Temples of ringing bells

India being a diverse nation as is, provides assorted possibilities for a tranquil and remarkable getaway from the daily routine. One of the areas that a part of the populace relies on are the mountains in Uttarakhand which form the entrance to the Greater Himalayas. Nothing says divine intervention to form the nature like a vivacious spread of different colors flourishing in the combination of select flora and fauna that is found in this region. But is it really that good of a choice to visit these elegant places at the cost of arduous climbs and physical exertion? The answer lies in this trek we have designed termed as Chopta Chandrashila Deoriatal. This entire journey takes you on 6 day experience to cover the Chandrashila Summit, the Deoriatal Lake all while surrounded by a gallery of snowcapped peaks of the Himalayas. What makes this so affordable is its casual climb that doesn’t even need intermediate experience in trekking, its coverage of the most central viewpoints and simply the fact that it is a paradise for everyone including nature enthusiasts, bird watchers or if you are an avid lens snapper in the middle of the flat plateau. For folks who love the mountains, this trek should be crossed off your list of the best and enjoyable treks that exist in India.

First stop on the trek is Deoria Tal which is a lake residing among the mountains at a height of 2300 meters. This water body is walled by thick forests around it. From the lake you can watch the Chaukhamba ridge shining in all of its dewy glory and its reflection in the surface of the lake. We will camp here under the starry skies and enjoy the peaceful nature bed before traveling the next day to the ecstatic snow fields on our way to Chopta. This complete journey will take you through visuals of the most prominent peaks such as Kedar, Bandarpoonch and Chaukhamba. The grandiose is not lost on you as you make your way to the zenith of Chandrashila where you form audience to one of the greatest views that human eyes can witness to perceive the expounded Himalayas from the Tungnath Temple.

Hey, this isn’t for everyone

This trek is apt for someone who like to overload on adrenaline and yearns to get lost into the wide green yonder of rhododendron going through ice snow as they were guardian element.

it’s preferable if you’ve fresher or already had your fair share of experience in himalayas or other mountains. also, physical fitness and agility goes hand in hand with the trek as it falls under the above moderate difficulty. on paper it is the minimum required age is 8- 9 years,

Temples of ringing bells

Day 1: Haridwar To Sari ( 6600 ft)

• Estimation time of completion: 8-9 hrs
• Estimation distance of Drive: 212 km
• Tip: Be ready to make a memory

One of the things you will note about trekking with us is our habit of starting most journeys in the early hours of the day. This ensures your mind is fresh and relaxed while your body is ready with conserved energy. As is customary, we will expect you at Haridwar Railway Station at 6 in the morning. You may reach Haridwar through a bus journey from Delhi the previous day or night. You may also reach Haridwar through a rail journey and soak up the beauty of this ancient city.

We start from Haridwar to Rishikesh which is known for its equal parts cultural and adventurous activities due to its close proximity to the Ganges. It also happens to be our pick up point, so please do feel free to spend your time in Rishikesh before we start out on our expedition.

Reaching Sari will take us around 7 – 8 hours. While we drive uphill, do not miss out on the panorama of Garhwal Himalayas. The prominent part of this drive will be at the ever gorgeous Devprayag – a town that marks the convergence of Alakananda and Bhagirathi rivers who then form the Ganga. This river keeps remains your companion through the journey till Sari along with surrounding foothills and green pitches. Once at Sari you can visit their resourceful market for anything useful or last minute you might need for the rest of the journey.

Day 2: Sari ( 6600 ft) to Deoria Tal (7840 ft)

• Estimation time of completion: 2 hrs
• Estimation distance of trek: 3 km
• Tip: Carry sufficient water, at least 2 liters of water.

On the first day of the Deoriatal -Chandrashila Trek we would keep mark to ascent towards Deoria Tal. The path is rocky and once this lasts, you will be able to see the Chandrashila peak behind you while the Tungnath temple is just a fleck in the distance. Post this point, is an arduous climb which will instill your first effort needed for this trip. In no time you are expected to be at the resting stop maintained by the Forest Department. While we rest here for twenty mins, you can enjoy the serenity of the nature surrounding you. A memorable trek awaits you in the next leg of the course as the view changes from mountainous one to a lusher one where you are surrounded by sea of rhododendron blossoms. Walking through these will desensitize your realization that you have now crossed the 7000 feet mark. Soon you will lose sight of villages and in the next 20 mins embrace yourselves for a unique and incredible picture painted by nature. Deoria Tal is a still water body standing on a flat surface on top while a colossal view of various mountains waits ahead of you. In the background of the lake you will witness the Chaukhamba massifs. We would have made it here by mid noon. However, do not miss the view in the morning once the refuge of cloud lifts to display the shiny outlines of Chaukhamba, making it one of the most surrealistic views in the vicinity. You may spend the rest of the day exploring the forests or captivating the entire view ahead of you. This place is a haven for bird watchers. The camp will be set up lakeside and will serve freshly prepared hot lunch.

Day 3: Deoriatal (7,840 ft) to Syalmi (8,791 ft) via Rohini Bugyal

• Estimation time of completion: 7 – 8 hrs
• Estimation distance of trek: 14 km
• Tip: Carry sufficient water of 2 liters as water is available at before reaching Rohini.

Bugyal from the underground source. This sometimes could be frozen. Other sources are Akash Kamini waterfall en route Bhrujgali and a brook before Bhrujgali.

Day 3 forms a huge part of the Deoriatal -Chandrashila Trek as we will progress towards Chopta, walking along the lake towards the Forest Guest Lodge. This trek will keep you in close proximity of the Chaukhamba chain and Kedar’s summit while they raise gradually with you. Mind you, the hike is ascending and testing but is made up for with the beauty of surrounding maples and rhododendrons.

From the guest house and a little while into the trek you will find a small clearing as you come out of the forest. You will now be able to view below, the Sari village on your right and the Chandrashila peak in front of you. The forest ridge is a huge piece of land and this is the route to the base of the Chandrashila peak. If you climb up the trail, you can see the beautiful mountain ridge on your left, from where a trail to Madhmaheshwar and Nandikund trek passes.

Once you climb up this forest ridge, in about 15 mins you get the view of the highest point, called the Jhandi Dhar (N 30°31.580, E 079 °08.515). It is marked by a flag post and during the months of March and April, the trail is blazing with red and pink flowers of rhododendron.

Now you can gradually see the forest getting denser as you proceed and take the trail that descends all of a sudden and connects below to the forest ridge below. After 10-15 minutes, the trail takes a turn into a blissful spot. These areas are indigenous to a mixture of red and pink rhododendrons as you walk a little into the trail. The scenery etches a gorgeous picture in the back of your mind. While you walk do note the little monuments built by the locals of the Sari village that would seem apart in the sea of green and red due to the flags tied to them.

Fifteen minutes later comes a forest clearance that is made of crimson flowers. This clearance directly leads to another ascension that will take us towards Rohini Bugyal and Chopta. We enter the forest once again where the trek is a less exhausting as the land levels and scenery gets better. After this little patch of forest is cleared a high-spirited view of Chandrashila is prominent that can surge your hope to keep going.

We then re-enter the forest which forms the Kedarnath Sanctuary and has oaks in addition to the maples and rhododendrons. In this forest, by any luck we should be visited by red foxes and other smaller wild things. We proceed for another 30 mins until we reach a cross paths of 3 routes that lead to different hamlets. The one in the middle is the one which we will continue on to proceed to Rohini Bugyal.

The tiny meadow, Rohini Bughyal (N 30°31.026, E 079 °11.702) is surrounded by the beautiful rhododendron forest and view of the Kedar dome and the Kala Parvat peaks. The sunset view from here is what you should look out for. From here you move on to the meadows of Bhrujgali and then get to the ridge top, which is covered in dense forest cover. The locals call this spot as Tikidi Khal.

Further on to this path, you will clearly be able to see Chandrashila more clearly while Kala Parvat now becomes more protruding.

The descent is now more defined, all the way to Akash Kamini, a rivulet coming from Chandrashila. Take the second trail and not far from this point, you will be able to see a clear stream flowing from our destination. We will refill our water supplies and cross the tiny bridge to proceed to an area with hamlets and its chattels. Keep an eye out for realistic view of a mountain village including lush forests, a deepening valley and shepherds with their livestock. Once we travel a little further we come in close proximity of Chopta village, before which we will camp out in a small clearing within the forests.

Day 4: Syalmi to Baniya Kund, 3 kms

A short trek of 2 hours for day 4

Day 5: Baniya Kund(8,790 ft) to Chopta(12050 ft) by car and trek to Chandrashila Peak via Tungnath and back to Baniya Kund

• Estimation time of completion: 4 hrs
• Estimation distance of trek: 8 km
• Tip: No source of water carry sufficient water with you
• Trek gradient: Moderate. Sharp ascent to Tungnath (2 km) followed by steep climb to Chandrashila for about 45 minutes. Descent on the same path takes around 90 minutes.

The group starts early morning on the day 5 for the final leg of the hike. It is preferred to start in the early dark hours of the morning so as to enjoy the pleasant sunrise from the top of Tungnath and Chandrashila peak. Do keep in mind that this pilgrim trail will have steep climbs and sharp turns while we follow the concrete bound trail from Chopta to the temple.

You will find on your right, another peak pointing towards Chandrashila, known as Ravanshila. Tungnath temple is very close by from here and on your left, overlooking the valley is a section of Birch trees (Bhojpatra). This is the spot where you’ll find birds like Monal and Griffin vulture. Usually in the winters, we will find snow here. The 11th bend will mark the ascension towards Tungnath from where the Chandrashila peak awaits us at 12,050 ft. It can be quite fun to trek through the snow but caution is recommended while we climb up to the peak especially during the months of December through April.

A little story on the Tungnath temple- There is a belief that there are 5 temples built by the Pandavas to atone for the sins of killing their kin and Brahmins in the Kurukshetra war in the Mahabharata. Tungnath is the third of the Panch Kedars. The Pandavas sought the forgiveness of Lord Shiva who was disguised as a bull during their requestParts of this bull appeared in 5 different places, each of these identified as a Panch Kedar. Tungnath is where his hands and chest are said to have appeared. This place has the distinction of being the only temple in the world to be located at such a high altitude (12,073 ft).

A little above the temple complex is the Chandrashila peak and you can get there from behind the complex. A trail with many scissor bends starts here and is completely buried in snow during winter.

We highly recommend that you carry crampons, gaiters and ice axes if possible to go through the thick snow. At the steep end of the exciting and toll taking climb, we would have hit our goal by reaching thesummit with a 360 degree view of the Garhwal and Kumaon mountains. A few peaks that you will notice without fail from this summit are Nanda Devi, Trishul, Nanda Ghunti, Dronagiri, Chaukhamba, and Kedar. You will also be able to make out the Thalay Sagar and the Gangotri ranges. Soak in the view and the sense of accomplishment at this peak. The feeling is nothing short of being on top of the world at this height. After spending considerable amount of time here, we will then descend back to Chopta campsite. The journey is not as time consuming and is much evener. Add to it the factor of achievement in your trek book and we will see to it that you would have made to the base in the next 3 hours.

Day 6: Chopta to Haridwar

• Estimation time of completion: 8-9 hrs
• Estimation distance of trek: 212 km
• Tip: left Mountain and trail clean

We usually schedule a ride back to Haridwar directly from Chopta. It takes around 8 hours for the journey through the mountains and valleys. If exhaustion permits, you can soak in the view of the regions and reminisce on climbing through these rocky hills. WE expect to reach Haridwar by evening. You may choose to continue your trip at Haridwar or Rishikesh. Alternately, you may also board an overnight bus that will take you straight to Delhi.

Fitness Tips for the Mountains:

The Mountaineer Fitness Plan starts with training both the Mind & Body. It’s a physically grueling task to trek a mountain, but the mindset wins it all in the end and the body will come to the rescue. Persistence consists of 50% you Mind & 50% your Body.

We at Discovery Hike believe that with our Mantra of SSS, you get in the right shape of mind and body before you come to trek with us. Whether you are a Beginner or a Pro. An adult or a teenager you follow this regiment for 30 days prior to your Trek, it will provide you the desired results.

What is the SSS, you ask? It is:

Stamina

Strength

Stretch

Stamina – You will need to particularly enhance your current stamina to a fiercer one to undertake any Trek. You will need spare 30 – 45 Daily for this activity and increase it based on the Trek.

You will need to start with walking 4 km & more gradually. Effectively your goal will be to walk for 4+km a day.

Once you have successfully completed walking, turn this into running/jogging for the same distance. Effectively your goal will be to run 4+ km a day

Strength – Working on Stamina is just restricted to your running. Strength is working on various parts of your body to compliment your Stamina. Upper Back, Lower Back, Core, Legs, Arms & more.

Upper Body – You will need to do Push-ups after you have done with your running exercise. You will need to make it 5 – 10 push-ups a day. Repeat the same in sets of 3 daily. Effectively your goal will be to reach 15 – 30 push-ups daily.

Lower Back – Perform a Plank starting with 30 seconds a Day. Add 10 – 15 seconds more daily to improve the strength you add to you core. Effectively your goal will be to perform a Plank for 3 – 5 minutes.

Arms – You can do lights lifts in the Gym. If not the gym, you can use a heavy book or object & move it towards your shoulder without losing form & repeat the same for both arms for about 30 times in sets of 3. Effectively your goal will be to perform 100 lifts in each arm.

Legs – You will have to start with squats of 5 – 10 in sets of 3. Alternatively, you can also do Wall sits-up of 5 – 10 in sets of 3. Effectively your goal will be to perform 15 – 30 squats/sit-ups.

Core – You will need start with crunches of 5 – 10 in sets of 3 and keep adding more towards by the day. This will build not just the core but your Lower back & Stamina too. Effectively your goal will be to reach 30 – 50 squats in a day.

Stretch – Probably the most neglected but the most crucial part of the exercise Stretching. This will enable all your muscles to stay intact & be activated rather than cramping. It will improve your performance in all activities you undertake. decrease your risk of injuries, help in your joints movements & enable your muscles to work at their best.

Shoulder stretches

Wrist stretches

Hamstring stretches

Calf stretches

Mental Health – The other 50% of your Training comes from Mental Wellness. This will surely help you when you are faced against the harness of nature to give you the strength required to overcome obstacles of any kind. The best mind that can achieve this is a calm mind. We recommend that you partake in Yoga for some Mental Rest & Relaxation.

Take slow, deep breaths. Or try other breathing exercises for relaxation

Soak in a warm bath

Listen to soothing music

Practice mindful meditation

Sleep early and Rise Early

Hope the above suggestions proved to be useless. These are merely guidelines to be in the right shape of Mental & Physical state. If you are already following a regiment that is suitable to your body, we suggest that you continue. This is for Beginners and Start-up kit for those who are about to undertake the Trek with us.

BMI CUTOFF

BMI for different trek grade conditions are different. If anyone above the cutoff will be considered as overweight and not be allowed to trek with us.

BMI cut off for high altitude trek

BP CUT OFF

BP cut off is different for different altitude. If BP is above our cutoff the trekker need to Decent down as soon as possible to the core base. Higher reading is dangerous.

BP cut off for high altitude trek

We shall see you soon

– Discovery Hike Team

How To Get To The Basecamp – Sari

Delhi → Haridwar → Sari

You will have to get to the Basecamp – Sari – for the Chandrashila Trek which is a 224 km drive from Haridwar.

Discovery Hike will arrange for transport to leave HaridwarRailwayStation at 06:30 at an additional cost which should be shared by the trekkers and paid directly to the driver(a mini can can accommodate 5 to 6 trekkers atRs 5500 per vehicle while a Temp traveler will cost Rs 9000 per vehicle which can accommodate 7 to 10 trekkers).

Getting to Haridwar Railway Station.

The first option is to reach Haridwar by taking an overnight train 12205 Nanda Devi express which departs from Delhi at 23:50 and reaches Haridwar at 03:52.

The second option is 12055 DDN JANSHTBDI which departs from New Delhi station at 15:20 and reaches Haridwar at 19:50. You can only choose this option if you want to reach Haridwar a day before the trek starts.

Haridwar has very good road connectivity from Delhi, there are regular buses from Delhi to Haridwar. You can take any of the buses, depending how early you want to reach before the Discovery Hike vehicle departs from Haridwar Railway Station. You can book your tickets online.

Getting to Sari By Yourself: Take an overnight train to Dehradun Railway Station, from there, take a direct bus that departs from Dehradun ISBT around 08:00 and reach Ukhimath around 17:30 and then take a jeep or bus to Sari which is 24 km away from Ukhimath.

How to Get back from Joshimath to Haridwar

Sari→ Haridwar → Delhi

Day 6 will be departure day. Discovery Hike will arrange transport from Joshimath at 08:00 in the morning. The cost of the mini cab is Rs 5500 per vehicle which can accommodate 5 to 6 trekkers and tempo traveler cost you around Rs 9000 per vehicle which can accommodate 7 to 10 trekkers. The total cost of the fare must be shared amongst the trekker and paid directly to the drive on reaching Haridwar.

On reaching Haridwar, you can take the overnight train 12205 Nanda Devi Express which departs at 12:55 or Mussoorie express which leaves at 23:15 from Haridwar Railway Station.