Nestled in the pristine Garhwal Himalayas of Uttarakhand, the trio of Chopta, Tungnath, and Chandrashila forms one of India’s most breathtaking trekking circuits. Chopta, affectionately known as the "Mini Switzerland of India,"
On April 10, 2026, our Himalayan adventure officially began as four of us flew in from Kolkata to meet up with two other team members arriving from Pune. Gathering at the Dehradun airport, our combined group of six piled into a spacious Innova Crysta, which we had booked for the long mountain journey ahead. With everyone comfortably settled and our gear packed away, we set off on a scenic drive toward Chopta, the picturesque base camp for our upcoming Tungnath and Chandrashila trek.
Day 1 - Itinerary: Dehradun to Chopta
The Journey Begins: We kicked off our road trip to Chopta from Dehradun airport around 1:00 PM in our Innova Crysta.
Scenic Pitstops: En route, we stopped at the historic towns of Devprayag and Rudraprayag for lunch and evening snacks.
Chasing the Chill: As our altitude increased, we could feel the temperature steadily dropping, replacing the plains' warmth with crisp mountain air.
Late Arrival: After a long but beautiful drive, we reached Chopta in the late evening around 9:30 PM.
Starry Welcome: Stepping out of the car, we were absolutely delighted to see a clear night sky completely filled with a brilliant blanket of stars.
Resting Up: The day wrapped up with a warm dinner, leaving us cozy, rested, and eagerly waiting for our very first trek the next morning.
Day 2 - the trek day
Cozy Start: We woke up feeling completely refreshed and energized, thanks to our smart choice of booking a hotel with in-room heating rather than the usual basic tents in Chopta.
Fueling Up & Commuting: After a light breakfast, we took a quick 2-kilometer drive from our hotel to the official Tungnath trek starting point.
Hitting the Trail: We purchased our entry tickets and officially kicked off our trek at 8:30 AM.
A Crimson (but Shaded) Welcome: The trail greeted us with beautiful Rhododendron trees, though a recent snowfall had caused most of the delicate flowers to shed early.
First Snow Thrills: Just a few minutes into the climb, we were absolutely thrilled to spot pristine white snow framing the edges of the lush green alpine meadows (bugyals).
A Relaxing Detour: As the trail grew steeper, our elderly group member decided to stop and relax at the Bugyal as planned, opting to soak in the peaceful views while the rest of us pushed forward.
Shifting Horizons: The remaining five of us continued the steady ascent, watching the dramatic Himalayan landscape change beautifully with every single turn.
First Snow Thrills: Just a few minutes into the climb, we were absolutely thrilled to spot pristine white snow framing the edges of the lush green alpine meadows (bugyals).
A Relaxing Detour: As the trail grew steeper, our elderly group member decided to stop and relax at the Bugyal as planned, opting to soak in the peaceful views while the rest of us pushed forward.
Shifting Horizons: The remaining five of us continued the steady ascent, watching the dramatic Himalayan landscape change beautifully with every single turn.
Good start