The Enchanting Circuit of Deoria Tal, Chopta & Chandrashila
Nestled in the lush green lap of the Kedarnath Wildlife Sanctuary in Rudraprayag district, the Deoria Tal – Chopta – Chandrashila trekking circuit is widely revered as the ultimate weekend and beginner-friendly Himalayan expedition.
The journey begins at Sari Village, a picture-postcard hamlet of slate-roofed stone houses and step farms. A gentle 2.3-kilometer ascent through dense rhododendron and oak groves brings you to the pristine waters of Deoria Tal (2,438 m / 7,998 ft). On a calm morning, the glass-still surface of the lake creates a razor-sharp, mirror-like reflection of the four towering peaks of the Chaukhamba Massif (7,138 m), Kedar Dome, and Nilkantha.
From Deoria Tal, the classic trail traverses the high alpine forest ridge of Rohini Bugyal to connect with Chopta (2,680 m / 8,790 ft), affectionately known as the "Mini Switzerland of Uttarakhand". From Chopta, a paved stone pathway ascends past high-altitude alpine meadows to Tungnath (3,680 m / 12,073 ft) — the highest of the sacred Panch Kedar temples and the highest Shiva shrine on Earth — before culminating in a breathless 1-km ridge push to the summit of Chandrashila (4,000 m / 13,123 ft).
Photographer's Paradise
Golden hour sunrise over Chaukhamba reflected on the emerald lake, followed by fiery alpenglow sunsets across Nanda Devi, Trishul, and Kamet from Chandrashila.
Himalayan Monal & Birding
The Kedarnath Wildlife Sanctuary surrounding the trail is home to India's national bird (Himalayan Monal pheasant), musk deer, and over 120+ avian species.