Stone steps buried in snow leading up to the Tungnath Temple under a deep blue sky

ArticleVerified 2026-10-05

Best time to visit Chopta — month by month

When to go to Chopta: the cool, clear weeks of spring, the cloud of June to August, the snow from November, and why the Tungnath temple is shut for six months.

Photo: Navdeep Gusain · CC BY-SA 4.0

How this guide is built

The only weather source we have for Chopta is Wikipedia's climate section. It gives March to May as cool and pleasant at 10 to 30 °C, the monsoon as July to October, and snow from November to March at -15 to 15 °C. There is no monthly table, so this guide describes the seasons and does not invent a figure for each month.

Month by month

March to May. Cool and pleasant, and the rhododendrons flower around March. A good season for the walk to

Tungnath Temple, though snow can linger early in the season.

June to August. Cloud hides the peaks, so the view from Chandrashila is often lost. The monsoon starts in July.
September and October. The monsoon runs to October in Wikipedia's account, and the weeks after it are clear.
November to March. Snow. The Tungnath temple and Chandrashila lie under snow between December and March, some routes to Chopta are blocked, and

the temple is shut for about six months.

What to plan around

Weather changes fast at this height, and cloud and rain gather by afternoon, so start early. The road to Chopta can close in snow; Wikipedia says that trekkers then reach it from Deoria Tal. We have no verified road-closure or safety information, so ask locally.

For where to go, see things to do in Chopta, the one-day plan and the two-day plan.

Plans that include this

All Chopta itineraries →

The grey stone Tungnath Temple on a rocky ridge under a clear blue sky

Day plan · First visittrek

One day at Chopta — the walk up to Tungnath Temple

A one-day Chopta plan on foot: the paved path from the road-head up to Tungnath Temple, an early start and a descent before dark. Free to copy.

Best Apr–May · Sep–Oct

See the plan →

A green forest-ringed lake with a path along its sandy shore and snow-covered mountains rising behind under cloud

Day plan · First visitleisure

One day below Chopta — Deoria Tal and Ukhimath

A relaxed Chopta plan below the high ground: a short walk to the forest lake of Deoria Tal, then the pilgrimage town of Ukhimath on the way down. Free to copy.

Best Apr–May · Sep–Nov

See the plan →

A path winding along a rocky ridge on the Chandrashila trek with layered mountain ranges in a haze behind

1 night · 2 days · First visittrek

Two days at Chopta — Tungnath, Chandrashila and Ukhimath

A two-day Chopta plan: the walk to Tungnath Temple on day one, then the Chandrashila summit and the winter pilgrimage town of Ukhimath on day two. Free to copy.

Best Apr–May · Sep–Oct

See the plan →

Questions people ask

What is the best time to visit Chopta?

March to May, when Wikipedia says it is cool and pleasant at 10 to 30 °C, and the weeks after the monsoon. Wikipedia gives April to September as the best months for the Tungnath temple. The monsoon runs from July to October, and cloud hides the peaks from June to August, which spoils the view.

Does Chopta get snow?

Yes. Wikipedia says snow falls from November to March, with temperatures between -15 and 15 °C and a layer 4 to 7 feet thick by January. Some routes to Chopta are blocked, and snow covers the Tungnath temple and Chandrashila from December to March. A winter trek is possible but hard.

Is the Tungnath temple open all year?

No. Wikipedia says heavy snow keeps it shut for about six months, and that in winter the deity and priests move to the Markandeshwar Temple at Makkumath. Dates change with the snow, so ask locally before you travel, and do not rely on a fixed opening date.