Tungnath Temple Trek: Trekking to the world’s highest Shiva temple on weekend, remembers throughout his life

Last update:09 February, 2025, 17:28 IST

Tungnath Temple Trek: Chopta Tungnath is the highest Shiva temple in the world. It is a very exciting experience to reach this Shiva temple at a height of more than 12 thousand feet above sea level. But further, Chandrashila Peak without it …Read more

Tungnath Temple Trek: Wanted to see a mountain covered with white snow for a long time. But no travel plan was being done. Suddenly on January 31, my classmate Atul Gupta got a call and this small dream started to be completed. He proposed the Tungnath trek, which was unmoved to me to refuse. Instructed on the camera, phone and power bank charge and start preparations to get out. The next two hours later we were on the way from Delhi to Tungnath. For the first time, the thrill of walking between snow -laden mountains and going to the world’s highest Shiva temple was at its peak.

It was around two o’clock at night to reach Rishikesh from Delhi. Do not let Rishikesh go beyond the night. In such a situation, we had to sleep in a hotel here. Whose fare was 500 rupees. The next morning the journey started again and taking small breaks, we reached Chopta at around seven in the evening. It was dark in reaching Chopta, but snow started appearing everywhere. It protected from the hope of not seeing snow.

Chopta tea

The view in Chopta was full of thrill. People were buying and renting snow boots, trekking sticks, gloves, etc. for trekking next morning. We also took a room of 1000 rupees to sleep at night. While eating food at a dhaba here, there was also a plate of tea and buggy food in the menu. On asking, the boy who served, said that there is nothing special in him. We kept laughing whether tea will make Bugyal’s grass.

Chopta is a small beautiful hill station in Uttarakhand. About which British Commissioner Atikinson had said that the one who did not see Chopta in his life, he did not see anything. Chopta’s greenery was left out of our eyes. Due to the night, the sound of the forest and the sky filled with stars could be seen.

Trekking of Tungnath and Chandrashila

On February 1, we woke up around four o’clock in the morning and we drank tea, purchased two bottle water and one gloves for the way. After this, everyone started trekking with bells hanging at the gate and by taking the name of Lord Shiva. It was completely dark at this time. The light of mobile and torch had to be seen, which was a bit bored. Some experienced people were constantly getting advice to escape from black ice. At the beginning of trekking, everyone was full of energy and enthusiasm. In such a situation, everyone’s breath started to uproot only about 500 meters and the feet started answering. My intention also started shaking and I told Atul that I am going back. But there was a little way to walk in the next 500 meters and the speed was also controlled.

In this trekking, it was felt that while trekking, the person learns to walk again. Walking in the field is completely different to walk in the mountain. Moving slowly, the first ray of dawn erupted in the sky filled the enthusiasm again. Now a sheet of snow started appearing on the mountains. It felt as if we are disturbing the sleep of the mountains. Now black ice started getting continuously. Due to which it was a challenge to escape. As soon as he stepped on this, he used to fall from a bust in a moment.

Tungnath Nath Shiva Temple

Tungnath is among the Panchdar of Uttarakhand. The top of Tungnath is 12,073 feet high. Which makes it the world’s highest Shiva temple. These mountains construct Mandakini and Alaknanda river valleys. It is believed that the Tungnath Shiva temple was built by the Pandavas. Reaching the Tungnath temple was the most challenging route for us so far. The next few hundred meters route was covered with snow and black ice. On which everyone was slipping. There is a shop of tea and Maggi just below the temple. After drinking tea and capturing some pictures here, he reached the temple, staggering, staggering. The temple will open in May, but the scene seen from the lattice on its gate was going to exist. Snow was laid in the temple premises. Snow was shining on the mountains behind him. After staying here for some time, it was decided to go to Chandrashila. The courage of many people answered it further, so they thought it right to return.

Tungnath to Chandrashila

The Tungnath Temple This Chandrashila trek is about 1.5 kilometers. But along with the climbing, there is more faced than black ice. There is also a belief about Chandrashila that after the slaughter of Ravana, Lord Rama also repeated this place. I realized that the most exciting and most beautiful part of the entire trek is from Chandrashila from Tungnath. The person misses a lot if it does not track it. In the morning, the sight of Chandrashila’s peak is seen, it makes the word free. You are standing on the peaks covered with blue aura all around and the highest peak between them. There was snow on all the peaks below it around Chandrashila, but not a single particle of ice was found on Chandrashila. It was also amazing. We spent about one and a half hours on this peak. Sleep comfortably for some time in the sun on the stone. It was a very relaxed moment.

It was more challenging than returning from Chandrashila. It was sunny by now. In such a situation, the black ice that was slipping less, now it had become smooth like lead. I thought it better to sit in many places instead of falling. However, there was a different thrill in it too.

How to go to Tungnath from Delhi

Distance- The distance from Delhi to Chopta is about 452 kilometers. A 4 km trek starts from Chopta to Tungnath.

How to go to Chopta from Delhi- There are two ways to go by road. One way is through Dehradun. The distance from this route is about 551 km. The second route from Delhi to Haridwar/Rishikesh. The distance from here is 452 km.

Entry fee

The trek of Tungnath comes under the Kedarnath Wildlife Sanctuary. Therefore, a fee of Rs 100 per person is charged from the trekters. Fees have to be deposited at the entry point.