Chopta is a small region of trek and evergreen forest area, a part of himalayas wildlife sanctuary located in Uttarakhand state, India and a base for trekking to Tungnath, the third temple of Panch Kedar which lies 3.5 kilometres (2.2 mi) away. Located at a distance of 1.5 kilometres (0.93 mi) from Tungnath is Chandrashila, a summit rising to over 4,000 metres (13,000 ft).

Chopta is an unspoiled natural destination lying in the lap of the Uttarakhand Himalayas and offers views of the imposing Himalayan range including Trishul, Nanda Devi and Chaukhamba. It is located at an elevation of 2,709 metres (8,888 ft) above sea level. Chopta village is surrounded by forests of pine, deodar and rhododendron and is rich in flora and fauna include rare species of birds and musk deer.

Activities :

The Chopta – Tungnath – Chandrashila trek is a destinations for trekkers. The Chopta region has many treks and trails cutting through jungles and grasslands. Chandrashilla, Tunganath and Devariyatal are the best known trekking routes in the Chopta region. Because of an abundance of birds, Chopta is popular among birdwatchers.

Some activities in Chopta

• Camping and trekking, yoga, survival activity
• Snow trekking, snow skiing
• Rock craft, rock climbing, rappelling
• Photography of rare Himalayan species of monal bird, musk deer and pika mouse.

Trekking :

The trek to Chopta, which can be extended to climbing the Chandrashila Peak, is a popular adventure trip among hiking lovers. Since the route lies in a protected area, the journey takes one through enchanting forests with panoramic views of the Himalayas, far from the maddening crowds. The best time to start a trek for Chandrashila peak is in the morning as around afternoon clouds and rain can smudge the beautiful 360 degrees view of the entire Himalayan valley from the peak. The town of Kund in Uttarakhand is the usual starting point and the entire tour can be done in 3-5 days, making it a preferred activity for city dwellers in India seeking a short getaway. The general pit stops are as follows:

• Kund to Deoriatal (3-5 hours trek) – start at Kund, a quaint town situated at 1,350 m, approximately 200 km away from the spiritual town of Haridwar.
• Deoriatal to Chopta (4-5 hours trek)
• Chopta to Chandrashila Peak (4,000 m), via Tungnath Temple and back (4-5 hours trek). The distance from Tungnath Temple to Chandrashila peak is only 1 km and serves as a highlight of the trip. Though the distance is less, it takes time as it is relatively steep.

Places of interest :

• Dense forest of Kedarnath Wild Life Sanctuary; where temperate and alpine trees are found in abundance. Trees like, oak, pine, burans and other himalayan species occupy major land part of Chopta, Uttarakhand region.
• Flora and fauna with high diversity
• Grass land patches (Bugyal/ Meadows)
• Chandrashilla peak 4090 m
• Tungnath temple at 3680 m
• Deoria Tal (lake) at 2350 m
• Atrimuni falls
• Visibility of 41 Himalayan peaks – Meru, Sumeru, Ganesh Parwat, Chaukhamba, Bandarpunch, Nilkantha, Tirsuli, Nanda Devi etc. and Panoramic view of Himalayan mountain range.