a distance.
Reached the summit, finally!
A small Lord Ram temple greets you at the peak
Not everyday you hike high enough to see the clouds underneath.
We saw the near-by peaks when the clouds cleared up a little.
We found a surprise company as we sat down among the numerous cairns.
After soaking in the tranquility, we started our descent.
It was around 4 PM when we came back to base. A sumptuous dinner cooked on the bonfire to cap off a truly memorable day.
That’s it! Hope it motivates you to visit the Chopta region next time you touch India.
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