GUNUNG · India

Chandrashila

चंद्रशिला

Information

Elevation: 3.681 m
Country: India (IN)
Location / Range: Garhwal Himalaya (kawasan Kedarnath Wildlife Sanctuary), Uttarakhand
Mountain type: Puncak trekking bebatuan berpadang rumput alpine di atas kuil Tungnath, Garhwal Himalaya — tujuan pendakian sehari populer dari Chopta
Volcanic?: No (non-volcanic)
Coordinates: 30.4881, 79.2214
Difficulty: Menengah — jalur trekking bertanda jelas (~3,5 km Chopta→Tungnath, lalu ~1,5 km Tungnath→puncak); lebih berat saat musim dingin bersalju tebal
Best Season: April–Juni (rododendron mekar) dan September–November; musim dingin (Des–Feb) menyuguhkan salju tebal namun push puncak sering tertutup
Permits & Rules: Berada di kawasan Kedarnath Wildlife Sanctuary; pendakian umumnya lewat operator trek berizin, tanpa tiket pendakian khusus untuk pendaki harian dari Chopta
Hazards: Cuaca ketinggian yang cepat berubah, salju & es licin di musim dingin, kabut, serta suhu dingin di punggungan puncak yang terbuka

Description

Chandrashila (about 3,681 m; some sources cite ~3,690 m) is a summit in the Garhwal Himalaya of Uttarakhand, India, standing directly above the Tungnath temple — the highest Shiva shrine in the world and one of the five Panch Kedar temples. Its top caps one of India's most popular day treks: from road-accessible Chopta, hikers climb roughly 3.5 km to Tungnath, then about 1.5 km more to the Chandrashila summit. The peak commands a sweeping Himalayan panorama including Nanda Devi, Trishul, Chaukhamba and Bandarpunch. The name 'Chandrashila' means 'moon rock' and is tied to Hindu legend. The route is often combined with Deoria Tal, a lake that mirrors the Chaukhamba massif. Spring brings blazing rhododendron blooms, while winter blankets the trail in deep snow, making the final summit push considerably harder.

Gallery

Foto bersumber dari Wikimedia Commons — klik untuk memperbesar & lihat sumbernya.

Routes

Deoriatal–Chopta–Tungnath–Chandrashila (rute standar)

Menengah (Easy–Moderate) — jalur bertanda jelas, cocok untuk pemula yang bugar

~5 hari dari/ke titik jemput (inti pendakian: ~3,5 km Chopta→Tungnath + ~1,5 km Tungnath→puncak dalam sehari)

The most popular route to the Chandrashila summit (~3,681 m). From road-accessible Chopta the trail climbs about 3.5 km to the Tungnath temple, then 1.5 km more to the top. Many itineraries add the Deoria Tal lake for acclimatisation and its Chaukhamba reflection, making a 4–5 day trek overall. The summit offers views of Nanda Devi, Trishul and Chaukhamba. Spring brings rhododendrons; the post-monsoon window gives the clearest skies.

Source

Varian trek musim dingin (deep-snow)

Menengah, lebih berat saat bersalju — perlu microspike/gaiter dan kesiapan cuaca dingin

~4–5 hari (push puncak sering lebih lambat karena salju)

The same route done as a winter trek (best around December). Deep snow buries the trail, temperatures can fall well below freezing, and the ridge sunrise becomes the highlight. At the height of the snow season (January–February) the final push to the Chandrashila summit can be impassable, so some groups turn around near Tungnath. Snow traction and layered warm clothing are essential.

Source

Climbing Experiences

The Tungnath–Chandrashila trek is usually done as a short climb from Chopta: about 3.5 km up to the Tungnath temple, then 1.5 km more to the Chandrashila summit. Many trekkers pair it with the Deoria Tal lake as a 3–5 day trip from Delhi/Rishikesh. Vlogs and trip reports show the stone-paved path, rhododendron forest, the Chaukhamba–Nanda Devi–Trishul panorama from the top, and the dramatic winter version when deep snow buries the trail and sunrise becomes the main draw.

References

The summary above is compiled from the following sources. Click to explore them yourself.