The Chopta Chandrashila Trek, For When You’re City-weary

By Author: Shewta
Total Articles: 21
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Cities turn me into a very exhausted person. The constant noise, pollution and people, the demands on your time and body and mind are draining. Even the quaint places in cities have become too mainstream. But one Google search later, I realised that the urban dwellers like me have started to explore nature through adventure trips more often as a medicine to the city life drags. When I cracked my knuckles and really committed to taking a break, I came across the perfect thing for me.

Break from corporate ladders

Once I went down the online rabbithole of, I discovered the world of trekking in India and Uttarakhand where I discovered the Chopta Chandrashila trek. Going up to an elevation of 13,000 feet, steep and short, this is just what I needed. I packed my bags the next day. The drive to Sari was long but passed through Devprayag, the town of the confluence of the Alaknanda, Saraswati, Bhagirathi rivers into the Ganges. Also, it helped that I had the perfect playlist ready for the drive.

Happy place
The Chopta Chandrashila trek from Sari to Deoriatal gave me a taste of what I had dreamed of. In every ...
... direction there are only mountains like the Nanda Devi, Trishul, Chaukhamba peaks. We had to climb through hidden pockets of difficult terrain. But the end view of the Deoriatal lake was worth all my effort. Pristine and untouched, try to convince me if it wasn't the garden of Eden I was treading on. The scene was filled with birds and wildflowers. Later, I found out that Chopta is nicknamed the ‘Switzerland of India.’

What’s calling
After more waterfalls, rhododendron trees, old oaks and maple woods, the whole group of us lost cell phone connectivity. Initially, some of us were anxious, but this was the thing I most needed, to be cut off from the rest of the world. Something I couldn’t have brought myself to do voluntarily. Even up on the mountains, one worries about emergencies, announcements, FOMO and very important work calls. And if all this wasn’t enough, we trekked to one of the highest Shiva temples in the whole world.

The legend

The Tungnath temple, our guides explained, is believed to be 5,000 years old but I zoned out when he started talking about its links to the Mahabharata. The Tungnath temple is peaceful and silent. Unlike other temples I’ve visited, it actually gives way to spiritual feelings. No loud speakers, no commercial brouhaha, it’s luxuriously secluded. But our journey took us forward and a few steep sections later, we finally reached the Chandrashila peak.

It’s the climb

I was overcome with a rush of excitement. I could see the mountains all around me, but I was on top of this mountain. I had done it. As if to commemorate my win, I spotted a Himalayan Monal. It stood out and alone on the dry grass and mud. It said to me, “congratulations, you took the road less travelled.” I remember that pheasant in tough moments, and not just because I took a photograph. It acts as a reminder for me when I’m back in the city. It gives me hope to look forward to more trekking in India adventures left unexplored.

Shewta writes about her escape from the city life into the mountains with the Chopta Chandrashila trek experience