Deoriatal-Chandrashila packs an astonishing amount into a short, accessible trek. It opens at the still, mirror-like Deoriatal lake, where Chaukhamba is reflected on a clear morning, then winds through the rhododendron forests and meadows of Chopta - often called the "mini Switzerland" of Uttarakhand.
The climb passes Tungnath, the highest Shiva temple in the world at around 12,073 ft, before the final push to the Chandrashila summit at roughly 13,000 ft. From the top, a 360-degree panorama unfolds: Nanda Devi, Trishul, Kedar Peak, Bandarpunch and Chaukhamba all stand on the skyline.
Why it works for everyone
- The reflecting waters of Deoriatal
- Tungnath - the world's highest Shiva temple
- A genuine summit with giant Himalayan views
- Doable as a winter snow trek or a spring green trek
The YHAI way
One YHAI trekker, an officer with the UPSC, described his 5N/6D Deoriatal-Chopta-Tungnath-Chandrashila expedition simply as "the perfect escape from routine life." Camping under open skies, washing your own utensils and walking with strangers who become friends - that, he wrote, is the real summit.
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