Chandrashila

Chandrashila is a roughly 4,000-metre summit in Garhwal crowning the ridge above Tungnath, the highest of the Panch Kedar Shiva temples. The name means moon rock, and legend ties the peak to Rama and to the moon god's penance; the pilgrimage and the panorama here are inseparable.

Its reward is the summit view: a sweeping arc of Chaukhamba, Nanda Devi, Trishul and Kedar peaks, best caught at sunrise when the snows flush pink. The short climb from Chopta passes the ancient stone Tungnath temple, giving the walk a rare mix of high devotion and high scenery.

On the trail the trek is short and steep, typically one to two days from Chopta via Tungnath to the summit, gaining altitude quickly on a paved-then-rocky path. Graded easy to moderate, it is very popular and manageable for fit beginners, but the last section is exposed and, in winter, icy enough to warrant microspikes.

Practical notes: no special permit is required, and Chopta has basic lodges and camps at the roadhead. April to June and September to November give the clearest views, while December to March turns it into a snow trek of real beauty; the Tungnath temple itself closes for the deep winter when the deity is moved downhill.