Chopta is a beautiful hill station located in the Rudraprayag district of Uttarakhand, at an altitude of 2680 m above sea level. The destination has earned the nickname “Mini Switzerland” due to its stunning scenic beauty and lush green meadows, known as Bugyals. Tourists can enjoy the splendid views of mountain ranges, such as Chaukhamba, Trishul and Nanda Devi, from this place.
The place is famous for the Tungnath temple dedicated to the Hindu lord Shiva. This ancient shrine is located in the Tungnath Range, at a height of 3680 m above sea level and is known as the highest Shiva Temple in the world. According to Hindu mythology, this is the same place where Ravana, the antagonist of the Hindu epic, the Ramayana, repented of his sins. Tungnath Temple can be reached by hiking 3.5 km from Chopta.
Tourist attractions in and around Chopta The Kedarnath Mandir is another popular religious attraction, located near the Mandakini River. This temple is one of the Panch Kedars and an outstanding religious center for Hindus. The lingam of Shiva enshrined in the temple is one of the 12 Jyotirlingas. In addition, there are about 200 idols of Lord Shiva in this temple. Madhyamaheshwar Temple, Kalpeshwar Mandir and Kanchula Korak Musk Deer Sanctuary are some of the other prominent tourist attractions of the destination.
How to get to Chopta The rich flora and fauna of Chopta attracts a large number of tourists, especially nature lovers. In addition, this place serves as a base camp for walks to Panch Kedar. Travelers can reach Chopta by air, train and road. Jolly Grant Airport in Dehradun serves as the closest air base to the destination. It is situated at a distance of about 226 km from the hill station. This airport is well connected to New Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport by regular flights. The nearest train station to Chopta is in Rishikesh. Travellers can also take advantage of bus services from Haridwar, Dehradun and Rishikesh to get to Chopta.
Best time to visit Chopta Monsoons and summers are considered the best for planning a trip to this beautiful hill station. Travelers should avoid visiting this place during the winter season as Chopta receives heavy snowfall.
