This was my first trek ever — and it wasn’t even planned. We were already in Rishikesh during college, and someone suggested we do the Chopta–Tungnath trek. By evening, we had a car booked. Eight of us, zero preparation, and a 5 AM departure the next morning.
Day 1 — Rishikesh to Chopta
October 4, 2021
The car came early in the morning, and we set off. We were 8 people, hoping to reach Chopta, do the trek, and come back the same day. That didn’t happen — traffic on the way ate up most of our time.
We reached a campsite near Chopta around 3:00 PM. Too late to start the trek, so we roamed around the area in the evening. Internet connectivity was practically non-existent — which turned out to be a good thing.
Night — Zero Light Pollution
We slept early since the trek was the next morning. But before that — the night sky. With zero light pollution, we saw one of the clearest skies I’ve ever seen. If you’re into stargazing, this alone makes the trip worth it.
Day 2 — The Trek & Back to Rishikesh
October 5, 2021
Morning — Chopta to Tungnath
Started the trek at 7:00 AM. The route is scenic from the start — sometimes clouds roll in and you can’t see much, but when they clear, the views of the Garhwal Himalayas are stunning.
We reached the Tungnath Temple in about 2 hours. It’s the highest Shiva temple in the world (at ~3,680m) and part of the Panch Kedar. Even if you’re not religious, the setting is incredible.
Tungnath to Chandrashila Summit
From Tungnath, it’s another 1.5 km to the Chandrashila summit — takes about an hour. The trail gets steeper and the air thinner, but the payoff at the top is worth every step. On a clear day, you can see peaks like Nanda Devi, Trisul, and Chaukhamba.
The total trek distance is around 5–5.5 km one way.
Afternoon — Descent & Return
We were back at the starting point by around 1:00 PM and headed straight back to Rishikesh.
Things to Know
- Total trek distance: ~5–5.5 km one way (Chopta base → Tungnath → Chandrashila)
- Time: ~3–3.5 hours up, faster coming down
- Difficulty: Easy to moderate — good for a first trek
- Best time: September–November (post-monsoon, clear skies) or March–May
- Connectivity: Almost none near Chopta — download offline maps beforehand
- Night sky: Zero light pollution. If skies are clear, you’ll see more stars than you thought existed
- Can be done as a day trek — Start early from Chopta base and you’ll be done by early afternoon
Final Thoughts
Short trip, but memorable. It was unplanned, my first trek, and it set the bar for what mountains can look like when you actually walk into them instead of driving past. The Tungnath temple in the clouds, the Chandrashila views, and that night sky at the campsite — not bad for a spontaneous detour from Rishikesh.
If you’re in Rishikesh and have a day to spare, this is one of the easiest and most rewarding treks you can do in Uttarakhand.
