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Chandrashila Trek Overview
Quick Facts for Chandrashila Trek
Maximum altitude - 12,100 feet
Duration- 5 days and 4 nights
Trekking distance- 9 kms
Trail type- Easy to moderate
Rail head- Rishikesh Railway Station
Airport- Jolly Grant Airport, Dehradun
Snow Season- During the months of January and February
Service from: Delhi to Delhi
Base camp- Chopta is the base point to the trek to Chandrashilla peak situated at 2608 m.
Best season- April to June & January to March
Region- The trek would begin at Chopta, where you’d reach by a car/taxi from Rishikesh, Haridwar or Dehradun. The trek would take you up to the Himalayan peak of Nanda Devi, Kedar peak and Sari village.
Who can participate- The minimum age required to embark on the trek is 7 years and the maximum age 65 years.
Chandrashila Trek Itinerary
You would start the journey with a road drive from Delhi at around 10:00 PM in the night to Haridwar.
The first day is reserved for leisure activities when you’d get to spend some time in the scenic environs, and enjoy your stay in swiss tents/homestay and brace yourself up for further trek.
After spending a night in the peaceful valley you wake up to a beautiful sunrise, and have a scrumptious breakfast in the laps of nature, probably by a river side.
You are then driven to Rishikesh,and reach there by early morning. The journey would be continued further to Chopta where you’d enjoy your few hours stay in the peaceful and lavish green beauty scenic environment.
At the campsite under the starry sky, a nourishing dinner and overnight stay would be arranged in Chopta.
After a nourishing breakfast at a local eatery in Chopta, you would resume trekking to Chandrashila Peak which would happen the whole day.
It would be a long trek of 4 to 5 hours stretching over a distance of 7 kms. On the trek, you would learn the place better during your interaction with the locals.
You would cover up the distance till Tungnath, the highest Shiva temple in the world located over an altitude of 3680 metres above the sea level. Utilise your time in the temple, meditating and enjoying the peace of mind.
On trekking a bit more you'd make it to the highest destination of this trek-Chandrashila Peak. You’d enjoy a 360 degree view of the scenic beauty of Himalayan peaks such as Nanda Devi, Bandarpunch, Chaukhamba and Kedar Peak.
After the long day at the amazing Chandrashila Trek, enjoy the dinner and relax over a bonfire session in Uttrakhand’s mini Switzerland, Chopta.
An overnight stay at Chopta is planned for the day.
On this day after an early morning breakfast at Chopta, your Chandrashila Trek journey would resume to the next destination which is Sari village.
Here onwards, you’d ascend to the Deoria Lake which is situated at an altitude of 2438 m. It would be a 2km long uphill trek with a thrilling experience.
It would be a beautiful journey on which you’d also get some exposure to the rustic valley culture and lifestyle. From the altitude of Deoria Tal the majestic views of the Chaukhamba peak are visible as well.
The beautiful journey of Chandrashila Trek would be concluded on this day with a bag full of memories.
You would reach Delhi by the morning, from where you can plan your return. .
What To Pack For Chopta Chandrashila Trek?
The preparations for an outing in the mountains have to start with finding a suitable pair of trekking shoes, and a backpack with a capacity of 5-6 litres with good hip and shoulder support.
You must pack extra clothes, choose synthetic clothes over cotton shirts/tops and it's advisable to keep a pair of thermal inner clothes if you’re prone to cold. Choose a padded jacket as your outer layer, make sure it has a hood as well.
Keep one or two extra pairs of trekking pants, pants with zip-off thighs and quick drying would be ideal for treks.
The other must-have items are (especially if you're trekking during winter seasons)- sunglasses, suncap to protect yourself from the sun’s harsh rays during the day, Hand gloves while handling snow , a woollen cap to keep yourself warm, at least 3 to 4 pairs of socks for cushioning and warmth.
The daypack you carry must be stuffed with water bottles, rainwear and emergency medicines.
Essentials
Keep a light toilet kit handy with you consisting of a toothbrush, a roll on deodorant, moisturiser for skin, lip balm, toilet roll and toothpaste. Make sure that you carry miniature size products and don’t overload on shampoos or soaps.
A personal medical kit is advisable to be carried by the trekkers, it should contain the most readily available medicines like Dolo 650 mg, Avomine, Combiflam, Digene, ORS, Knee brace. Take advice from your trek leader before taking any medicines.
Don’t forget to put essential documents- original photo identity card like aadhar, voter id, etc. At the camp all foreign nationals are required to share their passport and visa details during registration as well as upon arrival.
Know Before You Go to Chopta Chandrashila Trek
It is advisable to the trekkers to not bring any non-biodegradable material along, and thereby, contribute to sustainable tourism.
While following the Chandrashila trek, all the participants must follow the instructions of the trek leader and guide for their own safety.
All the participants are required to carry enough money in hand because you won’t find ATMs during your trek at frequent distances. The last ATM is located in Ukhimath which is about 13km away from Sari village.
Tea is a warm beverage and is usually consumed in hilly areas, but it gets very expensive on moving upwards. Therefore, you are suggested to carry tea bags to use during the trek.
Pack an efficient daypack with all the essentials like warm clothes, sunglasses, trekking boots, gloves, socks, woollen caps, medicines, rainwear, water bottles and other essentials.
The weather conditions are the most unpredictable on the mountains; for it might be sunny during the first half, and it might get thundurus and rainy post the first half. Therefore, embrace yourself for frequent weather changes and pack clothes accordingly.
Take a note that sunburn at higher altitude might happen quicker, so keep your skin and eyes safe with moisturiser and sunglasses.
Keep extra batteries for torches and other electronics handy as the batteries in cold might die quickly.
Don’t forget to carry water bottles along, and keep yourself hydrated throughout the trek.
By Air: You can book direct flight to Dehradun’s Jolly Grant Airport from Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and Bangalore. You can take cabs or buses to reach Chopta, which is about 225 km away from here.
By Road: There is a direct route via Delhi (427 km in distance), Chandigarh (418 km in distance), Rishikesh (161.2 km in distance) and Dehradun (200 km in distance) to reach Chopta. You can drive upto the destination by yourself, or can catch a bus which runs regularly to Chopta from the mentioned cities.
By Train: Rishikesh railway station is the nearest railway station to Chopta, and you can find frequent trains running from Delhi up to Rishikesh. In order to reach Chopta you can take a bus or taxi and reach via kund-Gopeshwar Road.
The best time to enjoy Chandrashila trek is mostly during the months of spring between April to June. However, for those looking for some thrill and adventure, trekking during the winters can pose an interesting challenge. There are certain months in which the trek would allow you to explore most bewildering natural scenes. In January the atmosphere is quite chilly, and will require covering yourself in layers. You will enjoy the trek as it won’t be much crowded during that month. During February and early March you will enjoy clear and magnificent skies while trailing the tough terrains. Towards late March and April, at the Chandrashila trek you would see a lot of crowd garnering in the camp due to a significantly warmer weather and bloom of rhododendrons which turns the beautiful valleys pink and red. In May, just before the monsoon arrives you can still stay at the camp but during the months between late May and early September all the routes are filled with mud making it a bit inconvenient to trek. The autumn trekking season in late September, October and early November welcomes the inflow of enthusiastic climbers. The months of late November and December get a bit cold but those who enjoy trekking in less crowded spaces would surely like to trek in such an atmosphere.
On your way to the Chandrashila trek, there are different trek routes available. All the routes are unique and adventurous in their own ways and ready to welcome you in their pleasant beauty while offering thrill simultaneously. The most popular route to Chandrashila trek is through the Sari village, and the other one is through Kund Camp. It is recommended to take the Sari village route since it offers some of the most picturesque views and follows a considerably safer trail. There are other smaller trekking routes, starting from smaller hamlets near Sari village, which are known only locally, and can be explored if you wish to.
Why to Go for Chandrashila Trek?
FAQ's of Chopta Chandrashila Trek
How Difficult is the Chandrashila trek?
Chandrashila Trek is amongst the most suitable treks for beginners in India with its difficulty level varying from easy to moderate . The trail of the trek passes through villages like Sari and through the scenic beauty of Nanda Devi and Bandarpunch which are located at an altitude of 2,000 m from the sea level. The passage is diverse, sometimes quite steep but other times a smooth flat terrain, therefore the trekker won’t require any expertise and past experiences in trekking for joining in. You would be walking 5 to 6 hours on an average, for upto 2 days to finally mark your summit at the Chandrashila Peak. Therefore, it’s advisable to add a good exercise schedule in your daily routine as well, to keep yourself in physically good shape to not face any problem during the trek like cramps and fatigue. Basic activities like walking, jogging, squats, and stair climbing would be sufficient though you may add other exercises as per your requirements. Try to be consistent with the exercise schedule, and keep repeating the same for longer duration
What is the total length of the Chandrashila trek?
The total length of the trek is around 8 Km, with almost 4 km of trek distance on each side.
Do you need any special training for the Chandrashila trek?
Chandrashila trek is considered either easy or moderately difficult, but you won’t require a special training to participate in the trek. The trek doesn't involve a very steep mountainous trail, it also has smooth and shaded pathways which makes the passage pleasant to tread. You may still include a basic set of exercises in your daily schedule like walking, cycling, swimming and other such cardiovascular activities.
What will be the temperature like on the Chandrashila trek?
During the daytime, the weather is quite pleasant and enjoyable, however, during the night, the temperatures can range anywhere from -15 degrees celsius to -2 degree celsius, during the winter months. The onset of snowfall begins in November, and by January, almost 5-7 feet of snow can be observed.
Is there a mobile network available on the Chopta Chandrashila trek?
No, there is minimal network available throughout the trek, since the network starts to grow weaker, once the Sari village is crossed. You will get a mobile network on the summit. However, the BSNL network works properly, and can be used if it is a necessity; but this network also works up to only a certain point once the hike is started off.
Is Chopta Chandrashila trek safe for beginners?
Since no prior trekking experience is required, beginners can experience this majestic trek. The difficulty level of the trek is easy to moderate, thus, making it convenient for first-timers.
Treks in Ladakh & Kashmir