Chopta: Little Switzerland in Lower Garhwal Chances are, you haven't ever heard about Chopta. A destination nestled in the rhododendron and oak forests of the lower Garhwal Himalayas; Chopta is an alpine meadow straight out of a Swiss calendar. Away from the pilgrim highway, at a height of 2,500 m, Chopta is one of those little tucked-away places which many travellers pass by, simply because they don't know about it. Part of a protected sanctuary, the lone road which ran through it not long ago has since been shut down, leaving the deodars,

pines, oaks and rhododendrons to flourish into a wilderness not found anywhere in the Himalayas.

In winters, snow hides everything here - even the small track that leads to an ancient temple called Tungnath, from where you can view a staggering line-up of the Himalayan peaks. In the summer, Chopta transforms into a green, rolling meadow sheltered by a ridgeline of tall and dark deodars. As the meadow unrolls, one comes to a sun-lit patch that is Dugalbitta, a spur on which rests a whitewashed Raj bungalow, where a cane-chair in the tiny front lawn can be an ultimate vehicle to nirvana.

Walking in Garhwal Himalayan
Chopta is a place where you can let yourself go. Take a hike through the forest to Tungnath. It is a steady climb, not very steep till you reach the starting point of Tungnath Passage. The passage is only three and a half kms long but so very steep that it takes no less than three hours to complete it, if you are reasonably fit. The walk is worth it though, passing as it does through a gorgeous countryside hanging from the imposing snow visage of Chaukhamba. Chaukhamba, or `a mountain of four pillars', crowds the horizon here. If Tungnath seems tough, take a path that is not so beaten. Walk into the nearest jungle and spend an afternoon lazing under a pine tree with sunlight flickering through the dark green branches. A word of caution, though — do not go too far into the jungle without a local guide. As inviting as the woods may seem, there is a chance you could get lost.

Looking for a safer adventure? Then walk to the Musk Deer Sanctuary where you can see the rare Musk Deer, a shy animal whose existence is threatened by a pod of musk it carries in its navel. Musk is an expensive ingredient for cosmetics and drugs, and the animals are ruthlessly hunted for this.

While in Chopta, you must also do the Chandrasila trek. From Chopta, first do the 5-km trek to Tungnath. You can spend the night in here at one of the temples, which will provide you with very basic boarding and lodging facilities for a nominal charge of Rs 30-Rs 50 per night. Move onto Chandrasila (5 km) early next morning, and catch an awesome sunrise from this mini peak. You could hang around there for the day, even have a picnic, and then return to Chopta at your own pace.

"Chopta is a typical 'Bugyal'. That's Garhwali for a grassland or meadow surrounded by trees. It has a beautiful and rich bird life. The thick rhododendron forests are extremely inviting, especially when the rhododendron flowers are in full bloom. In the winters, the local people carry their deities from a village near Chopta to Madhmeshwar. If you're in the region around this time, don't miss this procession. Always be ready for a trek, for you'll find yourself doing a lot of that there! You could do the old trek from Mandal to Tungnath.

"Chandrasila gives you a stunning 360-degree view of the Chaukhamba, Kedarnath and Trishul peaks. It's mind-blowing. I've photographed from that point in the moonlight, day-light and even in the snow! There's a great feeling of peace there, and the lush forest cover is tranquil and soothing. The rest house in Dugalbitta is an ideal place to relax, it's quite old - built by the British in 1925."

Any special advice? "Just take personal responsibility for not disturbing the local ecology and don't litter," he stresses. "One has to be very conscious about this while visiting any place in the Himalayas."