Tungnath sits at 3,680 m and is reached by a paved three-kilometre path from Chopta — which makes it the most accessible high Himalayan temple in India. Another kilometre up is Chandrashila, where Nanda Devi, Trisul and Chaukhamba all line up on a clear morning. Chopta itself is a handful of tea shops and tented camps in a meadow. It is the Himalaya for people with two days.
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When to go
April to June and September to November. The temple closes for winter around November and the deity moves down to Mukku; the path is snowbound December to March, which is beautiful and needs proper gear.
Chopta right now and the next 7 days
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Chopta, planned for you
A satellite map for every day with each stop pinned in order, photos of the places, timings, what each part costs, where to sleep and eat, and a checklist. One PDF that works offline: print it, or send it to everyone going.
- Day 1 Arrive in Chopta · Tungnath temple
- TravelBus + shared jeep: Rishikesh → Ukhimath → Chopta₹800
- 11:00Tungnath templeFree
- Day 2 Chandrashila summit at sunrise
- Day 3 Deoria Tal
- Day 4 Kartik Swami temple
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Chopta on the map
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The area
Getting there
Places to see
Day trips
Chopta & Tungnath · Open in Google Maps ↗
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Step 3 of 11Next: Cost↓What your trip costs
Change anything and the numbers update. Every price is what the bus, room or ticket itself costs. We take no commission and sell no packages, so this is what you pay booking each piece yourself.
Ballpark ranges, not live quotes. Prices last updated 6 October 2026. Prices move with season and demand, so check live fares before you book. Spot a wrong price? Tell us and we fix it.
On the ground: stay, food, local travel and tickets. Pick a route above to add the journey.
Chopta & Tungnath in 4 days: a day-by-day plan
Our suggested plan, in a sensible order with times. Move things between days, remove them or add more. It saves on this device, and you can share it.
- 11:00Tungnath temple3 h · free · 3.5 km paved path to the world's highest Shiva temple at 3,680 m. Free.
- 14:30Lunch break
- 05:45Chandrashila summit at sunrise4 h · free · One kilometre above Tungnath. Start at 4 am from Chopta for the light on Chaukhamba.
- 10:45Ukhimath Omkareshwar temple1 h 30 m · free · Where the Kedarnath deity spends the winter.
- 13:00Lunch break
- 08:00Deoria TalHalf day · ₹150 each · A lake that reflects the range, 2.5 km up from Sari village. Camping permitted with a permit.
- 12:30Lunch break
- 13:30Chopta meadow bird walk2 h · free · Monal and koklass pheasant in the rhododendron. Early morning.
- 08:00Kartik Swami temple5 h · free · A ridge temple on a knife edge, 3 km from Kanakchauri. Almost nobody goes.
- 13:30Lunch break
How to get to Chopta
One-way prices per person. The cheapest sensible option is marked. Each button opens live times and fares for the date you picked above.
Bus + shared jeep Cheapest
₹800Change at Srinagar or Rudraprayag. Start early; jeeps stop running by mid-afternoon.
Shared jeep, last leg Last leg
₹200Fills in the morning at the Ukhimath stand.
Getting around once you're there
On foot
FreeChopta to Tungnath is 3.5 km on a paved path; Chandrashila is 1 km more on rock.
Shared jeep
₹200Between Ukhimath, Chopta and Gopeshwar.
Pony to Tungnath
₹1,200Available at Chopta for anyone who cannot walk it.
Private taxi
₹3,500For Deoria Tal and the Ukhimath temples in one day.
Where to stay in Chopta
Price per night for the room. The buttons open live availability for your dates.
Tented camp
₹1,500/nightHalf a dozen operators. Cold at night in every month — check the bedding.
Homestay
₹800/nightWarmer, cheaper and the base for Deoria Tal.
Guesthouse
₹1,200/nightA few permanent rooms. Book by phone; online listings are unreliable.
GMVN rest house
₹1,400/nightDependable and plain, an hour from the trailhead.
What to eat, and what it costs
Dal, rice and roti at a Chopta dhaba
₹80There are about four of them and they are all the same and all fine.
Maggi and chai at the top
₹60There is a tea shop most of the way up Tungnath. In the cold it is worth ten times that.
Garhwali thali with mandua roti
₹120Finger millet roti and bhatt ki churkani. Ask at a homestay, not a dhaba.
Camp dinner and breakfast
IncludedTented camps include both. Confirm when you book.
Places to visit and things to do in Chopta
Tap “Add to my plan” and it goes into your day-by-day plan above.
Tungnath temple
Free3.5 km paved path to the world's highest Shiva temple at 3,680 m. Free.
Chandrashila summit at sunrise
FreeOne kilometre above Tungnath. Start at 4 am from Chopta for the light on Chaukhamba.
Deoria Tal
₹150A lake that reflects the range, 2.5 km up from Sari village. Camping permitted with a permit.
Kartik Swami temple
FreeA ridge temple on a knife edge, 3 km from Kanakchauri. Almost nobody goes.
Ukhimath Omkareshwar temple
FreeWhere the Kedarnath deity spends the winter.
Chopta meadow bird walk
FreeMonal and koklass pheasant in the rhododendron. Early morning.
Day trips and next stops
Kedarnath
₹1,200Jeep to Gaurikund, then the climb
Badrinath & Mana village
₹400Bus via Gopeshwar and Joshimath
Rishikesh
₹600Bus via Rudraprayag
Auli
₹500Bus to Joshimath, then cable car
Know before you go
Mistakes to avoid
- Chopta is at 2,700 m and Chandrashila at 4,000 m. It is cold at night in every month including June.
- Tungnath temple closes for winter and the path ices over. Micro-spikes December to March.
- Uttarakhand's Char Dham registration rules can apply to this route in season — check before travelling.
Ways to spend less
- Tungnath is free, paved and 3.5 km. It is the cheapest way to stand at 3,680 m in the Himalaya.
- Stay at Sari village instead of Chopta: warmer, half the price, and Deoria Tal starts at the door.
- Start Chandrashila at 4 am. Everyone else arrives at nine, when the cloud has come up.
Say it in Hindi
A few words go a long way, especially when you ask a price.
The pronunciation is a simple guide, not a native recording. Spot a mistake? Tell us.
Before-you-go checklist
Chopta in pictures
Tap a photo to see it full size.
Step 11 of 11Next: FAQ↓Questions people ask
When is the best time to visit Chopta & Tungnath?
On our month-by-month scores, the best months are Apr–May, Oct–Nov. April to June and September to November. The temple closes for winter around November and the deity moves down to Mukku; the path is snowbound December to March, which is beautiful and needs proper gear.
How do I reach Chopta & Tungnath?
Bus + shared jeep: Rishikesh → Ukhimath → Chopta, 9 h, about ₹800 one way. Train + road: → Haridwar/Rishikesh, then 9 h road, varies + 9 h, about ₹1,200 one way. Flight + road: → Dehradun (DED), then 9 h, 1 h + 9 h, about ₹11,000 one way.
How much does a 4-day trip to Chopta & Tungnath cost?
On the ground (stay, food, local travel and tickets), one person spends about ₹4,000 on a shoestring, ₹6,800 mid-range or ₹12,800 in comfort over 4 days. Add the journey: the cheapest sensible option is bus + shared jeep (Rishikesh → Ukhimath → Chopta) at about ₹800 each way.
How many days do you need in Chopta & Tungnath?
4 days is right for most people. That covers Tungnath temple, Chandrashila summit at sunrise, Ukhimath Omkareshwar temple, Deoria Tal without rushing.
Is Chopta & Tungnath good for families or solo travellers?
Out of 5 on our scores: solo 5, couples 5, families 4, groups 5. It works well for families. It is easy to do on your own.
Is vegetarian food easy to find in Chopta & Tungnath?
Entirely vegetarian by default — this is a temple region and meat is not served at Chopta or Tungnath at all. Garhwali cooking is millet, pulses and local greens.
Will my phone and cards work in Chopta & Tungnath?
Phone signal: Patchy at Chopta, none at Tungnath. Cards and UPI: No. Cash: Everything above Ukhimath.
Guides for Chopta & Tungnath
Longer reads from our blog that cover this trip.
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Best Places to Visit in December in India: 20 Picks by Region, with 3-Day Costs20 underrated places rated best for December in India, by region, each instead of a famous name. 3-day costs, snow,…Read the guide →
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Make the plan yours
Set your dates and group at the top, shape the days, then book each piece directly.
Back to the planner ↑Costs are indicative ballparks for doing it yourself and change with season and demand. Always check live fares, rates and opening rules before you book. Trip Under is not a travel agency: we don't sell packages or bookings, we take no commission, and we link to maps and official sites, never to booking sites. Every guide is free; our only paid products are optional downloadable trip plans and itineraries. Photographs come from Wikimedia Commons under free licences; see credits.
By Gokul · Updated 6 October 2026 · Photo: Varun Shiv Kapur · CC BY 2.0 · source · Photo: Soumyoo · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source · Photo: Mike Prince from Bangalore, India · CC BY 2.0 · source · Photo: Sumita Roy Dutta · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source · Photo: Shubhsrt7 · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
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