Deoria Taal : Emerald Lake Mirroring Mighty Chaukhambha
Hello all,
It is so simple!
I told Shaurya one day about a math sum he was doing. He said, “Mamma, it is simple for you, not for me.”
So true. Someone’s simple can be like climbing Everest for some. How casually we say, ‘Oh! It’s so simple. In the blink of an eye. Without any second thought. We don’t even think about who is in front of us. What our casual statement might affect them. Getting up from bed in the morning might not be simple for some as you think. Making a round roti is not as simple as it seems. Going seven hours to school and coping with some bullies or friends is not a small task. These little battles of day-to-day life or so-called simple tasks might make or break us. I am now thinking twice before speaking, Oh! It is so simple.
So I was unsure when our guide told us that after doing the Tungnath trek, Deoria Taal is very simple. I don’t know about simple, but one thing is sure. Deoriatal trail is surely simply stupefyingly stunningly beautiful! Again it is well-paved and well-maintained.
The trail starts from the small alluring village of Sari. The view from the village is impressive. You can see Chandrashila peak from here, and we couldn’t stop asking ourselves. “Did we actually climb it yesterday? We were so near to that peak !”
After climbing for a while, the small serene temple of Shiv Bhagavan is on the way. While on Chopta and Tungnath trail, we could see pink rhododendrons; here, we were welcomed by warm, soothing red rhododendrons. The trails were laden with red rhododendrons giving a red carpet feel!
There is a tiny Buransh Cafe on the way, and don’t forget to have Buransh Sherbet there. We also came across a homestay with a cafe named Karma, and its location is superb. While coming down, we had the yummiest chow mein there.
You can have an uninterrupted view of the Himalayas and the Sari village along the entire trail. After around 2.5 km climb through the forests of rhododendron, oak, and alpine trees, we reached the lake, and what a fantastic view it was! Even though we had the company of school kids at their picnic, it didn’t feel crowded.
The forest department manages the site satisfyingly, with no traces of any plastic seen surrounding the lake, and they are constantly checking for the same.
Camping is not allowed near the lake, so if you want to go to Chopta via Rohini Bugyal, you have to go up to the nearby hill and go camping there. There is a small watch tower for bird viewing and some huts.
And what do I write about this pristine emerald freshwater lake? It gives awe spring views of mighty Chukhambha and other Himalayan peaks like Bandarpoonch, Nikantha, Kalanag, Kedar Range, etc. The Chukhambha peak appears so close that you want to touch it!
We were at the lake for almost 2 hours, which was my most relaxing time. There was no hurry to reach the peak or go down. The view in front of us was so serene and soothing that we were in a state of pure bliss. The clouds, the mountains, the lake, the grass, the birds, and the flowers all spoke an unknown language, yet we understood it completely. No words were needed for that
The story behind the lake:
There are a few stories associated with this lake. Some people say that Gods used to take a bath in this lake. According to Purana, it is also known as “Indra Sarovar.” If we look into Mahabharat, this is where Yaksha asked questions to Pandavs, and all Pandav fainted except Yudhishthir. At the same time, some people says that Bhim built this lake to quench his thirst.
About the trek:
Elevation of Deoraital : 2,438m, 7,998 feet
Level of trek: easy to moderate trek
Distance of trek: 2.5 km from Sari village
Trek Duration: 1 to 1.5 hours
Other attraction:
We met many photographers on the way as it is a paradise for bird watchers. This region has various migratory and Himalayan birds, and panoramic views of Himalayan peaks create a perfect backdrop. You can hear constant chirping and humming sounds along the trail, which makes this trek more entertaining and meditating at the same time. As Stephen Alter has rightly said, “Wandering in the mountains, our senses are attuned to other species that surround us, each of them a strand of life, woven into a web of eternity,”
Best time to visit Deoriatal:
This trek is open all year round, but the best time is Spring as it brings riots of colors with beautiful red rhododendrons in full bloom! It is the unrivaled time of the year when you can see these magical, mystical flowers lying across the trail and the dense cover of the same above your head. The temperature is also suitable; it can be up to 0 degrees Celsius at night, and in the daytime, it is around 15 to 20 degrees Celsius.
You should avoid this trek during monsoon as there might be heavy rain, the area is prone to landslides, and the trail can be slippery.
In autumn, you will Witness the clear sky, mid of September to the middle of December.
Nearest airport: Jolly Grant Airport in Dehradun
Nearest railway station: Rishikesh railway station
Points to consider:
- It can be done as a DIY trek as The trail is well-marked, and you do not need a guide for it.
- Deoria Taal is 14 km from Ukhimath, a small town and home to Kedarnath Bhagvan and Madhmaheshwar Bhagvan during the winter. So you can visit that town while coming to Sari or Chopta.
So even if you have not done any trekking till now or you are a seasoned trekker, this emerald lake will make you fall in love with it.
Thank you.
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I see my path, but I don’t know where it leads. Not knowing where I’m going is what inspires me to travel it
Rosalia
I heard about the above from a friend
I came to know about this site from ketan ! Awesome write up and to the point perfection. Waiting to meet u guys in person
Thank you!!
This is one of my favourite quote about travel and I truly believe in it.
once again Thanks for appreciating.
It is believed that the Gods (Devas) used to bathe in this lake and hence the name Deoria Tal.
Wow ! Wonders in reading the above writeup
Wellscripted and to the Point
Its there in my to go list
Thank you so much.
We are also very much drawn yo mythology of Himalayas.
The lake is so serene and beautiful.
Let us know about your experience whenever you visit.
Pleasure and peacefullness grows even in the unlikely places .
Rhododendrons bloom in dense forests !
Safarwithsasha goes new places
Thank you. Yes! the places like these give us much needed peace and calm. Rhododendrones were the icing on the cake…