Chandrashila
peak · 4 min from Chopta
1 night · 2 daysFirst visittrekbalanced
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.
Two days: the long walk to the temple on the first, the summit and the road home on the second. Day one is the one-day plan unchanged. Day two climbs to Chandrashila and then drives down to Ukhimath. The forest lake of Deoria Tal has a plan of its own, the half-day plan.
Timing is in when to visit Chopta, and the stops are in things to do in Chopta.
Photos: Alok (CC BY-SA 3.0) · Ms Sarah Welch (CC0) · Navdeep Gusain (CC BY-SA 4.0) — via Wikimedia Commons, resized.
Who this is for
Walkers with a night to spare who want the summit as well as the temple, and a pilgrimage town on the way out.
Day by day
Day 1
Up to the temple
The same walking day as the one-day plan.
- 05:30ChoptaThe road-head; leave at first light with water and a warm layer.
- ↓ 4 h 30 min on foot · 3.1 km11:00Tungnath TempleThe top Panch Kedar shrine, up the paved path.
Day 2
The summit, then down to the winter town
A morning climb to the summit, then the drive down the road to Ukhimath.
- 09:30ChandrashilaThe summit above the temple; turn back if cloud builds.
- ↓ 1 h 1 min by road · 31 km16:00UkhimathThe pilgrimage town where the Kedarnath deity spends the winter, 53 minutes down; see the Omkareshwar Temple on the way home.
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 for the night; day two starts from there and ends on the road down to Ukhimath.
Know before you go
- Hire a vehicle for the afternoon of day two with an agreed price; we have no verified bus timings beyond Ukhimath.
- Check the road and the weather before day two, because the road can close in snow.
- We have no verified guide, permit or fee information; ask in Chopta.
Places on this route
Other ways to do it
All Chopta itineraries →
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 →
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 →Questions people ask
Is two days at Chopta too long?
Not if you want the summit as well as the temple. The first day is the long walk to the temple, and the second is a shorter climb to the summit followed by the drive down to Ukhimath. For the temple alone, the one-day plan is enough, and Deoria Tal has its own half-day plan.
Where should you stay for the night?
In or near Chopta, so both climbs start at first light, or in Ukhimath if you prefer a town with more rooms, though it adds a long drive. We have no verified room or camp rates, so ask when you book, and confirm that the road is open before you travel.
Can you do day two without a car?
Partly. Chandrashila is on foot from Chopta, and Wikipedia says Ukhimath is the last point served by regular buses on this route. We have no verified timetable, so ask locally about buses and shared jeeps, and agree a fare and a time for the way down.