Mythology About The Deoria Tal Trek
According to Hindu mythology, Hindu gods bathed in this emerald lake. Deoria tal is also considered as “Indra Sarovara” which has been cited in Puranas or ancient Hindu texts.
This lake also has a mythological connection with the epic Mahabharata as it is where a Yaksha asked the Pandavas to answer his questions before drinking the waters of the lake.
About Deoria Tal Trek
Deoria Tal is situated near Ukhimath and Chopta. A short 3 km trek uphill from Sari village will take you to this picturesque lake. There is also another trek route to Deoria tal which starts from Ukhimath having an approx. length of 12 km. Deoria Tal is just the appetiser for the Chopta Tungnath region. After this you can do the Chopta – Tungnath -Chandrashila Trek, Kartik Swami Trek, and Anusuya Devi Trek among others.
Trek Itinerary : Delhi – Meerut – Haridwar – Rishikesh – Devprayag – Srinagar – Rudraprayag – Ukhimath – Sari village – Trekking (2 kms) – Deoria Tal
Best Time To Visit Deoria Tal, Chopta
The best time to visit Deoria Tal is from March to May, the post winter weathers and October to November which are the post monsoon and pre winter seasons. In winter months, which is December and January, when the snowfall starts, the nights at Deoria Tal are extremely chilly. Even June – July when it is hot the nights get colder. Monsoon season is generally not a suggested time period to trek in the region of Chopta – Tungnath – Chandrashila – Deoria Tal.
In Summers : The weather of this trek remains pleasant during summers. The Himalayas are distinctly visible and the cool breeze can be felt early in the morning and in the late evening. Carrying light woollens is advised.
In Monsoon : The trek turns greener during the monsoon season. Although trekking becomes challenging and there are chances of getting roads blocked for a couple of hours due to landslides.
In Winters : The region gets covered in snow during the winter season and the trek becomes more difficult. Carrying heavy woollens is advised.
Best Places to Visit During The Deoria Tal Trek
Rohini Bugyal : Rohini Bugyal is a serene meadow hidden in the dense forest of Chopta Valley. While on the trek to Chandrashila peak via Deoria Tal, Rohini Bugyal serves as an ideal spot to camp. The spectacular views of Garhwal Himalayas including Kedarnath Peak, Chaukhamba, Nilkantha, Thaly Sagar, Kedar Dome, & more can be seen from Rohini Bugyal.
Sari Village : Located at an elevation of 2000 mts, Sari Village is a scenic hamlet at a distance of about 20 kms before Chopta hill station. Sari village or Saari Gaon is the base camp for a very beautiful lake Deorial Tal which is only 2.5 kilometres away from here. Many times when all the hotels in Chopta are closed due to snowfall, then you can get hotels and homestays in the Sari Region for your stay. You can easily find a few lodges or homestays in the Village Sari.
Baniyakund : Baniyakund is a small hamlet from where the meadow line for Chopta hill station begins. There are a handful of small cosy hotels and camps which facilitate accommodation options for tourists who are visiting Chopta. It is located at the very beginning of Kedarnath Musk Deer Sanctuary, just 4 kms before Chopta at 2450 mts above sea level overlooking the wide horizon of Garhwal Himalayas. Ukhimath is the nearest town to Baniyakund and the locals residing at Baniyakund get their ration supplies from there.
Rishikesh : It is one of the major tourist and pilgrimage hubs in northern India, set against the backdrop of the Himalayas and with the pristine Ganga flowing through it where people from across the world arrive to offer their prayers to the holy river and in search of peace. Rishikesh is commonly referred to as the ‘yoga capital of the world’ and rightly so. The destination is abuzz with visitors, who come here to learn yoga and meditation. Rishikesh is home to numerous ashrams, some of which are internationally recognised as centres of philosophical studies, yoga and other ancient Indian traditions of wellness.
Ukhimath : Ukhimath is situated at an elevation of 1317 mts above sea level in Rudraprayag district of Uttarakhand state. Ukhimath is also written as Okhimath sometimes. Ukhimath is the home of Lord Kedarnath and Madhyamaheshwar during winters. Worship is performed at the Omkareshwar Temple here during winters, when the temple of Kedarnath remains closed. Ukhimath is mainly inhabited by the Rawal’s who are the head priests (pundits) of Kedarnath.
Rudraprayag : Named after Lord Shiva’s Rudra avatar (incarnation), Rudraprayag is an ancient holy town situated at the confluence of Alaknanda and Mandakini rivers, at a distance of 34 km from Srinagar in the Garhwal region. Rudraprayag marks the fourth confluence of the five between Alaknanda and Mandakini rivers. Whole of Augustmuni & Ukhimath block and part of Pokhri & Karnaprayag block from Chamoli District, Part of Jakholi and Kirtinagar block from Tehri District and Part of Khirsu block from Pauri District. Shri Kedarnath Temple is at North, Madmaheshwar at East, Nagrasu at Southern East and Srinagar at extreme South.
Srinagar : Srinagar is located in the Pauri Garhwal District of Uttarakhand. This town is cradled on the pristine banks of Alaknanda River that is believed to have submerged the evil Sri Yantra (Rock) that Sri Adi Shankaracharya hurled in it. Srinagar also acts as a gateway to several religious, adventurous and offbeat destinations in Uttarakhand. It is an important point of stay during Badrinath, Kedarnath and Char Dham Yatra.
Tungnath Temple : Known as the world’s highest Shiva Temple, Tungnath is on the route to the trek from Chopta to Chandrashila peak. The famous Tungnath temple is thought to be over 1000 years old and, according to the scriptures, is the third temple to be visited in the Panch Kedar circuit. The serenity and calmness that envelopes this place is something beyond words. It is believed to have been constructed by Pandavas after the Kurukshetra War.
Chandrashila Peak : At 4,000m, the Chandrashila peak is the summit of the Chandranath Parvat on which the Tungnath temple is located. Chandrashila (literally meaning moon rock), the majestic peak offers a stunning panoramic view of the Himalayas. According to one of the popular legends, Chandrashila is the place where Lord Rama meditated after defeating Ravana. Another legend says that moon-god “Chandra ” spent time here in penance. Chandrashila literally means “Moon Rock”. A temple dedicated to goddess Ganga is situated atop Chandrashila.
Chopta : Chopta is situated at an approximate altitude of 2,608 m, a slice of paradise tucked away in the Garhwal Himalayas. Chopta is situated in the Rudraprayag district of Uttarakhand. Chopta is at the epicentre of the Panch Kedar – the five most sacred Shiva temples in the state. On its left are located Kedarnath and Madmaheshwar shrines and on the right, Rudranath and Kalpeshwar, and just above it, the Tungnath temple, which by the way is the highest Shiva Temple in India. Chopta is also part of Kedarnath Wildlife Sanctuary and offers trekkers an excellent opportunity of scaling to a height of 4000 m.
Devprayag : Devprayag is one of the Panch Prayag, the five holy confluences of Uttarakhand. The five holy sites are Vishnuprayag, Nandaprayag, Karnaprayag, Rudraprayag and Devprayag. It is encircled by the three benevolent peaks namely Giddhanchal Parvat, Dashrath Panchal Parvat, and Narsinghancal Parvat. Devprayag is the pilgrimage where the holy rivers Bhagirathi and Alaknanda meet, merge into one and take the name Ganga. Situated at the confluence of the Alaknanda and the Bhagirathi, the town of Devprayag lies at an altitude of 472 m.
How to Reach Sari (Base Camp) or Chopta
Buses and shareable Tata Sumos are easily available to Ukhimath from Dehradun, Haridwar and Rishikesh. One needs to drive 12 km to Sari village from Ukhimath. On reaching Sari village, a short 3 km trek will take you to Deoria Tal. Sharable Jeeps are available from Ukhimath to Sari village but they don’t have fixed timings. There is no motorable road to Deoria Tal. The trek is a paved path from Sari Village up to Deoria Tal, although it is quite steep at some places.
By Air : The nearest airport is Jolly Grant, Bhaniawala, Dehradun, 41 km from Haridwar. After reaching Haridwar, you need to carry the rest of the journey by road only. Haridwar to Chopta is about 225 km by road.
By Rail : The nearest railway station is at Haridwar. After reaching Haridwar, you need to carry the rest of the journey by road only. Haridwar to Chopta is about 225 km by road.
By Road : Please note that you can only travel from Delhi to Sari Village, which is the base village of Deoriatal trek. After reaching Sari village, you need to trek the remaining 2 km to reach the lake. You can pretty much do this trek as a beginner without any guide. There is a well-paved track to the top.