This guide is about the Chopta Chandrashila Trek — dates, price, day-by-day itinerary and booking are on the trek page.
Quick answer: Deoriatal lake lies at 2,390 m (7,841 ft) in Rudraprayag district, Uttarakhand, according to our trek page. Our itinerary counts the trail from Sari village at 3 km and 2–3 hours, gaining about 378 m through oak, rhododendron and maple forest. On a clear day the water reflects the Chaukhamba massif, and October to December gives the clearest view.
Where is Deoriatal lake?
Deoriatal sits off the Chopta–Ukhimath road. The Rudraprayag district lakes page lists it among the district's lakes, says the road is motorable up to Sari, 10 km from Ukhimath, and names it as the start of the walk to the lake. Our itinerary counts the trail at 3 km.
On our 5-day Deoriatal Chandrashila trek, the lake is the Day 2 camp, after a first night in a guesthouse or homestay at Sari. You drive from Rishikesh to Sari on Day 1 (about 185 km, 8–9 hours). The road route through Devprayag, Srinagar and Rudraprayag is in our guide on where Chandrashila is and how to reach it.
| Deoriatal fact | Figure |
|---|---|
| Height of the lake | 2,390 m / 7,841 ft |
| Start of the walk | Sari village, 2,012 m / 6,601 ft |
| Sari to the lake | 3 km, 2–3 hours |
| Height gained | About 378 m / 1,240 ft |
| Road head | Sari, 10 km from Ukhimath (district page) |
| Next camp on our trek | Baniyakund, 2,610 m / 8,562 ft |
| Highest point of the trek | Chandrashila, 3,962 m / 13,000 ft |
How long is the walk from Sari to Deoriatal?
Our itinerary gives the trail 2–3 hours. It is the shortest walking day of the trek: Day 3 is nearly 16 km, and summit day is 11 km.
The path leaves Sari and climbs gradually into thick forest of oak, rhododendron and maple. The trek page puts it plainly: "The gradient never turns hard." Partway up, the first snow-clad peaks appear in the distance.
The climb from 2,012 m to 2,390 m is about 378 m. That is gentle next to summit day, when you climb about 1,280 m from Chopta to Chandrashila. If you are new to trekking, our Tungnath and Chandrashila difficulty guide explains how the five days build up.
What will you see at Deoriatal?
The lake sits in a ring of forest. Its fame is the reflection: on a clear day the still water holds a sharp image of the Chaukhamba massif, the real range above and its mirror image below. The district page describes the same view, the "reflection of the mighty Chaukhamba peak in the lake", with forest all around. The Shri Kedarnath trust page places the reflection in the early morning on a clear day.
After dark, the trek page notes, the stars reflect on the lake on a clear night. It also says Deoriatal holds a place in local mythology and folklore. The Shri Kedarnath trust page on Deoria Tal records the folklore that the Devas bathed in this lake, which gave it its name, and the belief that it is the Indra Sarovar of the Puranas.
Where do you spend the night at Deoriatal?
Night stays in this area are controlled by the forest department, and the district page tells visitors: "All arrangements have to be made for a night halt at the spot." On our trek, the Day 2 camp is about 200 m from the lake, not on the shore, and runs under the trek's forest permits. You sleep in 3-person tents, with women sharing tents only with other women. The tents, sleeping bags rated to -20°C and meals are part of the trek.
- All necessary trekking permits and forest camping fees are included in the trek fee.
- Your original photo ID is checked at forest check posts, so keep it handy.
- Food is simple, freshly prepared and pure vegetarian; tea, coffee, soups and snacks are served during the trek.
- Drinking water is boiled or treated with chlorine tablets.
The next morning you leave Deoriatal for the longest day of the trek: nearly 16 km in 7–8 hours to Baniyakund, much of it through the oak, maple and rhododendron forest of the Kedarnath Wildlife Sanctuary, with Rohini Bugyal partway.
Which month is best to see Deoriatal?
Our Deoriatal Chandrashila trek runs from October to June. For the lake, the trek page is specific: "For the clearest views of Chaukhamba in the lake and the widest summit panorama, choose October to December." The other months trade that clarity for snow or flowers.
| Months | What the trek page says |
|---|---|
| October–December | Clearest Chaukhamba reflection in the lake; nights around 0°C in October–November |
| December–April | Snow can reach the higher sections from December; winter nights -10°C to -6°C |
| January–March | Snow covers the meadows, forest and summit trail; the coldest and most demanding time on the trek |
| April–June | Rhododendron season; May–June nights 3°C to 8°C |
These figures cover the trek as a whole. The page gives no separate reading for the lake, and it does not say whether the lake freezes, so we make no claim about ice on the water. For temperatures month by month, see the Chandrashila best-time guide.
What should you carry and pay for a night at the lake?
Sari is the last place with a stable mobile signal; beyond it the network is patchy to non-existent, so make your calls in the village. Rudraprayag has the last reliable ATM before Sari, and cards are not accepted on the trail, so carry small notes.
The trek comes with Free Trekking Gear: Decathlon trekking shoes, a -10°C jacket, trekking poles, gaiters and microspikes, against a ₹3,000 refundable deposit plus a ₹200 washing charge. From December to April the trek page asks for five warm layers, two of them fleece or woollen, a balaclava, a waterproof pair of gloves as well as your fleece pair, and one insulated water bottle so it does not freeze. UV-protected sunglasses are essential on snow to prevent snow blindness.
Plan your luggage before you leave Rishikesh. The trek starts at Sari and ends at Baniyakund, so nothing left at Sari can be brought to the end of the trek, and valuables stay with you.
The trek costs ₹8,250 per person + 5% GST (₹8,662.50), and the trek page shows EMI from ₹425 a month. Transport is not included: we help the group book shared cabs at about ₹6,500 one way per 5–6 seat vehicle, paid directly to the driver and split among trekkers. The minimum age is 8. Every trekker brings a medical certificate signed by a doctor; the form is in My Bookings. Travel insurance covering high-altitude trekking and emergency evacuation is mandatory, and you buy it yourself.
See Deoriatal Chandrashila Trek dates and book | Chandrashila trek distance and height | Chandrashila trek in December
Frequently asked questions
How high is Deoriatal lake?
Deoriatal is at 2,390 m (7,841 ft), about 378 m above Sari village, where the walk starts.
How far is Deoriatal from Sari village?
The trail from Sari to the lake is 3 km and takes 2–3 hours through oak, rhododendron and maple forest.
Can you see Chaukhamba from Deoriatal?
Yes, on a clear day the lake reflects the Chaukhamba massif. The trek page names October to December as the months for the clearest view.
Is there mobile network at Deoriatal lake?
Sari is the last place with a stable signal, and beyond it the network is patchy to non-existent. Make your important calls and tell your family about the limited connectivity before you leave Sari.
Can children walk to Deoriatal on this trek?
The minimum age for the trek is 8, with a parent or guardian for anyone under 18. The lake day is short, but summit day is 11 km in 8–9 hours, so judge your child's stamina for the whole trek.
