How to Plan a 3-Day Budget Itinerary for Chopta Tungnath from Delhi (2026 Guide)
The 3-Day Chopta Budget at a Glance
- Total Estimated Budget: ₹3,500 – ₹4,500 per person (Delhi to Delhi).
- Transport Chain: Overnight UTC Bus (Delhi to Rishikesh) ➔ Morning Local Bus (Rishikesh to Ukhimath) ➔ Shared Taxi (Ukhimath to Chopta).
- Day 1: 10:00 PM bus from ISBT Kashmere Gate; arrive in Chopta by 4:00 PM via Ukhimath.
- Day 2: 3.5 km trek from Chopta (2,680m) to Tungnath (3,680m). Total elevation gain: ~1,000m. Optional 1.5 km summit push to Chandrashila (4,000m).
- Day 3: 7:00 AM descent to Ukhimath. Catch the 8:00 AM bus to Haridwar/Rishikesh, and connect to a Delhi-bound bus by evening.
The Logistics Breakdown: Delhi to Chopta Transit
The biggest mistake first-timers make is assuming a direct route. There are no direct buses from Delhi to Chopta. Your journey is broken into three specific legs, and timing the Rishikesh-to-Ukhimath connection is the single most critical point of failure.
Leg 1: Delhi to Rishikesh (Overnight)
Start at ISBT Kashmere Gate. You need to reach Rishikesh before 5:00 AM to catch the onward mountain buses.
- Operator Options: UTC (Uttarakhand Transport Corporation) or private Volvo operators (FlixBus, zingbus).
- Ideal Departure: 10:00 PM to 11:30 PM.
- Travel Time: 5.5 to 6 hours.
- Cost: ₹400 (Ordinary) to ₹850 (AC Volvo).
Leg 2: Rishikesh to Ukhimath (The Critical Connection)
Buses going into the Mandakini Valley leave early and do not loop back. If you miss the morning window, you will be forced to take a bus to Rudraprayag and switch to expensive shared jeeps.
- Operators: Vishwanath Sewa or Devbhoomi Travels.
- Departure Window: 5:00 AM to 8:15 AM from the Rishikesh Bus Stand.
- Travel Time: 6 hours (141 km via Devprayag and Rudraprayag).
- Cost: ₹450 to ₹850.
Leg 3: Ukhimath to Chopta (The Final Stretch)
Ukhimath is the operational base. From the Ukhimath taxi stand, you take a shared local jeep. There is no fixed timetable; vehicles leave when all seats are full.
- Distance: 30 km.
- Travel Time: 1 to 1.5 hours.
- Cost: ₹150 to ₹250 per seat. (Note: During heavy winter snow, only chain-tyre vehicles make this run, and fares can jump to ₹300 per head).
Rishikesh to Ukhimath bus timings 2026
🚌 2026 Rishikesh to Ukhimath Bus Timetable
Catch these morning buses from the Natraj Chowk / Rishikesh Bus Stand. Missing the 1:00 PM bus means breaking your journey at Rudraprayag.
| Operator | Departure (Rishikesh) | Arrival (Ukhimath) | Est. Fare |
|---|---|---|---|
| Devbhoomi Travels | 08:15 AM | 02:20 PM | ₹850 |
| Roop Kund Priyatan | 06:55 AM | 11:30 AM (Guptkashi)* | ₹800 |
| Devbhoomi Travels | 01:00 PM | 05:35 PM | ₹850 |
*If taking the Guptkashi bus, get down at the Kund bypass and take a shared jeep up to Ukhimath.
The Tungnath Trek Technical Profile
Tungnath is the highest Shiva temple in the world. While considered a “beginner” trek, the rapid altitude gain requires pacing.
| Trek Metric | Data Point |
|---|---|
| Starting Altitude (Chopta) | 2,680 meters (8,792 ft) |
| Temple Altitude (Tungnath) | 3,680 meters (12,073 ft) |
| Peak Altitude (Chandrashila) | 4,000 meters (13,123 ft) |
| Trek Distance (One Way) | 3.5 km to Tungnath + 1.5 km to Chandrashila |
| Trail Condition | Well-paved stone path with steep switchbacks. No technical climbing gear required. |
The paved trail gradient from Chopta. Source: ePhotocorp / Getty Images
The 3-Day Itinerary Execution
Day 1: Transit and Acclimatization
Arrive in Chopta by late afternoon. Because Chopta sits inside the Kedarnath Wildlife Sanctuary, commercial concrete hotels are banned. You will stay in Swiss tents or basic tin-roof guesthouses.
- Task: Rest immediately. Do not attempt short hikes. Hydrate aggressively to combat the sudden shift to 2,680m.
- Network check: BSNL and Jio work sporadically; Airtel is a dead zone.
Day 2: The Summit Push
Start your trek by 6:00 AM. Mountain weather systems roll in by 2:00 PM, heavily obscuring visibility and dropping temperatures.
- 06:00 AM: Begin ascent. The path is relentlessly steep but paved.
- 08:30 AM: Arrive at Tungnath Temple.
- 09:30 AM: Push for Chandrashila. This final 1.5 km is unpaved, extremely steep, and often covered in hard-packed snow until late April.
- 11:30 AM: Begin descent.
- 02:00 PM: Arrive back at Chopta base. Catch a shared taxi back down to Ukhimath for the night to ensure you don’t miss the early morning buses back to the plains.
Day 3: The Return
To get back to Delhi on the same day, you must leave Ukhimath early.
- Catch the 5:30 AM or 7:00 AM direct bus from Ukhimath to Haridwar/Rishikesh (₹500 per person).
- Arrive in Rishikesh by 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM.
- Transfer to a UTC or private Volvo back to Delhi, arriving at ISBT Kashmere Gate by 9:00 PM.
Total Expected Budget (Per Person)
This breakdown assumes a group of two splitting accommodation costs.
| Expense Category | Estimated Cost (INR) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Transport (Round Trip) | ₹2,200 – ₹2,800 | Includes all buses and shared taxis. |
| Accommodation (2 Nights) | ₹800 – ₹1,200 | Swiss tent in Chopta + basic room in Ukhimath. |
| Food & Hydration | ₹500 – ₹800 | Maggi, dal bhat, and tea on the trail. |
| Total | ₹3,500 – ₹4,800 | Carry cash; UPI fails frequently due to poor network. |
⛰️ Quick Trail Answers
Is the Tungnath temple open in winter?
The physical trail remains open year-round, but the temple doors close from November to April. You can still trek to the snow-covered peak, but you will need microspikes after mid-December.
Are there ATMs in Chopta?
No. Chopta is an off-grid location. The last reliable ATMs are in Ukhimath (30 km away). You must carry enough cash, as UPI frequently fails due to poor network connectivity.
