Route library · Weekend · Mountains
Delhi to Chopta & Tungnath
Chopta is a string of meadows at about 2,900 m with a road running right through it and a huge view of the Kedarnath range. From the roadhead a 3.5 km path climbs to Tungnath, the highest Shiva temple in the world at 3,680 m, and another steep half-hour reaches the Chandrashila summit. It is tar the whole way and doable in a long weekend.
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At a glance
- Round trip
- About 860–940 km
- Riding time
- 8–9 hours to Rudraprayag, then 3–4 hours to Chopta
- Nights
- Two is workable; three is relaxed
- Start point
- Delhi (via Haridwar and Rishikesh)
- Highest point
- About 2,900 m at Chopta; 3,680 m at Tungnath on foot
- Difficulty
- Moderate. Sealed road throughout, but long days and sustained altitude on the last stretch.
- Surface
- Rishikesh–Rudraprayag is decent Char Dham highway; Ukhimath–Chopta is a narrow tarred hill road, good but exposed
- Best season
- April to June and September to November. Snow closes it roughly December to March. Monsoon (Jul–Aug) landslides on the Rudraprayag road.
The ride
Delhi → Haridwar → Rishikesh, then the Char Dham road up the Alaknanda through Devprayag and Srinagar to Rudraprayag. From there you turn towards Kedarnath, break off at Ukhimath, and climb the quiet forested road to Chopta.
Leave the bike at the Chopta roadhead and walk. Tungnath is 3.5 km up a stone path — an hour and a half at a steady pace — and Chandrashila is a further sharp climb to a 360-degree view of Nanda Devi, Trishul and the Kedarnath peaks. Nearby, a 2.5 km walk from Sari village reaches Deoria Tal, a lake that mirrors the Chaukhamba massif.
Day by day
Delhi to Rudraprayag (or Ukhimath)
The long day on the Char Dham highway: Delhi → Haridwar → Rishikesh → Devprayag → Srinagar → Rudraprayag (8–9 hours). Sleep here or push the extra hour to Ukhimath.
To Chopta
A short, beautiful ride: Ukhimath → Chopta on a narrow tarred road through rhododendron and oak. Arrive by early afternoon so you have daylight for a short walk.
Tungnath and Chandrashila
Start the walk early. Tungnath temple, then Chandrashila for the summit view, then back down to the bike. Rest afternoon.
Chopta to Delhi
Retrace to Rudraprayag in the cool morning, then the long highway home. Break it at Rishikesh if the day runs late.
Fuel & services
- Fuel is easy to Rishikesh and along the highway to Srinagar and Rudraprayag.
- Ukhimath has the last reliable pump. From there to Chopta and back it is roughly 60–70 km with nothing — fill up at Rudraprayag or Ukhimath and do not run low.
- Chopta has basic wooden huts, tented camps and dhabas — cold, simple, no luxury. Book ahead in season; carry cash and a power bank, signal and electricity are unreliable.
Road & conditions
The highway to Rudraprayag is the standard Char Dham route — busy with pilgrim buses, regular roadwork, and landslide-prone in and after the monsoon. The Ukhimath–Chopta stretch is a good narrow hill road with a steep drop on one side and no barriers in places; ride it in daylight, take the hairpins wide, and expect the odd cow or oncoming bus mid-corner.
Bike, fuel & getting help
- Suggested bike
- Fine on a well-maintained 150–200cc commuter.
- Fuel gap
- One long stretch without a pump — fill up before it and top off where you can.
- Spare fuel
- Carry 3–5 litres of spare fuel.
- Emergency & logistics
- The nearest well-equipped hospital is the valley/district town, one to two hours off; signal is patchy above the bazaar; carry the group lead's number and an emergency card.
Best time to ride
Late April to mid-June is green and mild, with rhododendron in bloom lower down. Mid-September to mid-November is the clearest, with sharp post-monsoon views and fewer people. December to March the road is usually snowbound at Chopta. Avoid July and August.
What to add to your kit
Beyond the standard ride kit: proper walking shoes for the Tungnath climb, a warm layer and a windproof (Chopta is cold at night even in summer), a headlamp, cash, and a small daypack for the walk.
Ride this with a group
We run Chopta as a two- or three-night group ride — the long highway day briefed and paced, fuel sorted at Ukhimath, and a trail clean-up on the walk to Tungnath.