Chopta

Quite famous among the trekkers, Chopta is a beautiful hamlet in Rudraprayag district in the Uttarakhand state of India and is the base camp of the famous treks- Tungnath, Deoriatal, and Chandrashila. Labeled as the mini Switzerland of Uttarakhand, Chopta has beautiful meadows, astounding places to explore, and yes endless beauty to admire.

 Capture the jaw-dropping views of the Trishul, Nanda Devi, and Chaukhamba peaks. Pay a visit to one of the Panch Kedars- the five most sacred Shiva temples in Uttarakhand, Tungnath to seek blessings. On its left are located Kedarnath and Madmaheshwar shrines, on the right are Rudranath, and Kalpeshwar, and just above it the Tungnath temple.

Make sure to visit the Ukhimath also known as the winter Kedarnath which is acclaimed as Lord Shiva's temple and acts as Shiva’s winter home when the Kedarnath shrine is closed down. Enjoy camping, birdwatching, rock climbing, and snow trekking for a thrilling experience.

Head towards Chopta between March to May and witness the amazing view of the lush green valley. One who wants to enjoy snow trekking can visit between October to February. Chopta is a fantastic destination for birdwatchers. One can find 240 species of birds here including native and migratory species like Himalayan monal, Himalayan swiftlet, Himalayan griffon, scarlet finch, hill partridge, and many more. The dwindling pines, deodars, rhododendrons, and other conifers found in this region make Chopta much more attractive.