Quick answer: Sari village sits at 2,012 m (6,601 ft) in Rudraprayag district, at the end of the road 10 km from Ukhimath. It is the start of the 3 km trail to Deoriatal and the first night of our Chopta Chandrashila trek. Sari has the last stable mobile signal; the last reliable ATM is in Rudraprayag.
Where is Sari village and how high is it?
Sari is in Rudraprayag district, the district our trek page names for the whole Chopta Chandrashila route. The Rudraprayag district administration's page on the district's lakes says "The road is motorable upto Sari, 10 kms. from Ukhimath", which is why Sari works as a start village: it is where the drive ends and the walk to Deoriatal begins.
Our trek page gives Sari's height as 2,012 m (6,601 ft). From Rishikesh it is about 185 km by road, 8–9 hours, through Devprayag, Srinagar and Rudraprayag. For other ways in, and for the Chopta road beyond, see how to reach Tungnath and Chopta.
| Fact | Figure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Height | 2,012 m (6,601 ft) | Trek page |
| District | Rudraprayag | Trek page |
| Road | Motorable up to Sari, 10 km from Ukhimath | Rudraprayag district |
| Rishikesh to Sari | About 185 km, 8–9 hours | Trek page |
| Last reliable ATM | Rudraprayag | Trek page |
| Last stable mobile signal | Sari | Trek page |
| Sari to Deoriatal on foot | 3 km, 2–3 hours, about 378 m of climb | Trek page |
| Stay on the trek | Guesthouse or homestay, triple or quad sharing, dinner included | Trek page |
What is Sari village like?
The trek page describes Sari as "a small, peaceful village and a good place to rest before the walking begins", and calls it "a quiet Garhwali basecamp". The last part of the drive in passes "Terraced fields and traditional Garhwali villages on the climb to Sari", after the river towns of Devprayag, Srinagar and Rudraprayag.
For a trekker, Sari's value is position. It is the lowest point of the route, so the first night is spent about 1,950 m below the Chandrashila summit, and the next morning's walk is short. The lake itself, its views and the camp are covered in the Deoriatal lake guide.
Does Sari have an ATM, mobile network and shops?
Money and calls are the two things to sort out before Sari, not in it.
"Rudraprayag is the last reliable ATM before Sari." The trek page asks you to withdraw enough in Rishikesh or Rudraprayag, as ATMs beyond it are unavailable or unreliable, and to carry small notes, because cards are not accepted on the trail.
"Sari is the last place with a stable mobile signal." Beyond Sari it is patchy to non-existent, so finish important calls and tell your family about the gap before you walk out on Day 2.
For shopping, the trek page says "Sari has a few small shops for basic trekking items, but we recommend you bring everything you need."
Where do you stay in Sari?
On our trek, night 1 is a guesthouse or homestay in Sari on a triple or quad sharing basis, and dinner is served there. That dinner is the first of the trek's meals, which run until Day 4 dinner and are pure vegetarian. Meals on the drive from Rishikesh are not included.
Sari is the only roofed night of the trek. Nights 2 to 4 are in tents shared by three, men and women separately, with sleeping bags rated to -20°C.
What happens in Sari on the trek?
The Day 1 cab leaves Tapovan in Rishikesh at 7:00 AM, and the trek page says that leaving around then gets you to Sari "by evening without rushing". The evening has a short list from the trek page: repack your daypack, drink plenty of water and sleep early.
On Day 2 you walk out of Sari for Deoriatal, 3 km in 2–3 hours. The trek does not come back. It crosses to Baniyakund on Day 3, climbs Tungnath and Chandrashila from Chopta on Day 4, and on Day 5 the cab leaves Baniyakund at 6:30 AM for Rishikesh, about 200 km and 8–9 hours away.
That shape has one practical result: there is no luggage store in Sari. The trek page says that because the trek "starts at Sari and ends at Baniyakund", luggage left at the start cannot be brought to the end. Pack only what you will carry, or pay for backpack offloading, ₹1,000 + 5% GST for the full trek.
How cold is it at Sari and on the trek?
The trek page gives one set of figures for the whole route: winter (December to February) days of about 8°C to 14°C and nights of -10°C to -6°C, October–November days of 10°C to 15°C with nights around 0°C, and May–June days of 18°C to 24°C with nights of 3°C to 8°C. Snow lies on Rohini Bugyal, the higher sections and the summit from December to April.
For the forecast in the days before you leave, the IMD Meteorological Centre Dehradun publishes warnings, nowcasts and weather reports for Uttarakhand.
What should you have ready before you reach Sari?
- Cash from Rishikesh or Rudraprayag, in small notes.
- Your original photo ID and a photocopy in a waterproof pouch; your ID is checked at forest check posts.
- A medical certificate signed by a registered doctor. Every trekker brings one, and the form is in My Bookings.
- Your own travel insurance covering high-altitude trekking and emergency evacuation; the trek page makes it mandatory and does not include it.
- A 50–60 L backpack with a rain cover, a 20–30 L day pack, thermals and, in winter, two fleece or woollen layers.
The trek fee is ₹8,250 + 5% GST (₹8,662.50) per person. Transport from Rishikesh is not included: we help the group book shared cabs, about ₹6,500 one way per 5–6 seat vehicle, paid directly to the driver and split among trekkers. See the trek page for live batch dates.
See Chopta Chandrashila trek dates and book | Deoriatal lake guide | Chopta travel guide
Frequently asked questions
What is the height of Sari village?
Our trek page gives Sari's height as 2,012 m (6,601 ft). It is the lowest point of the Chopta Chandrashila route and its first night.
How far is Sari village from Ukhimath?
The Rudraprayag district administration says the road is motorable up to Sari, 10 km from Ukhimath. From Rishikesh, Sari is about 185 km by road, 8–9 hours.
Is there an ATM in Sari village?
Do not count on one. The trek page names Rudraprayag as the last reliable ATM before Sari, so withdraw cash there or in Rishikesh and carry small notes.
Which district is Sari village in?
Sari is in Rudraprayag district of Uttarakhand, like the rest of the Chopta Chandrashila route. The drive in from Rishikesh passes Devprayag, Srinagar and Rudraprayag town before the climb to Sari.
Can I leave extra luggage in Sari during the trek?
No. The trek starts at Sari and ends at Baniyakund, so luggage left in Sari cannot be brought to the end. Optional backpack offloading is available for the full trek.
