A Chopta Tungnath trip from Delhi fits neatly into a long weekend. Chopta is about 415–450 km from Delhi (10–12 hours by road), and from there a paved but steep trail climbs roughly 3.5 km to Tungnath, the highest of the Panch Kedar temples, with another steep 1.5 km to the Chandrashila summit. Most reasonably fit beginners manage it, and the views from the top are the reason people keep coming back.
At a glance
- Duration: 2 nights / 3 days from Delhi (Friday night to Tuesday morning)
- Best months: April to June for green meadows; roughly January to March for snow
- Difficulty: easy to moderate, with a steep final push to Chandrashila
- Highest point: Chandrashila, about 3,960–4,000 m
- Cost: from â‚ą5,799 per person on our group trip (quad sharing)
- Starts from: Delhi, every Friday. See our Chopta Tungnath trip
Trek at a glance
Figures below are approximate. Altitudes differ a little between sources, so we've given ranges where they disagree.
| Details | |
|---|---|
| Chopta (trailhead) | About 2,610–2,710 m |
| Tungnath temple | About 3,680 m |
| Chandrashila summit | About 3,960–4,000 m (a few sources list lower) |
| Chopta to Tungnath | About 3.5 km one way |
| Tungnath to Chandrashila | About 1.5 km one way, steeper |
| Total trek | About 9–10 km round trip to Chandrashila |
| Elevation gain | Roughly 1,000 m to Tungnath; about 1,300 m to Chandrashila |
| Time | About 4–5 hours up to Chandrashila for most walkers, less coming down |
| Difficulty | Easy to moderate in summer and autumn; harder and slippery in snow |
| Bonus trek | Deoriatal lake (about 2,438 m), roughly 3 km from Sari village |
Getting there from Delhi
The road route is Delhi → Haridwar → Rishikesh → Devprayag → Srinagar → Rudraprayag → Ukhimath → Chopta. It's about 415–450 km depending on your start point, and 10–12 hours of driving as of September 2026. The plains section to Rishikesh is quick; after that it's mountain highway along the Ganga and then the Alaknanda, and the final stretch from Ukhimath to Chopta is narrower forest road.
A few landmarks along the way:
- Devprayag, about 74 km by road from Rishikesh, is where the Bhagirathi and Alaknanda meet and become the Ganga. It's worth a stop.
- Rudraprayag is the usual breakfast and fuel stop.
- Ukhimath is the last proper town before Chopta.
Without a car: there's no direct public transport from Delhi to Chopta. Most independent travellers take a train or bus to Haridwar or Rishikesh, then a shared jeep or bus towards Rudraprayag and Ukhimath, and a taxi for the last leg. It works, but it rarely fits a weekend. A tempo traveller or cab from Delhi, overnight, is far easier, and it's how our trip runs.
Our 2N/3D itinerary
Our Chopta Tungnath trip leaves Delhi every Friday night by tempo traveller or cab and gets you back early on Tuesday morning.
Day 1: Devprayag Sangam and Chopta arrival. Stop at Devprayag to see the Bhagirathi and Alaknanda meet. After breakfast near Rudraprayag, carry on to Chopta. Check in, rest, take a forest walk, and end the day with a bonfire (weather permitting) and a home-style dinner.
Day 2: Tungnath and Chandrashila. An early-morning start for the trek to Tungnath Temple and on to Chandrashila peak, weather permitting. Come back down to Chopta, rest and stay overnight.
Day 3: Sari village and Deoriatal. After breakfast, drive to Sari village and trek up to Deoriatal, a lake known for its mountain reflections on still mornings, then walk back to Sari. On the way home there's a stop in Rishikesh for cafés, temples and the Ganga ghats if time permits. You reach Delhi early the next morning.
Both nights are in Swiss camps or a homestay, with veg meals from Day 1 evening snacks to Day 3 breakfast. A trip captain and trek guide are with the group throughout.
Note that camping at Deoriatal itself is no longer allowed, so the lake is a day walk on our trip.
How hard is it
In the dry months, the Tungnath trail is a well-used stone path with a steady climb. Beginners with basic fitness usually manage it by taking it slowly. The final 1.5 km to Chandrashila is steeper, rougher and more exposed to wind, and that's where most people feel it.
The real challenges:
- Altitude. You're going from around 2,600 m to nearly 4,000 m in a morning. Walk at an even pace, drink water and turn back if you get a bad headache, nausea or dizziness.
- Steepness on the way down. Knees take the strain. Trekking poles help.
- Snow. In winter, packed snow turns the same trail slippery, especially on the descent. Microspikes and a guide make a real difference.
Who should think twice: anyone with heart or lung conditions, recent knee or ankle injuries, or who can't comfortably walk uphill for a couple of hours. Check with your doctor if you're unsure. Families with small children or elderly parents should avoid the trek when it's under hard snow; Tungnath alone, without Chandrashila, is a sensible compromise in good weather.
A little preparation helps: two or three weeks of stair climbing or brisk walks will make the day far more enjoyable.
Best months and snow
| Months | What to expect |
|---|---|
| April to June | Green meadows; often clear mornings; the busiest trekking months |
| July to August | Monsoon. Lush but misty, with a real risk of landslides on the Rishikesh–Rudraprayag highway |
| September to November | Post-monsoon clarity and some of the best mountain views; cold nights by November |
| December to March | Snow season. Snowfall usually builds from around December and is often heaviest in January and February |
Chopta in winter. Snow can block the last stretch of road to Chopta, sometimes for days. When that happens, vehicles stop lower down (around Dugalbitta or Baniyakund) and treks start from there, or from the Deoriatal side. Winter trips are beautiful but less predictable: build in flexibility, and expect days when the summit push is called off for safety.
For another snowy long weekend from Delhi, see our Friday-night weekend trips from Delhi.
Temple season
Tungnath is one of the Panch Kedar temples. Its doors (kapat) close every winter because of heavy snow, and the deity is carried down to its winter seat at the Markandeya (Markateshwar) temple in Makkumath village, roughly 29 km away, where worship continues until spring.
How the dates are set. The Badrinath-Kedarnath Temple Committee (BKTC) fixes the dates using the Hindu panchang, with the temple's hereditary priests. The closing date is traditionally announced on Vijayadashami (Dussehra) and usually falls in early November, around the Diwali period. For example, the doors closed on 4 November in 2024, and sources report the same date in 2025.
2026. As of September 2026, the 2026 closing date hadn't been announced, and sources expect early November. Opening happens in late April or early May and is announced in advance; sources even disagree on the exact 2026 opening day, so always check the BKTC announcement.
Good to know: the trail itself doesn't close with the temple. People trek to Tungnath and Chandrashila in winter too, conditions permitting, but you won't get darshan inside.
Packing
- Layers: thermal innerwear, a fleece and a proper down or padded jacket (even in May, the summit is cold at dawn)
- Waterproofs: a rain jacket or poncho, especially from June onwards
- Shoes: trekking shoes with good grip; not new ones
- Warm cap and gloves for early starts
- Sunglasses and sunscreen: the sun at 4,000 m is harsh, and snow doubles the glare
- Trekking pole: it'll save your knees on the descent
- Microspikes in snow season
- Water bottle (at least one litre) and a few dry snacks
- Headtorch for pre-dawn starts
- Basic medicines: your personal meds, pain relief and anything your doctor suggests for altitude
- Some cash: mobile networks and card payments can be patchy in the hills
Cost
Our group trip from Delhi is priced per person:
| Sharing | Price per person |
|---|---|
| Quad | â‚ą5,799 |
| Triple | â‚ą6,199 |
| Dual | â‚ą6,399 |
Included: Delhi to Delhi transport by tempo traveller or cab; 2 nights in Swiss camps or a homestay; trip captain and trek guide; bonfire (weather permitting) and local explorations as per the itinerary; veg meals (2 dinners, 2 breakfasts, 2 evening snacks); driver allowances, tolls, parking and state taxes; 24x7 customer support.
Not included: meals and food beyond the package, and entry tickets to monuments and public places. Budget a little extra for lunches, snacks on the trail and anything you'd like to buy in Rishikesh.
Prices can change, so check the trip page for the latest.
Ready to go? Our Chopta Tungnath trip leaves Delhi every Friday night and starts from â‚ą5,799 per person. Want different dates or a private group? Use our custom trip planner or contact us.
FAQs
How far is Chopta from Delhi?
About 415–450 km by road via Rishikesh, Rudraprayag and Ukhimath, which is usually 10–12 hours of driving.
How difficult is the Tungnath trek?
Easy to moderate. It's about 3.5 km of steady climbing on a stone path to the temple. The extra 1.5 km to Chandrashila is steeper, and the whole trek is harder in snow.
What is the Chandrashila trek distance?
About 5 km one way from Chopta (3.5 km to Tungnath, then 1.5 km to the summit), so roughly 9–10 km round trip.
When does Tungnath temple close for winter?
Usually in early November, around the Diwali period. The BKTC fixes the date by the panchang and traditionally announces it on Vijayadashami. It was 4 November in 2024. Check the official announcement for 2026.
Is Chopta worth visiting in winter?
Yes, if you're ready for cold and some uncertainty. Snow usually peaks in January and February, but it can block the road, so treks may start lower and the summit isn't always possible.
Can a beginner do this trip?
Yes, most beginners with basic fitness complete Tungnath, and many reach Chandrashila. Take it slowly, and skip the summit if the weather or your body says no. Also see our guide to reaching Kainchi Dham from Delhi for a gentler weekend.
Sources
- Wikipedia, Tungnath: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tungnath
- Wikipedia, Chandrashila: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chandrashila
- Wikipedia, Chopta: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chopta
- Wikipedia, Deoria Tal: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deoria_Tal
- Wikipedia, Devprayag: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Devprayag
- Uttarakhand Tourism, Chopta: https://uttarakhandtourism.gov.in/destination/chopta
- Uttarakhand Tourism, Chopta–Chandrashila trek: https://uttarakhandtourism.gov.in/trek/chopta-chandrashila-trek
- Garhwal Post, Tungnath portals close for winter (Nov 2024): https://garhwalpost.in/portals-of-tungnath-temple-close-for-winter/
- Manchala Mushafir, Tungnath opening and closing dates: https://www.manchalamushafir.com/tungnath-opening-closing-date/
- Discover with Dheeraj, Tungnath snow trek and winter road conditions: https://discoverwithdheeraj.com/snow-trek-tungnath-climbing-up-revisiting-uttarakhand/
Last checked: September 2026.
