Deoriatal Chandrashila Peak Trek

About Deoriatal Chandrashila Trek

Deoriatal Chandrashila Trek is one of the famous treks in the state of Uttarakhand in India. The tour of Deoriatal & Chandrashila starts from Sari Village and further runs to Chandrashila and then end up at Chopta. The beauty of Deoriatal trek attracts most of the trekker and the view from the Chandrashila peak is amazing and allow you to get the glimpse of some giant mountains from the top.

Chopta is single among the most gorgeous and scenic spots in the entire Garhwal region. The wonderful vision of the Himalayas is delighting for the eyes on top of soul within the Chopta trekking. Chopta is located on the Gopeshwar – Ukhimath Street at aloofness. The Chopta Trekking is completed within the process of 6 day tour in which 1st day the trekkers flies to Haridwar and further it they trek in Ukhimath region. The Ukhimath is placed on the Ganga River famous for Kedarnath temples. Next to the Ukhimath, the trekkers move towards Deoriatal region and then turn Sari via Tungnath, Chandrashila and in the end Haridwar. The Chandrashila summit gives the best-looking outlook of the Nanda Devi, Trishul, Kedar Mountain and Chaukhamba tops.

Location

Deoriatal is a lake located 3 km on an uphill trek from the village of Sari. Sari village is located on Ukhimath - Chopta Road in Uttarakhand. Chopta is just 8 Km from Sari Village or one can trek from Deoriatal to Chopta.

Distance

Trek distance can be vary as per your trek plan if you trek from Deoriatal to Chandrashila peak then you will cover 30 KMs. If you trek both the destination individually then the distance between Sari to Deoriatal is 3 KMs (one way) and the distance between Chopta to Chandrashila peak is 4 KMs (one way).

How to Reach

Sari and Chopta are well connected with road from the major cities of India.

Private Transport: You need to follow National Highway 58 all the way to Rudraprayag. During this drive you will come across popular places like Rishikesh, Devprayag and Srinagar. After reaching Rudraprayag take a diversion to highway that leads to Kedarnath. Continue driving via Agastmuni and other villages, soon you will come across a bridge, the place is known as Kund. Follow right from this point to reach Ukhimath. Sari Village is another 26kms from Ukhimath. The road is well made and offers spectacular views.

Public Transport: Bus and shared cabs to Rudraprayag and Ukhimath are available from Haridwar and Rishikesh. Try to get into the bus or cab that will at least take you to Rudraprayag if not Ukhimath. You won’t find any difficulty getting the local bus or cab to Ukhimath from Rudraprayag. Local jeeps can be hired to get to Sari Village from Ukhimath.

Maximum Altitude

Trek has different summit points but the highest point is at 4000 meter from the sea level.

Level of Trek

Chopta - Chandrashila trek is one of the easy treks in Indian Himalayas

Itinerary

Day 01: Reach sari village (7-8 hours drive from Haridwar)

Sari village is the base camp of Deoriatal trek. your journey to Sari village will pass through Devprayag and Rudraprayag. Kund is the location where you need to take right to reach Sari village. Alaknanda and bhagirathi river go along with road till Kund so your can see fresh water in the River. If your want to enjoy the view then take right side window seat. Sari is a small village in Uttarakhand with approx 100 of houses. if Sun is still on when you reach Sari then you can explore village, interact with villagers and visit school which was built in 1947.

Overnight at Sari village (You can find Home stays almost in every house)

Deoriatal, Trek starts from Sari Village

Day 02: Sari village to Deoriatal (3 km, 1 - 2 hours)

Start your journey from Sari village. Trail will go up next to Hira and Murli Singh Negi guest house, this guest house is situated in market area of Sari village. You will find a sign board where the word Deoriatal is written in different spelling "DEVARIYATAAL".

A well-defined rocky trail where one can find small temple and few houses after 15 min gradual climbing. Trail dons't go same and after 10 to 15 min, trail become steeper and forest gives you small clearing area to see the beautiful view all around and one can spot Chandrashila peak and Tungnath temple from this point but for this, one need a binocular. Ensure that you take the trail which go left from this point.

Trail will pass from the mountain ridge and after a steady climb of 20 -30 min, you will reach at the place which is constructed by Forest department for tourist and the place called “Hawa Ghar”. Relax for some time at this point and capture some beautiful photographs of valley. Take a trail which pass through beautiful maple forest. After 10 min, you will find the second view point from there you cannot witness the view of Sari village. 7435 feet is the altitude of second view point. With a kilometer left, you will find yourself at the backside of the mountain from there, you get a view of the Ukhimath and the valleys. After 20 min you will get a dhaba and Deoriatal is just few min away from this point.

Set up you camp near to Deoriatal but don’t litter because this is one of the greenest trail in Uttarakhand Himalayas. You can face the grand view of Chaukhamba. Explore nearby areas of Deoriatal and also capture some beautiful birds which is so rare to see. Overnight in tents at Deoriatal.

Day 03: Deoriatal to Chopta

Wake up in the morning, enjoy the sun rise and capture golden view of Chaukhamba. Trail will go along the left side of the lake towards the Forest Guest house, which will alos pass by watch tower and go from behind the Forest Guest House. A forest trail is waiting to take you to your next destination. After 15 min, you will reach at small clearing that will show that you exit from forest. You can again see Sari village from here. Trail will move on ridge that can take you to Chopta. Take the ascending trail ahead of you and observe the beautiful views from both sides of the valley. After 15 min of climbing the ridge, look out for the highest point of the ridge that has flag post. This point is Jhandi Dhar.

After reaching flag post, take a trail that descends rapidly and connects with the forest ridge below. After 10 – 15 min, the trail takes to an eventful turn. You will see a small shrine with bright yellow flags tied to it. These are all made by tourist and locals to mark the trail. Take a right trail from this point. Fox and leopard is the most common which can insist you to stop at your point.

Keep walking on downhill tail inside Chopta forest. This section of the trail is amazing because you can find most Himalayan bird. Walk for another 20 min, you will see the three tails which can take you to different points but take the central tail that can take you to Rohini Bugyal and Chopta. Pass the trail by small grassland and you can see the second forest ridge. Trail will again take you to forest. This forest has some old oak, maple and rhododendrone trees of Kedarnath Wildlife Sanctuary. After 20 min of walk you will reach at a small temple which is the second landmark. This point is known as Bhagdwal. Now here also take the center tail and walk for 15-20 min. you will reach Kala Parvat, which is a peak located on the right side of Chandrashila Peak. Below Kala Parvat you can see the small glacial lake, called Bisuri Tal. From this point, tail is easy and after 30 min you will pass by a source of water and we suggest you to fill your bottles here.

Proceed toward Bhrujgali which is the old trail to Chopta. Follow the trail that ascends fradually all the way to the top of the forest ridge. 30 min are enough to take you to the top of the ridge which is covered with dense forest. This point is called Tikidi Khal by locals.

At this point you will find two trails but take a trail which has sharp turn and descends rapidly. Trail will take you to water stream and a small bridge. From here, trail ascends gradually and take you to small meadow after 20 min. you can become witness of shepherd huts here made of stones. Walk about a kilometer more to reach Chopta Campsite. Overnight at Chopta in tents.

Day 4: Chopta to Chandrashila and back to Chopta

Start trek early, we suggest you to reach Chandrashila before sunrise so that you can find yourself at Tungnath or Chandrashila peak while sunrise. Trek till Tungnath is cemented and well-marked. Trek upto Tungnath temple is approx 2 km. You can see Chandrashila peak from Tungnath temple. Chandrashila is just 1.5 km from temple, trail go from behind the temple to the peak. If you want to visit this place in winter then we suggest you to carry crampons and ice-axe. Climb is very steep till Chandrashila. Top of Chandrashila peak can give you 360° view of Garhwal and Kumaon Himalayas. This point is best to see the sunrise view over all the Himalayan peak.

Follow the same trail to go back to Chopta, you will take less time to go down. Overnight at Chopta in tents

Day 05: Back to Rishikesh or Haridwar

When you start your Journey from Chopta in the Morning then you can reach Haridwar between 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm.

How to make yourself fit

In terms of difficulty, the Deoriatal and Chandrashila trek is classified as the moderate treks in Indian Himalayas. Trek can offer your everything from easy patches to tough patches. Trail from Tungnath to Chandrashila is so challenging.

Cardiovascular endurance

You will cover distance of approx 18 km in these 2 days. You will trek up to an altitude of 10,632 feet. The secret to covering this distance comfortably lies in building your cardiovascular endurance. You can begin by jogging every day. On the very first day people trek without any pain but on the second day they feel pain and apply pain relief spray, to avoid all this start jogging before 1 week of your trek (this is only for Triund. Start slow and increase your pace every day. Swimming, cycling and stair climbing without too many breaks in between can help too.

Strength

Strength is another area which should be there in you. You need to build strength in your muscles and in your core body. Do some squats to strengthen your leg muscles and you can do 3 sets of squats and also do few crunches.

Flexibility

Flexibility is required to conquer this trek as some of the patches are little steeper. For this, you can do some stretching exercises – stretch your hamstrings, quadriceps, hip flexors, lower back muscles and shoulders regularly. Carrying a backpack, however light, can become a strain after a while. These exercises will help you to be in good shape before the trek.

Working out indoors

If you can't go out and jog because of time and other reasons then follow this video and make yourself fit.

What to Pack for this trek

The Deoriatal - Chandrashila peak trek organized in summer and winter. If your trek in winter then you need atleast 3 layer to save yourself from winter.

Basic necessities

Trekking Shoes: Trek has some steep patches so we suggest you to take trekking shoes to make trekking easier for you. Regular Sport shoes is not suggestible from our side.
Backpack (50-60 liters): A backpack with sturdy straps and a supporting frame. Carry rain cover for backpack is essential

Clothing

Three Warm Layers (in Winters): The trail is covered with snow in the winter so take 2 fleece and one good quality winter jacket and carry 2 woolen sweater to use as innerliner.
Two Trek Pants: Take two trek pant, one to use and keep other as spare. Take inner trek pant and use as a inner liners to keep warm in winters.
Three Collared t-shirts: Carry light, full sleeved t-shirt that prevent sun burn on the neck and on arms. Carry 3 t-shirt at least.
Thermals: Carrying thermals is all up to participants, as the capacity to bear cold is different from participant to participant but we suggest you to take as safety. Mandatory in winters (upper and bottom both).

Accessories

Sunglass: Sunglasses is mandatory to carry as the sky is so clear in mountains and UV rays come direct without any filter
Synthetic hand gloves: One pair of fleece or woolen hand gloves for winters which is water resistant
Sun cap: It is required to cover your head
Woolen cap: Carry in winters
Socks: four pair of cotton socks as we prefer to change daily. Carry 1 pair of woolen socks in winters
Headlamps: carry with spare batteries
Trekking pole: Trail become difficult in winters because of snow. so, we suggest you to take it

Other

Toiletries: Sunscreen, Moisturizer, light towel, lip balm, toilet paper, toothbrush and toothpaste
Cutlery: Carry a spoon, coffee mug and a lunch box. we insist you to carry it because some of the people more concern about hygiene factor.
Water bottles: 2 bottles of 1 liter
Plastic covers: Carry 1 big poly bag as a inner layer of your backpack and keep few small poly bags to keep your wet cloths.