Deoria Tal
lake · 39 min from Chopta
Day planFirst visitleisurerelaxed
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.
A relaxed day below the high ground: Deoria Tal, a short walk from Sari village, and then Ukhimath, the winter seat of the Kedarnath deity. It is the easy option when the climbs above are shut by snow or cloud. The one-day Tungnath plan and the two-day plan cover the high walks.
Timing is in when to visit Chopta, and the stops are in things to do in Chopta.
Photos: Rajborah123 (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Ms Sarah Welch (CC0) — via Wikimedia Commons, resized.
Who this is for
Visitors who want a lake and a temple town without the long climb, or who have a spare day when the high ground is closed.
Day by day
Day 1
The forest lake, then the winter town
An easier day than the climbs above: a short walk to a lake, then a pilgrimage town on the way down.
- 09:00Deoria TalThe forest lake, a short walk from Sari village, 39 minutes down the road from Chopta. Go early for the clearest view of the peaks.
- ↓ 28 min by road · 14 km13:30UkhimathThe pilgrimage town where the Kedarnath deity spends the winter; see the Omkareshwar Temple.
Getting there
Chopta is about 484 km from Delhi on our routing, 7.5 hours free-flow. See how to reach Chopta.
Where to stay
Stay in or near Chopta, or in Ukhimath. We have no verified room rates; ask when you book.
Know before you go
- Wikipedia says camping at the lake has been stopped; we have no verified rules, so ask at Sari.
- Shops at the lake close at sundown, so be back at Sari before dusk.
- Agree a vehicle and a return time; we have no verified bus timings beyond Ukhimath.
Places on this route
Other ways to do it
All Chopta itineraries →
Questions people ask
Is this a good plan when the high walks are shut?
Yes. Deoria Tal and Ukhimath are lower than Tungnath, so they do not depend on the snow being clear above Chopta, though the road can still close. Wikipedia says the temple at Tungnath is shut for about six months, while Ukhimath is where the Kedar worship moves in winter.
How long is the walk to the lake?
Wikipedia says about 3 km from Sari, and our own trail data gives about 1.8 km, so allow an hour or so each way and more if you linger. Sari is about 39 minutes by road from Chopta on our routing. Wikipedia also describes a 7 km walk to the lake from Ukhimath.
Can you do this without a car?
Partly. Wikipedia says Ukhimath is the last point served by regular buses, and that jeeps run from there to Sari, the start of the lake walk. We have no verified timetable, so ask locally about shared jeeps and agree the fare and the return time before you set out.