5 October 2024
If you are looking for a short trek with a perfect blend of serenity and spirituality, Chopta to Tungnath Trek is the one for you. Tungnath trek takes you to the highest Shiva temple in the world, the sacred Tungnath temple.
The Tungnath temple altitude is the highest among the sacred Panch Kedar. The Panch Kedar's are five holy temples dedicated to Shiva in the Garhwal region of Uttarakhand.
The word Tungnath translates to lord of the peaks, true to its meaning, the Tungnath temple dedicated to lord Shiva, is at an altitude of 12,100 feet with majestic views. Starting from Chopta in Rudraprayag, the Tungnath trek takes you through beautiful meadows and forests to the Tungnath temple.
Tungnath trek along with being one of the most sacred treks, is also the gateway to the scenic Chandrashila Trek. Chandrashila Summit, being situated at a high altitude, provides a sense of accomplishment and a beautiful panoramic view of the famous Himalayan peaks. Chopta Chandrashila Tungnath Trek with Deoriatal trek is one of the most preferred combinations for short trip getaways in Uttarakhand.
The Tungnath Trekking Distance is around 5 km, from Chopta. A further short trek of approximately 2 km will take you to the Chandrashila summit, making it a brief but fulfilling trek with beautiful views.
The Deoriatal Trek is also a short yet rewarding trek, the distance is about 3 km from Sari village. The trek will take you to a serene lake with pleasant weather, surrounded by snow-capped mountains in winter.
Tungnath being rich in mythological significance, is believed to be one of the Panch Kedar temples, established by the Pandavas from the epic Mahabharata. According to legend, Lord Shiva, angered by the Pandavas after the Kurukshetra war, disguised himself as a bull and hid in the Garhwal region. The Pandavas, seeking his forgiveness, eventually discovered him and caught hold of the bull, but the bull formed Shiva disappeared into the ground and later reappeared in five parts of the Garhwal region, where Pandavas built five temples. Now the five temples are counted as the Panch Kedar trek, including the trek to Kedarnath, Tungnath, Rudranath, Madhya Maheshwar, and Kalpeshwar. The Panch Kedar trek is usually done together by many visitors, as it is believed they complete the purpose of life.
Another mythological story added to the trek is about Chandrashila related to Ramayana. It is believed to be the spot where lord Rama meditated after being charged with the sin of Bhrahmahatya, by killing Ravana.
The rich history makes Tungnath trek not just a trek, but a spiritual journey filled with divine energy.
You can do the Tungnath Chandrashila trek throughout the year, however, the Best time for the Tungnath trek is usually from April to November, when the weather is pleasant, and the wind is chilly.
During the spring and summer months, the area is full of blooming rhododendrons and wildflowers, creating a beautiful sight. Post-monsoon, from September to November, it offers the clearest views of the snowclad Himalayan peaks, allowing you to spot various majestic peaks with your naked eyes.
Tungnath Trek is also known for being one of the best winter treks in Uttarakhand. During the winters, the snow-covered landscape transforms the area into a winter wonderland, but the temple remains closed during extreme winters.4
5 October 2024
Trek updates, stories & mountain insights.
Tips and insights for every trekker.
There’s a saying among the trekkers: “No two treks can ever be the same." I’ve always believed it. But this time, when I revisited this trek that I've already done, I realised something deeper: “Even the same trail can feel completely different."
You know, a lot of times we come across something so surreal that even its existence leaves us wondering how something so magnificent can exist. And believe it or not, that’s exactly how I felt when I first set foot in Ranthan Kharak.
A trekker often visits the Himalayas in the search of catching a glimpse of some giant peaks, exploring the lush green valleys, and sometimes reconnecting with their true selves while being surrounded by the mountains. In quest to gain such an experience, many trekkers seek a trek that offers it all. From being transformative to unforgettable, it should have it all.
We often describe the Himalayas as an epitome of unmatched beauty, but we keep forgetting where that true unmatched beauty truly lies. That magical beauty is not present just in their landscapes, but it also lies in that ever-changing surrounding that we experience on the journey that the mountains offer us.
There is no denying the fact that the Himalayas are home to countless unexplored places that are beautiful beyond our imagination.
There are, and there will be, countless journeys that you will go on throughout your lifetime, but only a few of them are going to stay close to your heart, and one of them will be the ‘Gaumukh Tapovan Trek’. A journey that will not only challenge your body, but it will also touch your soul. This 8-day journey will take you to the Garhwal region of Uttarkashi, where you will experience both adventure and spirituality in the mountains and gain a sense of peace in solitude.
Just like some heartwarming movies you keep rewatching, there are places you hope to visit every once in a while. Those places have their own magic that can’t be expressed in words but can only be felt while being there. So, to give you a similar kind of experience, we have a place to recommend for you all.
Walking on the rugged, unknown terrain of the mountains is one of those few experiences that makes you feel very different yet calming inside. But to achieve that feeling, not only do you have to plan a trip to the mountain, you are also supposed to carry gear and other things that are important for trekking.
Standing at the base of any mountain, while staring at the peak of that mountain. A lot is felt by a trekker, from feeling stunned, admiration, to a quick rush of adrenaline, to scared, and then self-doubting yourself, asking - Can I really do this? When a trekker starts climbing a mountain, it’s not just always about claiming the peak. Often, trekking is more about learning and getting to know the mountains. After getting familiar with the mountains, you start understanding the challenges the mountains carry within themselves, and then you start ascending accordingly.
In general, trekking in the mountains is always categorised as either climbing or walking on the mountain trails. But what a lot of people don’t realise is that with each different grade of expedition, the techniques of climbing and walking on the mountains also change. The thing is that to climb some high grade of mountains, more than basic skills and techniques of climbing are required to learn. In fact, the ‘technical climbing’? It is not just for high-grade level mountain expeditions; this kind of technical knowledge is quite useful even in the easy graded expedition to ensure the safety of the trekker throughout their trek.
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