Chandrashila Trek - One of the most splendid treks to do in Uttarakhand in January

 Uttarakhand is easily every Indian trekker’s go-to destination, second to the state of Himachal Pradesh. With the Garhwal Himalayas in its ambit, the state offers innumerable trekking expeditions that allow you to relish the soul-stirring experience of trekking in the Himalayas but with lesser efforts and struggles.

While there are many treks that dive into remote areas of the state and provide exotic views of wilderness at its best, the Chandrashila Trek is one of the few Indian treks that makes you traverse heavily crowded areas and yet remains mind-blowingly exhilarating. If you have not hopped onto treks in January in Uttarakhand, the Chandrashila trek has got to be the first one on the list.

Since the Chandrashila Peak towers up to 12,000 ft, in January it remains completely smothered with powdery snow. Snow-laden mountains are found quite often but what makes the Chandrashila mountain stand apart from the rest are the trails full of passionate pilgrims. The very act of walking along with pilgrims around you, as you collectively gasp and attempt to climb uphill is heavenly and extremely magical.

There are many other facts that add to the beauty and thrill of the Chandrashila Trek, especially in January. From the very second day, you get to witness vibrant landscapes appearing more refreshing and enlivening than ever. As soon as you trek from Sari to Deoriatal, you find pilgrims passionately climbing uphill towards the Tungnath temple, giving you tough competition. As you reach closer and closer to the enchanting Deoriatal, the massifs of Chaukhamba become more and more apparent, leaving you spellbound for a brief moment. The sight gets more enticing towards the evening, with the partially frozen Deoriatal reflecting the landscapes as beautifully as possible and the maroon-red sun elegantly melting behind the distant mountains in the sky.

On the third day of the Chandrashila Trek, as you move away from Deoriatal towards Baniyakund, you are introduced to vast fields of fresh, powdery snow at the Rohini Bugyal. The sight is simply breathtaking with carpets of snow rolled out all over the sprawling Rohini Bugyal. The walk over the Rohini Bugyal is remarkably exciting and makes for a gala time but is also slightly exhausting due to the foot-deep snow smeared all across the meadow.

The second and third days are also perfect for birdwatching and you will realize this as soon as you begin the trek on the second day. The pleasant chirping of the birds is so evident that no trekker can ever cross those trails without noticing the apparent outbreak. With beautiful landscapes, exotic birds pleasantly chirping, and wide blue skies above you, at the Chandrashila Trek, you feel intertwined with nature like never before.

The views around you become more magnificent on the fourth day, as you begin to climb away from Baniyakund towards the Chandrashila summit. You leave early from the camps, this day to enjoy a heavenly and absolutely surreal sunrise at the Tungnath Top- here is where you part ways with the pilgrims. With many shrines en route, the experience of trekking over this trail is one of the best aspects of the Chandrashila Trek. After you gain some height, views of the Chandrashila Peak will tend to get crisper. And soon you will find yourself standing at the top of the summit at 12,000 ft with jaw-dropping views of several glorious mountain peaks in the foreground. The Dome of Kedar, Mt. Thalaysagar, Mt. Kedarnath, the Mandani Parbat, the Janhukut Peak, the Gangotri Range, and the Chaukhamba Massifs — all lie before you in all their might. The scene is exceptionally drool-worthy in January with the same peaks being snow-laden, appearing even more magnificent and fascinating.

Although the estimated distance covered during the Chandrashila Trek is roughly 30 km in about 5 days, it is still one of the easy-moderate grade treks that are suitable for amateurs as well as determined inexperienced trekkers. A must-do trek in January, the Chandrashila trek remains an easy window that allows you to thoroughly enjoy the views of Garhwal Himalayas and experience nature’s bounty in an unmatched manner. Meadows, waterfalls, Himalayan alpine lake, grand views of robust snow-capped mountain peaks from the summit — even though the Deorital Chandrashila Trek spans over just 5 days, it ticks off quite a few aspects of a thrilling, adventurous, and fulfilling trekking expedition.