Chopta Valley
Chopta is a small settlement and valley that is located in Uttarakhand, which is very popular among tourists, mainly because of the number of options it provides for exploring, adventure buffs and trekking enthusiasts. The entire region is a haven of beauty, especially for the ones who are looking for a good place to relax, without the hustle and bustle of a typical tourist hotspot. Chopta is situated at an elevation of 2,600 mts above sea level amidst dense forest. Chopta is well connected by motorable roads and it lies on the Ukhimath – Gopeshwar road. It is one of the most picturesque spot of Uttaranchal state as the natural splendours seen from here are very diverse. Kedarnath Wildlife Sanctuary is situated in the heart of Chopta has inspired many a nature-lover tourists over the years. Located at height of 3680 m above sea level, the Tungnath Shiva Temple is the highest of the Panch Kedar. Gopeshwar, the district headquarters of Chamoli, situated at an elevation of 1500 m above sea level is a picturesque place with salubrious climate. On the Chopta-Gopeshwar road, Kanchula Korak Musk Deer Sanctuary is famous for breeding musk deers. This sanctuary covers an area of 5 sq. m and is an ideal place for tourists to view rare Himalayan wildlife. This place is also popular for its dense forests and aromatic flowers. Ukhimath is the winter seat of lord Kedarnath and worship is done here during the winters when the temple of Kedarnath remains closed. The temples of Usha and Anirudh, Shiva and Parvati are worth a visit. Chopta is also a base for trekking to Tungnath, third temple of Panch Kedar, which lies 3.5 kilometres uphill.
This unspoiled natural destination lying in the lap of Himalayas, offers vistas of the imposing Himalayan range including Trishul, Nanda Devi and Chaukhamba. It is located at an elevation of 2,680 metres (8,790 ft) above sea level. Chopta village is surrounded by forests of pine, deodar and rhododendron and is rich in flora and fauna include rare species of birds and musk deer. Chopta also popularly known as ‘Mini Switzerland’ of India, lies 29 km from Ukhimath and 162 kms from Rishikesh on the road from Gopeshwar to Guptkashi.
Some activities in Chopta are:
Camping and trekking, yoga, survival activity
Snow trekking, snow skiing
Rock craft, rock climbing, rappelling Photography of rare himalayan species of monal bird, musk deer and Pika Mouse
During your trip to Chopta valley, a trek to the nearby region of Deoria Tal (which is a very famous lake surrounded entirely by forests on all sides) can be taken.
