u/kirtig677

Went last month with my dad. Wanted to do full Char Dham but only had a week, so picked Kedarnath and added Tungnath since everyone kept saying Chandrashila sunrise is unreal. They weren't lying.

What worked:

• Tungnath trek (3.5 km from Chopta) — easy warm-up, did it in 2.5 hours. Highest Shiva temple in the world, and you actually feel it when you reach the top.
• Chandrashila sunrise — woke up at 3 AM, summited by 6. Nanda Devi, Trishul, Chaukhamba glowing gold. No photo does it justice.
• Wooden cottage in Chopta — ₹1200/night, owner made us aloo parathas at 2 AM before the summit climb. Absolute legend.
• Kedarnath trek (16 km from Gaurikund) — took 8 hours up, slept like a rock. Early morning darshan, barely any crowd. Sat inside the temple for an hour.

What didn't:

• Monkey stole my dad's Snickers on the Tungnath trail. Don't carry food in hand.
• Knees gave up coming down from Kedarnath. Took a pony for the last stretch — ₹2000, saved me.
• Rishikesh to Sonprayag drive is 10 hours of curves. Carry Avomine, seriously.

Total cost: ₹18k per person from Delhi (train to Haridwar + shared cabs + stay + food).

Only regret: Didn't add Vasuki Tal from Kedarnath. Next time.

Planning to do something similar? Happy to share cottage contact + driver number in DM.

Went last month with my dad. Wanted to do full Char Dham but only had a week, so picked Kedarnath and added Tungnath since everyone kept saying Chandrashila sunrise is unreal. They weren't lying.

What worked:

• Tungnath trek (3.5 km from Chopta) — easy warm-up, did it in 2.5 hours. Highest Shiva temple in the world, and you actually feel it when you reach the top.
• Chandrashila sunrise — woke up at 3 AM, summited by 6. Nanda Devi, Trishul, Chaukhamba glowing gold. No photo does it justice.
• Wooden cottage in Chopta — ₹1200/night, owner made us aloo parathas at 2 AM before the summit climb. Absolute legend.
• Kedarnath trek (16 km from Gaurikund) — took 8 hours up, slept like a rock. Early morning darshan, barely any crowd. Sat inside the temple for an hour.

What didn't:

• Monkey stole my dad's Snickers on the Tungnath trail. Don't carry food in hand.
• Knees gave up coming down from Kedarnath. Took a pony for the last stretch — ₹2000, saved me.
• Rishikesh to Sonprayag drive is 10 hours of curves. Carry Avomine, seriously.

Total cost: ₹18k per person from Delhi (train to Haridwar + shared cabs + stay + food).

Only regret: Didn't add Vasuki Tal from Kedarnath. Next time.

Planning to do something similar? Happy to share cottage contact + driver number in DM.

Took me 1 year to convince him. He thought it would be too touristy. Went last month and we were both surprised.

What worked:

• Stayed in Old Manali, not Mall Road. Quiet cottage, river outside, no traffic.
• Solang Valley at 7 AM — empty, peaceful, paragliding was ₹1800 and worth every rupee.
• Café 1947 by the river. Sat for 2 hours just talking. No phones. Felt like dating days again.

What didn't:

• Rohtang Pass — 3 hours traffic, dirty snow, left in 30 mins.
• Mall Road shopping — same stuff cheaper in Delhi.

Total: ₹32k for 2 people, 3 nights, including flights from Delhi.

Only regret — should've stayed 5 nights, not 3.

Anyone planning a couples trip, ask away. Happy to share cottage name in DM.