Rishikesh to Chopta & Tungnath by Bike
| Distance from Rishikesh | Around 200–210 km |
|---|---|
| Riding time | 7–8 hours one way |
| Days to allow | 3 minimum, 4 comfortable |
| Chopta elevation | Around 2,680 m |
| Tungnath elevation | Around 3,680 m — the highest Shiva temple in the world |
| Chandrashila summit | Around 4,000 m |
| Trek from Chopta | About 3.5 km to Tungnath, a further 1.5 km to Chandrashila |
| Recommended bike | Himalayan 411 or 450 |
| Best months | April–June, September–November |
Chopta is the trip people come back from changed.
You ride 200 kilometres up the Alaknanda through Devprayag, Srinagar and Rudraprayag, turn off toward Ukhimath, and climb into a high meadow surrounded by deodar and rhododendron at 2,680 metres. From there it's a three-and-a-half kilometre walk up to Tungnath — the highest Shiva temple anywhere, one of the Panch Kedar — and another kilometre and a half to the summit of Chandrashila, where on a clear morning you can see Nanda Devi, Trishul and Chaukhamba across the whole northern horizon.
It's the best thing within reach of Rishikesh on a bike, and unlike the Char Dham circuit you can do it in a long weekend.
Three Days, Minimum
Two days is a mistake. Seven to eight hours of hill riding each way plus a five-kilometre climb at altitude does not fit into two days, and people who try it ride the return leg exhausted on a road that punishes that.
Day 1 — Rishikesh to Chopta. Leave by 6 AM. Devprayag, Srinagar, Rudraprayag, then the turn toward Ukhimath and up. Arrive with light to spare, eat, sleep early.
Day 2 — Tungnath and Chandrashila. Start walking by 5 AM if you want sunrise from the summit. Back down by midday. Rest, or ride to Deoria Tal in the afternoon.
Day 3 — Chopta to Rishikesh. Leave early. The same road back, and it's a long day.
Four days lets you add Deoria Tal properly, or break the return at Rudraprayag or Devprayag instead of doing it in one push. If you have the time, take it.
The Ride Up
The route runs Rishikesh → Devprayag → Srinagar → Rudraprayag → Ukhimath → Chopta, all on the same road as far as Rudraprayag as the Kedarnath and Badrinath routes.
Fuel discipline matters more than anything else on this stretch — pumps thin out past Rudraprayag, close early, and can run dry in season. Fill at every opportunity and call us before you leave for the current word on road condition, particularly the climb after Ukhimath.
The Walk Up
Tungnath — around 3.5 km from Chopta, mostly paved and stepped, climbing about a thousand metres. Two to three hours up at a comfortable pace; less if you're fit and acclimatised, more if you're neither. It's a steady, relentless climb rather than a technical one.
Chandrashila — a further 1.5 km and around 300 metres above Tungnath, and steeper. The summit view is the reason most people come: Nanda Devi, Trishul, Chaukhamba and the Kedarnath massif on a clear morning.
Temple opening. Tungnath is seasonal — it closes for winter and the deity is moved down to Mukkumath for the cold months. Ask us for this season's dates before you plan around it.
Altitude. Chandrashila is around 4,000 metres. You'll have ridden from 350 metres the previous day, so you're not acclimatised. Go slowly, drink more water than you want to, and turn back if you get a headache that doesn't shift. Every season people push on and regret it.
Season
April to June — the rhododendrons are out and the meadows are at their best. Warm days, cold nights. Busy, and this overlaps with Char Dham season so the roads carry heavy traffic as far as Rudraprayag.
September to November — the best window. The monsoon has cleared, the air is sharp, and the mountain views from Chandrashila are at their finest. Cold at night from late October.
July to August — don't. This is landslide country and the road between Srinagar and Rudraprayag closes regularly. It's not a question of getting wet; it's a question of getting stuck or worse.
December to March — Chopta is under snow and the road up is frequently closed. Only with proper gear, real experience, and current information from someone on the ground — call us.
What to Take
Himalayan 411 (₹1,400/day) — our recommendation for most people. Two hundred and twenty millimetres of ground clearance, soft long-travel suspension, a 15-litre tank, and simple enough that any mechanic between here and Ukhimath can fix it. Forgiving when the surface deteriorates. Details →
Himalayan 450 (₹2,000/day) — take this if you've ridden adventure bikes before. The extra power matters on the long highway legs to Rudraprayag, the 17-litre tank matters where the pumps thin out, and it's more comfortable two-up with luggage. Details →
Classic 350 (₹1,300/day) — people do it. It's harder work on the broken sections and less comfortable over three days, but it isn't unreasonable if you ride within yourself.
Not the Guerrilla, and not a scooty. The Guerrilla is a road bike — wrong wheels, wrong clearance. A scooty has no business on this route at all.
Three days on a Himalayan 411 is ₹4,200. Split between two people it's less than the fuel. Compare the fleet →
What to Take and Know
- Warm layers — Chopta at 2,680 metres is cold at night even in May, and Chandrashila before dawn is properly cold
- Rain gear — weather in the high meadows changes fast in any season
- Fuel discipline — fill at every opportunity past Rudraprayag
- Cash — card acceptance thins out quickly past Rudraprayag
- Book accommodation ahead in season — Chopta is a handful of guesthouses and camps, not a town
- Mobile signal is patchy to absent above Ukhimath — tell someone your plan
- Ride in daylight only — no street lighting, unfenced drops, and free-roaming livestock
Nearby, If You Have the Days
- Deoria Tal — a lake with the peaks reflected in it, reached by a short trek from Sari village near Ukhimath. Easily added to a four-day trip.
- Kedarnath — the Gaurikund trailhead is reachable from this side, but Kedarnath itself is a walk each way and needs two extra days minimum. Route guide →
- Badrinath — from Chopta via Gopeshwar and Joshimath. Route guide →
- Auli — a natural continuation if you're heading further north. Route guide →
Frequently Asked Questions
How far is Chopta from Rishikesh?
How many days do I need for Chopta and Tungnath?
Which bike is best for Chopta?
Can I go to Chopta on a scooty?
Is Tungnath temple open all year?
How hard is the Tungnath trek?
Can I ride to Chopta in monsoon?
Is there mobile signal at Chopta?
Planning the Trip
Tell us your dates and we'll set a Himalayan up for it — fresh service, checked tyres, luggage sorted. Three days from ₹4,200. In season these go out a week or more ahead, so message us as soon as your dates are fixed.