Deoria Tal - A Detailed Travel Guide

Deoria Tal Uttarakhand

Deoria Tal, also spelled as Devoria Tal, Devaria Tal or Deoriya Tal, is one of
the most preferred trekking destinations in Uttarakhand. Deoria Tal lake is
2,438 meters(8000 ft) above sea level in the Rudraprayag district and is a
calm and serene lake, popular for its miraculous reflections of the
Chaukhamba mountain range in the crystal clear waters. Deoria is believed
to be the lake where the devatas (gods) bathed in ancient times. At night,
the density of stars offered in the sky is so great that it makes you forget
everything else.

The snow-capped mountains of the Himalayas such as Chaukhamba,

Nilkantha, Bandarpunch, Kedar Range and Kalanag make the backdrop quite
surreal in Deoria Tal lake and you can enjoy a panoramic view of 300 °. In
addition to savoring the experience of your lifetime in Deoria Tal, one has a
number of places to visit located a short distance from the surreal lake, such
as the popular tourist destinations of Chopta and Tungnath (the highest
Shiva Temple in the world).
This lake partially freezes in the winter and continues to be a popular hike in
the 12 months. If you live in Delhi or in a place closer to Delhi, you can easily
plan a trip in less than 3 days.

Why Deoria Tal Trek is Famous

The beauty of this translucent lake attracts many visitors to weave nostalgic
memories here. Since Deoria Tal falls under the Kedarnath Musk Deer
Sanctuary, early in the morning you can spot some animals that quench their
thirst from this lake. This beautiful lake offers a splendid panorama of the
majestic peaks of Chaukhamba, Neelkantha, Bandarpunch, Kedar and the
Kalanag peaks.

At Deoria Tal lake one can encounter the best of two worlds, the first is the
real world and the other is a reflection of the beautiful surroundings of the
lake. Deoria Tal is famous among tourists such as trekking, lake, camping,
bird watching, mythological importance, yoga, meditation. The lake is
located in the middle of a lush green sloping field surrounded by dense trees.
Deoria Tal serves as a popular trekking destination in the region due to its
easy access and relaxing scenic beauty. Deoria Tal is located in the sanctuary
of musk deer Kedarnath. If you are lucky, you can see animals drinking water
from the lake early in the morning. thus, it is recommended to spend the
night in Deoria Tal.

Mythology

Deoria Tal is known as the lake from where Yakshya asked Pandavas
questions about life. As per local belief, Devas (gods) used to bathe in this
lake, and hence the name. It is also believed that the lake is the "Indra
Sarovar" mentioned in the Puranas by the wandering Hindu beggars, Sadhus.
The lake is also believed, when the Pandavs were in the Vanvas
(banishment), their fillings was empty, Yudhisthra tells Bhima to look for a
place where they could bring water.

Sahadev went and tried to drink the water. At that time, Yakshya stopped
Sahadeva and asked him to answer his questions, which Sahadeva denied
and died the moment he tried to swallow water. The same happened to
Nakula, Arjuna and Bhima respectively. Finally, when Yudhisthira arrived, he
answered all of Yakshya's questions before drinking the water. Happy with
Yudhisthira, Yakshya asked Yudhisthira to choose one of his brothers to be
alive and Yudhisthira choose Nakula. To the bafflement of Yakshyas,
Yudhisthira replied that although Bhima is the strongest and Arjuna the best
at the arrow shooting, he would choose Nakula to do just for his second
(stepmother) mother Madri. Happy with the answer, Yakshya gives life to the
four Pandavas who were dead on the shore of the lake. Lake Deoria
maintains its purity and amazing beauty till date.

Why Visit Deoria Tal

Visiting Deoria Tal will provide you with a really rejuvenating experience.
Once the continuously ascending trek with stones begins, you will be
surrounded by a birds eye view of the Sari village down below, the mighty
Chandrashila above and many folds of mountains that lead to infinity. In less
than 2 hours, you reach the beautiful meadows of Deoria Tal, with the snow-
covered Chaukhamba. The best part is that you can also do this trip during
the peak winters; when the whole lake is frozen and has a lot of snow around
it.
If you like tourist destinations like Shimla and Manali, then Deoria Tal is not
really for you. There is nothing here really. It is a beautiful small lake sitting
in the woods in the middle of nowhere. So visit here only if you want to
camp, easily walk through the forest, make bonfires at night, there is no
other sound than those in the forest and visit an offbeat destination is your
thing.

Where is Deoria Tal Located

Deoria Tal is located at a trekking distance of about 3 km from the Sari

village in the Chopta region and is comes under the Rudraprayag district of
Uttarakhand. The total distance from Delhi is about 415 kilometers, while it is
about 200 kilometers from Rishikesh. Sari Village is located around 13 km
ahead of Ukhimath.

WHOM IS THE TREK MEANT FOR

Deoria tal is primarily for beginners who want an introduction to trekking in

the Himalayas. It is also for experienced trekkers who wish to go on a
leisurely trek. Children from 7 years old can do this trek and also people over
60 years of age as long as they are fit. The Deoriatal trek with Chandrashila
Trek has components of every great Himalayan trek. From mixed forests with
oaks and rhododendrons to meadows, a glacial lake, breathtaking mountain
views.

How to Reach Deoria Tal

By Air

Jolly Grant Airport in Dehradun is the closest airport to Deoriatal, about 209 km from
the place. After arriving at the airport, you must continue the rest of the road trip. At
the airport, you can board a taxi to Sari Village and then 3 km trek to reach Deoria
tal.

By Rail

The closest railway station from Deoriatal is Haridwar railway station, which is about
218 km from the place. Once you reach in Haridwar, you can hire a taxi from there
to Sari village. From Sari village, you need to cover the distance of 3 km of trekking
to reach your destination.

By Road

The place is very well connected with other states of northern India through
motorable roads. You can hire a taxi or drive to Sari Village to reach here. Once you
arrive at Sari Village, there is a 3 km trek to reach Deoria Tal.

The complete route is mentioned below:

Delhi – Haridwar (212 KMs) – Rishikesh – Dev Prayag – Srinagar – Rudra Prayag (take
left towards Kedarnath)(384 km) – Agustmuni – Syal Saur – Kund – Ukhimath – Sari
Village (415 KMs) – Deoria Tal

One needs to drive around 12 KM to Sari Village from Ukhimath and from Sari
Village one can reach Deoria Tal by a trekking route of 3 km approx. The trek is a
paved path from Sari Village to Deoria Tal, although it is quite steep in some places.
There are many rest homes or shelters on the trek with benches to rest and catch
your breath. Normally, it will take around 60-90 minutes to trek to Deoria Tal and if
you have good stamina, you can even complete it in 40-50 minutes. Anyway, the
descent is quite fast for everyone.

By Bus

There is no direct bus/taxi service to get to Sari. You have to break your trip, either
in Rudraprayag or Ukhimath. The road is motorable to Sari, 10 km from Ukhimath
and from there you have to trek to reach Deoria Tal.
There are regular bus services from Delhi to Haridwar / Rishikesh, from Delhi ISBT
Kashmere Gate. Early in the morning there are buses available in Haridwar to reach
Ukhimath. From Ukhimath you can hire a taxi to reach Sari village.

Road Conditions

In general the road conditions are not so bad. Between DevPrayag and Srinagar, the
road is quite dusty and in some places it is in bad shape. It improves slightly after
Srinagar and even RudraPrayag with few bad sections. After RudraPrayag, the road
condition improves even more up to Agustmuni. You can navigate as you want after
Agustmuni since the roads are in better shape to Chopta.

Preferred Vehicle
Almost any vehicle (car / bike) in perfect running condition can take you to Chopta
from where the trek to Tunganath and Chandrashilla begins.

Weather in Deoria Tal

Summer:

From April to June are the summer months here. During this time, one can enjoy the
rich ambiance of the lake and have a really good time here. The temperature during
this time varies between 15°C and 25°C during the summer and the weather
remains quite cold due to the high altitude.

Monsoon:

The monsoon season is not for the excursion to Deoria Tal. From July to September,
the place witnesses heavy rains and this makes trekking and other activities difficult
here. The chances of landslides and roadblocks also increase during the monsoon
season in the state of Uttarakhand.

Winter:

The month of October is the beginning of the winter season in Deoria tal and lasts
until March. Moreover, the temperature during these months remains between 0°C
and 10°C. Winters in Deoria tal are extremely cold, with possibilities of frequent
snowfall. It is advisable to take heavy woollen clothes.

Best Time to Visit Deoriatal

Best time to visit Deoria Tal will really depend on what your preference is. For
instance, if you wanted to see a half-frozen lake with snow around, then the months
of January and February would be the best. Snow on the ground would be more in
February. However, remember that the temperature at this time will be really low,
close to 0 degrees. You will camp in the snow and there will also be a great chance
that you can catch a live snowfall. Trekking at this time to the lake will mean that
you must be well prepared to walk in the snow.

From April to June it can be considered a good time to visit here. There will be no
snow, but you will have fun hiking and camping. The weather at this time is
pleasant with moderately warm days. The nights will remain cold but not too much.
The monsoon months, July and August that will be, is not a good time to visit here.
This entire area is prone to landslides and the rains really wreak havoc here.
Trekking and camping at this time will be very difficult.

September is probably the best time to visit. The monsoon will be gone, but the
views and valleys would still be full of colors. When October arrives, things would
get cold and dull again. If you want to see the orange of autumn, October can be a
good time. The months of November and December will really be a bad time with
cold weather, without snow and really damp and dry landscapes.

Things To Do In Deoria Tal

One of the first things you can enjoy walking in the mountain peaks, with lush green
forests and fascinating serene beauty of Deoria Tal. Sari Village is the last village
one finds before the trek to Deoria Tal begins. You can walk around the village and
learn about their way of life, customs and culture. The people are warm and
welcoming.
In Deoria Tal there is a night camp, and night photography of stars is must do
things. October to June is the best time for night photography, as the weather is
clear at night during this month.
If you plan your trip for 2-3 more days to hypnotize the serene beauty and
adventure of the valley, then Deoria Tal to Tungnath / Chandrashila trek through
Rohini Bugyal is another of the most exciting things to do from Deoria Tal lake.

Trekking from Deoria tal and chandrashila trek:

Deoria Tal Chandrashila Trek with Chopta is a short trek to the most fascinating
peaks of the Garhwal district.
The trail that leads to Chopta is wrapped in lush green meadows nestled in the lap
of the Himalayas. This trail leads to the Tungnath temple, which is considered the
highest Shiva shrine in the world. In addition to the exotic flora and fauna captured
along the way, one can also feast his eyes with views of several majestic peaks,
namely the Bandarpoonch, Kedar and Chaukhamba. After a one kilometer and half
trek from Tungnath, it reaches the top of Chandrashila peak at about (13000 ft).
Climbing to the Chandrashila summit is the most important highlight that is ready
with views of the west and east of Uttarakhand and from the top, you will feel very
blessed.

Nearby Tourist Places from Deoria Tal

Chandrashila Trek

The Chandrashila summit stands out among the most beloved goals of trekking fans
in India. Trekkers outside of India also come to Chandrashila for extraordinary
trekking in the last spring months. Only 1.5 km from Tungnath. Chandrashila is the
hillside that houses the Tungnath shrine. The Chandrashila ridge, 4000 meters
(13000 ft) above sea level, offers a wide variety of routes, an opportunity for
trekkers.

Tungnath Temple:

The Tungnath temple, one of Panch Kedar's five trips and the most amazing
elevation temple dedicated to Lord Shiva, is arranged on the lap of the Chandrashila
ridge in the Chamoli area of DevBhoomi Uttrakhand 3,680 meters (12000 ft) above
sea level having religious centrality, the Tungnath shrine is one of the most
prominent among India's travels.

Chopta :

Chopta is a small serene town blessed with the unspoiled beauty of nature. Perched
at an altitude of 2900 m above sea level, this place serves as a base for trekking to
Tungnath, third sanctuary of Panch Kedar, which lies 3.5 kilometers (2.2 mi) away.
Located at a separation of 1.5 kilometers (0.93 mi) from Tungnath is Chandrashila,
an ascending to more than 4,000 meters (13,000 ft).

DeoriaTal Accommodation
Due to its pristine nature, camping is allowed in Deoria Tal under the supervision of
forestry officials. Apart from that, there is a forest rest house available to stay in
Deoria Tal. In Deoria Tal hotels are not available. You can trek 2 km downhill to the
village of Saari to find accommodation. Few budget guest houses with limited
services are available. This is the closest you will be to the lake. The nearby towns
of Ukhimath and Chopta also have some hotels, but they are within walking
distance of Deoria Tal. I would suggest camp on the lake or stay in the Sari village.

Where to Eat in Deoria Tal

There are small shops located about 100 meters from the lake where food is
prepared and served. The shops have limited food items and the menu, so you'll
have to settle for what's available. You can also eat in the town of Saari, where
there are local food stores and restaurants available. Packaged foods can also be
taken to Deoriatal.
PHONE SIGNALS AT DEORIA TAL, SARI, CHOPTA

Phone facilities and electricity are not available at Deoria Tal. The mobile
signals for Airtel and Vodafone were not much in Deoria Tal, but BSNL and
IDEA worked well. You may find a little poor connectivity in Deoria Tal.

ATMs near Deoria TAL, SARI, CHOPTA

ATM in Ukhimath is the closest to Deoria tal. There are PNB and SBI only two ATMs in
Ukhimath.

Special Notes:

- There are many people who visit this lovely place just to drink and it is
because of the irresponsible acts of these people, the lack of concern
of the forest department and short-sightedness of the locals operating
tourist lodges and camps in Deoria Tal forest is littered with plastic
bottles, emptied bags of chips and snacks. Please ensure we do not
spoil this gorgeous place by such irresponsible acts.
- Make sure to bring warm clothes regardless of the fact in which season
you are traveling.
- Do not encourage trekking at night; This could lead to an unforeseen
disaster.
- Always carry a power bank to recharge your electronic device. Since
then, there is no electricity up there in Deoria tal.
- Forest officials do not allow the bonfire, but can do so, with the
permission of the guides, locals about 100 meters from the lake.
- Make sure you carry enough water before starting the trek and stay
hydrated.
- Never take any medication without consulting the trekking guides.