There is not one Tourist Attraction that can be called fake. All the tourist spots are amazingly beautiful and they are the pride of the state of Uttarakhand.
Some famous spot that is crowd pullers is- Gopeshwar, which is situated at an elevation of thirteen hundred meters. It is the headquarters of the district of Chamoli. Chamoli is forty kilometers from the town of Chopta. It houses a very big market. Then one can visit Sari Village, which has its colors. It is 30 kilometers away from Chopta. People often rest here, so that they can continue their journey to Deoria Tal. Deoria is famous for its natural reserves. A picnic at this place can be a very good idea for enjoyment.
If people are yet not aware of its characteristics then they must learn more about it. People come here to rest during the pilgrimage tours. From here hikers commence forward to the third part of Panch Kedar Tungnath. This place is three point five kilometers from Chopta. At a distance of one kilometer, Chandrashila Peak exists. It is around four thousand meters high. Three famous mountain peaks that can be easily seen from here are – Chaukhamba, Trishul, and Nanda Devi.
Trekking enthusiasts and adventure buffs shall find this place heaven. Trekking is the local hobby of almost every resident. One added advantage of coming to this heavenly town is that people all get to roam a close-by place called Deoria Tal. Taal means lake. This Taal is surrounded by a thick cover of forests from every direction. On top of it, lies a mountain known as Chaukhamba Peak. Vacationers can hire a guide if they wish to know everything about a Tourist Attraction. Tents can be fixed close to the lake.
Tungnath Shiva Temple
No other temple is as high as Tungnath Shiva Temple. It is amongst the five highest Panch Kedar temples situated in the mountains of Tungnath. This temple falls within the boundaries of the district of Rudraprayag, Garhwal. The word Tungnath means God of peaks. These mountains have formed two beautiful valleys, namely, Alaknanda and Mandakini river valleys. This temple is almost 3.6 kilometers high. No other Hindu Shrine is as high as the Tungnath temple. All devotees of Lord Shiva consider this place of great importance. They believe that whatever wishes are asked in this temple they are granted. Some people come here to ask for solutions to their problems. It is believed that all devotees who come to this place shall be freed from all kinds of sorrows. Climbing to this temple is not an easy task. It has remained the highest Hindu shrine dedicated to Lord Shiva. The age of this temple is at least 1000 years. It is second among the famous Panch Kedar. Some people say that this temple has links to the famous brothers from Mahabharata, namely, Pandavas.
Hindu mythology states that Lord Shiva as well as his wife stayed in the mountains of the Himalayas. Lord Shiva resided in Mount Kailash. His wife Parvati (Shailputri) is said to be the daughter of mountain peaks.
The Tungnath myth is indelibly linked to the origin of the Panch Kedar temples built by the Pandavas. Legend has it that sage named Vyas Rishi told the Pandavas that they had done wrong by killing their relatives. Their cousin brothers were called Kauravas; they were the enemies of the Pandavas. This offense was serious and only Lord Shiva had the power of freeing them from that guilt. Consequently, they started searching for Shiva. Shiva was avoiding the five brothers as he considered them evil. To escape from the five brothers, Shiva transformed himself into a bull and went away to Guptkashi. The five brothers chased him badly. Shiva’s own body took the form of body parts of the bull, and it got spread. They are existing in five different locations and those places are known as Panch Kedar.
Pandavas took the responsibility of building temples for Lord Shiva, in all five locations. They were seeking forgiveness from him. Tungnath is that time when the bull’s hands could be seen. Hands are called bahu. The hump got placed at the same place where Kedarnath temple exists; The head got placed at the same place where Rudranath temple exits; Shiva’s navel, as well as stomach, got placed at the same place where Madhyamaheshwar exists; his Jatt (hair) got placed at the same place where at Kalpeshwar exists.
Legend has it that Lord Rama meditated on Chandrashila Peak (close to Tungnath). Ravan, the bad man also performed penance on this mountain to seek forgiveness from Lord Shiva (when he stayed there).
Chandrashila
Chandrashila is the apex of Tungnath. It means “Moon’s Rock”. It is 4 kilometers high. From here, one can easily witness the mountains of the Himalayas. Trishul, Nanda Devi, Bandarpunch, Kadar Peak, and Mt. Chaukhamba are some of the peaks that can be sighted. Hindu mythology states that Lord Rama, performed meditation on this peak after he had won the battle in Lanka. He had nicely defeated badman Ravan. Some people say that the God of the Moon had spent time on this peak so that he could perform penance.
The bus goes up to Ukhimath, Gopeshwar, Haridwar, and Dehradun. A journey for Chopta from Dehradun takes ten hours to reach. One can hire a jeep. One more option of coming till this peak is via Haridwar, and then Rudraprayag. From Rudraprayag, the bus comes to Ukhimath, and then it reaches Chopta. People have to walk six kilometers to get to this peak.
All trekkers of India know that the Chandrashila trek attracts trekkers from all over the planet. They have to cover a distance of 5 kilometers. This route begins in Chopta and extends to Tungnath (the highest Lord Shiva temple). From Tungnath one more kilometer must be covered for reaching an abrupt trek. People save time and distance if they take this route, but climbing the path is not very easy.
In winter months, this trek gets badly affected as no one can move in the snow. Some water bodies get frozen and one cannot move out of the house during those times. All roads that lead to Chopta get bared. Plenty of adventure freaks still come forward for trekking come to Deoria Tal. From there they move towards Duggalbitta. From there they reach Tungnath, which is the beginning of Chandrashila.
Chandrashila is the apex of Chandranath Peak. Tungnath temple exists at the same peak. Chandrashila is a little higher than Tungnath. The route that passes from three places, namely, Chopta, Chandrashila, and Tungnath is used by professional trekkers. Tourists love to come here, throughout the year. However, winter is not a very suitable time.
Trishul, Chaukhamba Peaks, and Nanda Devi are three huge peaks that are the center of attraction for all travelers. Mother Nature has blessed this area with awesome features. It seems the valley has been painted on a canvas.
One can refer to the internet and purchase travel guides that would help travelers in getting to know all areas of Uttarakhand. They will also contain the routes that would direct people in reaching Chandrashila from the city of Delhi. This place has an abundance of plants. There are no boundaries for animals. All photography experts come here to capture some images that speak a thousand words. This place is the best way to connect human beings with the heavenly powers that govern everything on earth.
Kanchula Korak Musk Deer Sanctuary
Deers are very quiet creatures. Kanchula Korak Musk Deer Sanctuary is located seven kilometers from Chopta. It lies on the same route that connects Chopta to Gopeshwar. The total area, which is encompassed by this national park, is approximately five square kilometers. Tourists shall find a dense covering of forests as well as mystical flowers that have a splendid aroma. People come here to see and take snaps of the musk deer that are found in large quantities. Some of the most unique Himalayan creatures shall be found here. They exist in only this part of the country. Some television channels have been working hard to get footage of those animals yet they are unable to find them. Some people say that most of the species are becoming extinct but it is not so. Most animals go into hiding when they sense that someone is coming to disrupt their privacy. They do not like human beings around them. Geologists as well as scientists love coming here. They collect samples from the plants and use them to make medicines of high remedial nature. Later they sell those creations as their own and they seldom acknowledge the natural resources that helped them in making those medicines.
Some people only notice this park when they are passing through the road that connects Chopta and Gopeshwar. There are very less signboards that would clearly state the existence of a wildlife park. However, once they reach this place, they scratch their heads in amazement. They feel that such places should be more advertised so that the world may notice them. The local authorities say that they do not want excessive crowds so they let things function as they are. They are satisfied with the small number of tourists. They say that amount of trash thrown in the parks is directly proportional to the excessive crowds that come here.
Some people are not aware of the fact that most of the beautiful paintings and posters showing snow-peaked mountains are the actual representation of these areas. Reaching here is easy. People can keep their luggage in whichever lodge or hotel they stay in and come with some eatables. However, no littering is allowed in this park so tourists must not throw any of the waste materials in the open. The laws are very strict, and any person who shall be found doing so may have to pay a good sum of money as a fine.
People can come for camping in this park. However, at night, it becomes very cold and some night-crawling insects and mosquitoes may disturb the hikers. Although this is not a very serious problem, it can become serious for some. Women will face the maximum number of problems. So, all should come here prepared for some wild fun.
Gopeshwar
This town is located at an altitude of fifteen hundred meters higher than the mean level of the sea. All those who wish to travel from Chopta to Gopeshwar will have to cover a distance of thirty-nine kilometers. This town functions as the headquarters of all offices of the Chamoli district. There is a lot of silence in the place. Some feel that the silence haunts some people but some find it very relaxing. All pilgrims who want to visit Tungnath temple have to come here. Tungnath is a place of worship for the Hindus. They find this place very rejuvenating. Lord Shiva’s abode was in the peaks of the great Himalayas. That is why Tungnath is situated at a height of three thousand six hundred and eighty meters above the mean level of the sea.
Gopeshwar has its share of sites that are mainly related to some or the other Hindu Gods. This place is very important for Hindus. Every year when the summer season arrives, pilgrims start palling for trips to Kedarnath, Haridwar, amaranth, and Vaishnav Devi. Most of the people are from North India. Some people start planning the trip on the same day they see a God in a dream. It is an aid some of these temples send an invitation to the minds of individuals. Pilgrims feel that they have intuitions about the idea of starting a pilgrimage.
When the government organized a population count drive, in the year 2001. The results said that around nineteen thousand eight hundred and fifty-five people lived in this town. There are more men in this region. Just like in other Indian villages, the female count is lesser. As there are lesser people in this town, the schools can accommodate all the students. The town has an eighty-one percent literacy rate. Approximately eighty-five percent of men are educated and seventy-five percent of women are literate. Kids accounted for ten percent of the counted people in this place. Their age was less than six.
Other than the temple of Tungnath, people take blessings in Anusuya Devi Mandir, Rudra Nath Mandir, and Badrinath. Kedarnath is very close to this region. Lord Shiva’s devotees do not leave this place without coming to the Gopinath Mandir. A famous legend states that once there was a big king. He was addressed with the name of Sagar (which is also the name of close by village). When he noticed that one particular cow from his grasslands escaped every day to give her milk to Lord Shiva’s Ling. He got a temple constructed on that same spot.
Ukhimath
At a height of thousand three hundred and seventeen meters, Ukhimath offers more gifts for the hikers. This town is located in the district of Rudraprayag in Uttarakhand. Some locals address Ukhimath as Okhimath. Lord Kedarnath lived here along with Madhyamaheshwar. They came here during the months of winter. A famous temple named Omkareshwar holds a puja ceremony, during the coldest months of the year. For that period, the temple of Kedarnath gets shut for devotees. Ukhimath houses many religious priests or Pandits who are called Rawls. They are the caretakers of Kedarnath. People love to watch the snow-shielded mountains from great heights.
Some folklore says that Ukhimath was the name of Banasura and Usha’s daughter. For the same reason, many temples are dedicated to Usha. Along with Usha, the temples have been dedicated to the service of Lord Shiva, his wife Goddess Parvati, Mandhata, and Aniruddha. People can come here any time of the year. However, extreme winter months should be avoided. In the summer, the locals wear light woolen clothes. In winter, people protect their bodies with at least four layers of clothes. Despite covering every part of the body, the chill does not seem to go away. A person not accustomed to cold weather may fall sick. Ukhimath lies on the same road that connects Guptkashi to Gopeshwar.
The town is well connected with a network of roads. Buses operate on the Chopta and Gopeshwar way. People love to get in touch with their spiritual side. Many industrialists and celebrities arrive in these temples whenever they feel the need of doing so. Their belief is immense and it cannot be broken. Several guides entertain the tourists with stories that date back to the periods of ancient Gods. Some tales involve lord Shiva and his wife. The resorts and hotels do not charge high prices. They have every modern facility. They also supply hot water so that people can relax in the shower. In such climates, a hot bath can rejuvenate the soul. Many stores sell fine artistic products that can be decorated in houses. They are made by people who have passed this artwork as a legacy. They are still passing on the techniques to their children and great-grandchildren.
The food of Ukhimath is fantastic. Many special vegetarian hotels have tasty Indian food that is made especially for the pilgrims who come here. If someone has the time, there is no harm in coming and visiting Ukhimath as well.
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