Chopta is the meadow everyone means when they say “mini Switzerland of Uttarakhand” – a grassy saddle at 2,680 m ringed by deodar and oak, with the Tungnath temple (3,680 m, the world’s highest Shiva shrine) and the Chandrashila summit (~3,700 m) a climb above. It is a base, not a town: huts, camps and dhabas, and one of the state’s great short treks.
Quick facts
| Altitude | 2,680 m (Tungnath 3,680 m; Chandrashila ~3,700 m) |
| From Delhi | ~450 km (11–12 hrs) |
| Best months | March–June; December–February for snow |
| Ideal stay | 2–3 days |
| Known for | Tungnath–Chandrashila trek, meadows, snow |
What to do
- Trek to Tungnath and Chandrashila – 3.5 km of paved switchbacks to the temple, another kilometre to the summit; sunrise from the top is the point (trek guide).
- Meadow walks – the ridge towards Dugalbitta and the forest edges.
- Snow season – December–February turns Chopta into a snow-trek base (winter treks).
- Day trips – Deoriatal (Sari village) and the Ukhimath temple circuit.
How to reach
Rishikesh → Rudraprayag → Ukhimath → Chopta (~200 km from Rishikesh); the last 30 km climb from Ukhimath. No railhead nearby; Haridwar/Rishikesh are the gateways.
Best time and practicalities
March–June for green meadows; December–February for snow. Accommodation is basic – book huts/camps ahead for snow weekends. Altitude is real: sleep at Ukhimath first if you can. See the snow guide and hill-stations overview.
