“It is the highest Shiva temple in the world” we screamed with excitement. And that was the moment we knew, what’s our next destination gonna be like. Tungnath temple is the highest Shiva abode in the world. Further up rests the summit of Chandrashila, another 1.5 kilometers from Tungnath. Nearly 6 hours trek to Tungnath starts at a small hill town of Chopta, also known as the mini Switzerland of India.
Journey Begins
Chopta requires at least 4 days in your itinerary. We decided to give it six since we also planned to trek to Deoria Tal. So the dates were blocked, leave applications were made and the bags were packed. Among the things we carried were our joggers, a jacket, sunscreen. We suggest, you also carry a raincoat as the unexpected pour can greet you anytime during your sojourn.
The road to Chopta takes you through holy cities of Haridwar, Rishikesh and the grand confluence Devprayag where rivers Alaknanda and Bhagirathi rivers meet and take the name, Ganga. Devprayag is a holy seat for sages and millions of pilgrims flock this place every year. Abhishek and I too stopped to gaze at the majestic confluence.
About Chopta
Located at an altitude of 2680 meters above sea level, in the Rudraprayag District of Uttarakhand, the unexplored city of Chopta is bliss for explorers and trekking enthusiasts alike. The snow-clad mountains overlooking the green meadows carpeted by Rhododendron and Deodar trees, make it a sight to behold. As you enter in nature’s amphitheater the full-bloomed forests welcome you and the chirping birds tune in. The soft slopes of Chopta host the rare flora and fauna of the world.
How to reach Chopta?
By Air: Dehradun’s The Jolly Grant Airport is the nearest airport to Chopta. Take private buses from Dehradun to reach your destination
By Train: About 100 km from Chopta is the Rishikesh railway station. Buses and cabs ply from the station to Chopta.
By Road: The NH58 connects you to Chopta. Take the road to Rudraprayag and follow it till Kedarnath. At Kedarnath, take a right to Ukhimath. Chopta is nearly 40 kilometers from Ukhimath.
Where to stay?
There are nearly no lodging facilities in Chopta. However, Duggalbitta, which is just 7 kilometers away from Chopta hosts numerous camps and guesthouses. We stayed at Paradise adventure camp. The rooms had attached washrooms, also the food was decent, and by the end of our stay, we were pretty content with our experience.
Chopta – Tungnath Trek.
Chopta offers picturesque views of the Himalayan ranges which include the peaks of Trishul, Nanda Devi, and Chaukhamba. A region formed of meadows and forests, Chopta is part of the Kedarnath Wildlife Sanctuary and also is the base camp to Tungnath.
The trek to Tungnath begins at Chopta. It is advisable to start trekking early in the morning. The squeaky clean well-constructed road is flagged by the lush greens. The soft slopes carpeted by wildflowers and ornamented with oak, birch and deodar trees make for the picturesque view. Be ready to say hi to a few gorgeous birds on the way too.
It took us nearly 5 hours to reach Tungnath. Crafted by stones and surrounded by the majestic Himalayas, Tungnath is the highest of Panch Kedar temples and the highest Shiva temple in the world. We offered our respects at the temple and needless to say cool pics with the coolest God was a must.
The Legend of Tungnath
Lord Shiva is known to be the coolest God in Hindu mythology for reasons more than one. Tunganath is linked to the origin of the Panch Kedar temples built by the Pandavas. The legend states that sage Vyas Rishi advised the Pandavas to seek Lord’s forgiveness for slaying their cousins. However, Shiva was convinced of the guilt of Pandavas and went into hiding at Guptkashi to avoid them. However, Pandavas chased him. But later Shiva’s body in the form of bull’s body parts re-materialized at five different locations that represent the “Panch Kedar” where Pandavas built temples of Lord Shiva. Tungnath is identified as the place where the bahu (hands) were seen: hump was seen at Kedarnath; head appeared at Rudranath; his navel and stomach surfaced at Madhyamaheshwar and his Jata (hair or locks) at Kalpeshwar.
The Temple Practices
The priest at the Tuganath temple is a local Brahmin from Ukhimath village, unlike the other Kedar temples where the priests are from South India, a tradition set by the eighth-century Hindu seer Sankaracharya. During the winter season, the temple is closed and the symbolic image of the deity and the temple priests are moved to Mukkumath, which is near Duggalbitha.
The Chandrashila Trek
Our feet were wobbly but we decided not to give up. The initial trail to Chandrashila was rocky and not without perils. But we kept calm and moved up. Nearly two hours later we reached the summit. A paradise unlocked before our eyes. Standing in nature’s amphitheater, we witnessed the panoramic view of the 5 peaks- Nandadevi, Trisul, Kedar Peak, Bandarpunch and Chaukhamba peaks
The Legend of Chandrashila
Chandrashila means “Moon Rock”. It is located at a height of about 4,000 meters (13,000 ft) above sea level. There are various legends associated with this place. According to one such legend, this is the place where Lord Rama meditated after defeating the demon-king Ravana. Another legend says that moon-god Chandra spent time here in penance.
By the time we reached Chandrashila, it was way past 4. So we offered our prayers and decided to climb down. Though it took us relatively lesser time on our way back heavy rains were waiting to hobnob.
In the absence of no raincoats, we took shelter in a local tea shop and purchased some local raincoats from there. By 6 in the evening we were finally able to drag ourselves to Chopta. Trudging with shaky feet and wobbly knees, we were naturally tired. But our hearts and minds were refreshed and so were our social media handles.
