Deoria Tal, a dazzling emerald freshwater lake in Uttarakhand, is situated at a distance of 34 km from the quaint villages of Sari and Mastura. Deoria Tal is perched at an elevation of 2,438m. Deoria Tal trek is considered as an easy to moderate trek, favorable for first-time and experienced trekkers alike.

Walking up the trek routes with an admirable view of the Western and Eastern summits of Uttarakhand all around makes the journey all the more memorable.

 

The Deoriatal Lake attracts avid wanderers because of its wide variety of mountain birds, panoramic views of Nanda Devi and Mt. Trishul, and the dense maple and oak forests. This location is replete with mythological significances and historical events.

The Deoriatal Lake is appareled with wooded forests all around. This crystal-clear lake blesses the tourists with its awe-inspiring mirror-like reflections of the Chaukhamba Peak.

Deoriatal Chandrashila Trek

The Deoriatal Chandrashila trek is a 4 days trek. The trek path meanders through Chopta, Tungnath, Deoriatal Lake, and finally the Chandrashila Peak. This trek comes with a soothing and pleasant climate, offering magnificent scenic beauty.

The Deoriatal Chandrashila trek is very famous for Tungnath, a 1000 years old temple, which is deemed as the highest shrine of Lord Shiva in the world.

The wild Rhododendrons are one of the many reasons for the trekkers to explore this heavenly abode. These flowers remain in full bloom all along the trek. It flourishes in vivid colors like pink and red which makes the trek paths alluring and entertaining.

The Deoriatal trek is very famous for bird watching also. The variety of birds is so huge that its sweet humming drowns all the other noises of the environment. The silence in the mountains is palpable but with 30 to 40 varieties of birds, the ambiance enlivens.

 

Zigzagging up the trail, this bewitching trek continues to enchant you with the beauty of the extensive meadows and the heavenly views of the lofty peaks, namely- Bandarpunch, Kedar, Nilkantha, and Chaukhamba.

From the zenith of Chandrashila, meaning “moonrock”, situated at a good height of 13,120 ft, watching the sundown is a sublime experience. The sky bathes in the amazing hues of yellow and orange, embellishing the mountain tops and the rolling landscapes, making it a breath-taking sight.

The Chandrashila peak height of 13,120 ft provides a magnificent scenic view which makes it worth visiting.

Mythology About Deoriatal Lake

Deoriatal history is rich in Hindu mythology. It was known to be the bathing spot of Devas. This lake is referred to as “Indra Sarovar” in the ancient Puranas.

According to Mahabharata, this was the place where Yaksha asked questions to the Pandavas. It is also said that Bhima, the strongest warrior amongst the Pandavas, built this lake to quench his thirst on Yudhistir’s advice.

Deoriatal Trek Route

Start early from Haridwar/ Rishikesh in the morning to reach Panger campsite by afternoon. This route is to be covered by a car. Before reaching your destination, you will come across Ukimath, where the idols are brought down from Kedarnath Temple in the winters. Deoriatal is 14.1 km away from Ukimath. Spend the night in Ukimath to experience the divinity of the place.

The next day's trek starts with a 5 km car drive from Panger to Chopta. Going further upwards, there will be some slightly steep ascends and you have to trek throughout. This trek route through Tungnath passes through the 1000 years old Shiva temple at 12000 ft.

Nestled in the Tungnath Range, this temple is regarded as the highest Shiva temple in the world. It is a 5 hours trek from Chopta to Chandrashila Peak. The top of the Chandrashila Peak provides you with a complete view of the Kumaon and Garhwal Ranges. The peaks visible from this point are quite a few, namely- Nanda Devi, Trishul, Chaukamba, Kedardome, Nanda Ghunti, and Dunagiri.

After this surreal experience, the downhill trek to Chopta will be quite memorable. After reaching Chopta, you have to drive to the serene Sari village. Sari forms the base camp of Deoriatal Chandrashila trek.

Deoriatal Lake is just 3 km away from the picturesque base camp, Sari.

The path of the trek courses through the maple forests, alluring farmlands, and some ancient temples. You can also find a Hawa Ghar (Gazebo), built by the Forest Department, halfway to the trek. This is built so that the trekkers can take some rest and indulge in snap-shooting the surreal scenic landscapes.

From Deoriatal, it is an uphill trek crossing the forest ridges and sharp alleys. After reaching your destination and spending some time near the beautiful lake, you need to retrace back to your campsite in Panger.

It is an 8 hours drive to Haridwar from Panger. Coming back to Haridwar will mark the end of this dreamlike trek.

Best Time To Visit Deoriatal

Deoriatal Chandrashila's best time is during the months of March to June and September to December. This trek is quite navigable during November and December. These months beckon the snow-loving trekkers.

 

The spring season (March-April) in Deoriatal Chandrashila brings forth a riot of colors. During this season, the trek trail is decked up by an unseen hand with rhapsodic Rhododendrons.

It is the most recommended season to experience the beauty of this flower. You will also find some patches of snow here and there on the trail. The spring season too is quite cold. The temperature at night goes down to 0 degrees Celsius and in the daytime, it hovers around 15 degrees Celsius to 20 degrees Celsius.

The summer season (May-June) brings with it plants of all hues, unlike the other seasons. The landscapes and the dense forests turn lush green with the light summer showers. The birds migrate back in this season making Deoriatal, an oft-visited location during the summers.

During the day, the temperatures hover around 25 degrees Celsius and at night it can drop down to 5 degrees Celsius. Woolens should be kept handy even during the summers. It can be quite chilling at the campsites at night.

The monsoon season (July) is not at all recommended for this trek. Due to the heavy showers, the routes become susceptible to dangerous landslides and roadblocks.

The autumn season (September-October) is also deemed as Deoriatal Chandrashila's best time. It offers clear views of the Garhwal Himalayan peaks. The temperature during the day ranges from 19 degrees Celsius to 20 degrees Celsius and at night it’s around 40 degrees Celsius.

Deoriatal Chandrashila in December is a great time for snow lovers. The snowing commences in December but is not too thick to block the paths. Camping and trekking during the winters will be a life-time experience. During the day, the temperature will be quite low, ranging from 10 degrees Celsius to 12 degrees Celsius, and at night, it will be close to -5 degrees Celsius.

Places To Visit Around Deoriatal

Sari Village

Perched at an elevation of 2000m, Sari village is quite a serene and meditative scenic hamlet. In this village, there is a lovely concentration of oak trees. The Rhododendron flowers are also found in plenty here. Sari village forms the base camp for the Deoriatal trek which is just 2.5 km away.

Tungnath

Situated on the mighty Chadranath Parvaat, in the holy Rudraprayag district of Uttarakhand. Tungnath is famous for the highest Shiva temple in Uttarakhand. It is also the highest/tallest Shiva temple in the world.

 

It is situated at a steep height of 3680m above sea level, although it is 1000 years old. It stands firm to the ground to this day, showing no signs of decay. This trek entails some steep ascends but is completely suitable for the rookie trekkers also and it comprises beautiful waterfalls, lush green forests, scintillating meadows, and snow-clad Garhwal Himalayas.

Omkareshwar Temple

This temple, situated at 1300 m above sea level, is located in Ukhimath, in the Rudraprayag district of Uttarakhand. This temple shelters the vulnerable deity of Kedarnath during the winter season. Due to the heavy snowfall in the winters, the deity is brought to Omkareshwar Temple and all its rituals and offerings are conducted here.

Chopta

Chopta, “Mini Switzerland of Uttarakhand”, is a beautiful picturesque thorpe. Chopta is a mini paradise consisting of meadows and evergreen forests. It falls under the Kedarnath Wildlife Sanctuary and is also the starting point of the Tungnath trek.

This place is known for its salubrious weather and immaculate surroundings. You can hear the rhythmic tweeting of the birds in Chopta which is a complete contrast to the blaring car honking all-time at concrete jungles. This rare place is encompassed by the pine trees, deodar trees, and the vibrant Rhododendrons. The sunrise from Chopta is quite a relishing experience.