Kedarnath - Chopta on the way. Review on Kedarnath

Continuing from my review of Badrinath here. We left in the morning from Joshimath around 7 AM.

First stop: A place near a jaypee or some company's dam, for the breakfast around 60-70 kms from here. We first planned to go for Chopta - Tungnath temple, which is a different route than normal, a shorter way to reach Kedarnath but not recommended in all the seasons as road is not wide at lot of places + it passes through very dense forests. But since we were going in the morning, it was fun going through those dense forests, you cannot makeout what is beyond.

We stopped at some random point in the forest just to have a feel of being on the ground in such a uninhabited place. Didnt see anybody walking for quite long, so kindda adventurous stopping in between to click some snaps.

Next stop was Chopta: It is a place popular as mini/tiny winy switzerland. Basically its a small stop where Tungnath temple is located. We reached here around 11AM. there is a 3.5 kms beautiful (it will be an understatement to call it beautiful) trek, old people cannot do the trek, its very very steep, and goes to a great height so physically unfit junta please refrain from doing it.

After 1-1.5 kms, you reach a place which is flat, green grounds looks like a huge golf course in the mountains, nearby there is a shelter for sheeps and small chai wala shop is there.

This was a small halt, it was green, cloudy and far away snow was there, amazing place to halt, we ate something ran on the ground and had loads of fun. Now comes the bad part the really steep trek, though ww managed to make it to the top along with everybody, one of mausi gave up in between but somehow we managed, and this sets a great precedent and practice trek before Kedarnath yatra.

We reached on the top around 2 PM, did the darshan, this place is not crowded because less people frequent here, and thus this was the only temple in the whole trip where I could pray and thought of God, rest all places were too crowded and it feels like you are just there to do "Khanapurty", a formality to visit the Gods. This temple Tungnath is located at quite some height, and the view from the top is spectacular, would like to visit this place again.

We trekked down in lesser time and on the way below the temple, one of the very old pandit was coming down- he was looking more than 70 and used to do it everyday up and down, moreover dad saw he didnt have proper shoes even, so he just gave him the shoes, I remember it as one of the important part of the trip, so mentioning here, just to say when you go to such places, be kind hearted and if possible gift the poor who are needy.Then we had good lunch, not very courteous people but yes good food.

Please look at kedarnath extended review--- titled - Kedarnath - the pilgrimage, I had to write it in the Kedarnath Sanctuary head because mouthshut was not allowing to write in here.

Cheers,

Tushar