Overview
Chopta is a small village which is present in Uttarakhand. Chopta is famous for its beautiful landscapes, valleys, meadows, grasslands, rivers and streams. It is often called the Mini Switzerland of India. Every year hundreds and thousands of tourists all over the world come here to experience the serenity and natural beauty of Chopta. Chopta has been a part of the popular Kedarnath Wildlife Sanctuary. The Chopta Chandrashila trekking is one of the most popular trekking routes to be present in Uttarakhand.
Chopta is present at an altitude of approximately 8,888 ft which is 2,709 m above the mean sea level. The Chopta village is surrounded by many beautiful valleys, mountains and dense forests. These forests are well known for their trees like Rhododendron trees, Oak trees, Pine trees, Deodar trees and many more. There are many Musk Deers which can be seen in the forest areas of Chopta.
Chandrashila is a summit which can be found near the Tungnath temple. The Chandrashila is mainly popular for its peak. Chandrashila is located at an elevation of about 12,110 ft which is around 3,690 meters above the mean sea level. Another fascinating thing about the Chandrashila is that some of the popular peaks in Uttarakhand can be easily seen from the Chandrashila peak, they are namely Trishul Peak, Nanda Devi peak, Kedar peak, Chaukhamba peak, Bandarpunch peak , the Himalayas etc. According to the Hindu mythology, it is believed that Lord Rama who killed The Asura king Ravana, came here to meditate after conquering him.
Chopta Chandrashila Trekking route is a Nutshell
- The Chopta Chandrashila trek route will take around 4 to 5 days to complete.
- The maximum altitude of the trekking route may reach upto 12,083 ft above the mean sea level.
- The Chopta Chandrashila trekking route is very safe and even the beginners can easily start trekking without much difficulty.
- The temperature fluctuations are like – Temperature during the Day remains between 8 degree to 15 degrees. And during the night it extends from -5 degrees to 3 degrees.
- There will be 6 to 7 hours of trekking Daily.
- The trekkers can reach the place by Railway, by Air and by Road(although not much recommended).
In this article we are going to discuss the Things that can be done in Chopta Chandrashila trekking route.
Kedarnath Wildlife Sanctuary
As mentioned earlier, the Chopta Chandrashila Trekking route is a part of the Kedarnath Wildlife Sanctuary which is commonly known as The Kedarnath Musk Deer Sanctuary, is basically famous for its Musk Deers. This Wildlife Sanctuary came into existence from the year 1972 which was declared under the Wildlife Protection Act. Earlier the people hunted and killed these Musk Deers for its skin, food, medicinal importance, scent and as a sign of aristocracy and enjoyment which resulted in the degradation of the numbers of the Musk Deers in the area. So the government had to take stern steps to stop these kinds of activities.
Bird Watching
During the Chopta Chandrashila trekking route, the trekkers come across numerous migratory birds coming from different places enhancing the beauty of the route. Some of them are: Himalayan Monal, Snow Partridge, Kalij pheasant, Koklass Pheasant, West Himalayan Bush Warbler, Little Pied Flycatcher, Grey Cheeked warbler, Rusty Flanked Treecreeper etc.
Rich Flora and Fauna
This Chopta Chandrashila is home to rich flora and fauna. Many medicinal and valuable herbs, trees, aromatic plants etc. can be found here. Some of the important animals found in the region are Indian Jackal, Himalayan Black bear, Yellow throated Marten, Indian Leopard, Snow Leopard, Wild Indian Boar, Himalayan Musk Deer, Indian Muntjac, Rhesus Macaque, Indian Langur, Hodgsons’s Brown Toothed Shrew, Royle’s Pika etc.
Do the Valley of Flowers trek and explore the amazing Himalayas!
Tungnath Temple
This temple is regarded as the highest Shiva temple to be present in the world. It is located at an altitude of about 3,470 m which is 11,385 ft above the mean sea level.