Tungnath Trek Guide: Solo Journey from Chopta to Chandrashila

01 · Leaving Ransi

Three days, then the road again

After Madmaheshwar, I rested for three days and tried to upload my vlog videos. The uploads would not work. Then, somewhat suddenly, I felt ready to leave. I packed everything and set off for Tungnath.

It was only a few hours from Ransi, but the ride had its own beauty. Rain came in some places, the weather kept changing, and once again the road felt like heaven. When I reached Chopta, all I could think was: mini Switzerland vibes.

Tungnath was a shorter trek than some of the journeys before it, but that did not make it ordinary. I was going to the highest Shiva temple. Every Panch Kedar seemed to have its own challenge. This time, the first challenge arrived before I even started walking.

02 · An unexpected meeting

I almost turned back

The stays near the trek area were expensive, so I rode back to look for something within my budget. At one place, I remember being told around ₹1,000, but they would not give it to just one person. I checked two more places. Nobody was around.

I felt fed up. A small thought came: maybe I should just go back.

I was returning to my bike after finding nobody at a camp when I noticed a car. Inside were an Indian man and a foreign woman. They recognised my motorcycle from near the Madmaheshwar trek and asked what had happened. I told them I could not find a budget stay.

To my surprise, they were solo travellers too. They had met in Ransi and decided to come to Tungnath together. Now they offered to help me find somewhere. I went with them, already feeling relieved.

03 · Company for the night

Three travellers, one tent

He helped bargain for a tent with three beds and enough space for perhaps five people. After the searching and disappointment, we finally had somewhere to stay. We had good food that night and a long conversation about life.

By morning, the rain had eased a little. We decided to go to the temple. Then he received a call from his wife and family. They were worried about the risk and wanted him to come back.

He dropped my new friend at the trek starting point. Our little group of three became two.

04 · The climb together

Walking to Tungnath with Eddie

Her name was Eddie, and she was from Estonia. We connected easily; there was a lovely sense of being on the same wavelength.

We left our luggage at shops near the trek point. I remember the charge being ₹50 per person. Then we began walking. Eddie chose to walk barefoot, and I was amazed by her stamina. I remember us reaching the temple in about two to three hours.

Being at Tungnath was wonderful. We spent time there together, taking in the temple and the experience. This journey had begun with me wondering whether to turn back. Now I was here, with a friend I had not known before arriving in Chopta.

05 · The encouragement I carried

A small magnet, a much bigger encouragement

Eddie told me she needed to go to Badrinath and then Rishikesh because her visa time was running short. She badly wanted to do Rudranath and all the Panch Kedar treks, but she did not have enough time.

On our way down, she gave me a Panch Kedar temple fridge magnet and hugged me. I remember her encouragement:

“You can do it, dear. Go for it. Go to Rudranath.”

Eddie’s words, as I remember them

At that moment I wondered: was this journey already written? The plans, the way we had met, the support arriving just when I needed it—everything felt to me like Shiva’s script.

I felt like the luckiest person in the world to meet her. She had such a compassionate heart and a calm energy. I could not understand every feeling at the time. What I felt most clearly was support.

06 · Back on the road

My first mountain ride with a pillion and luggage

Back down, the jeep and taxi quotes were another surprise: around ₹3,500 for a journey of roughly 30 kilometres, as I remember it. I offered Eddie a ride on my bike. She said yes.

I tied our luggage onto the rear rack as best I could and made room on the back seat. It was my first time riding in the mountains with both a pillion and luggage. I rode carefully.

We travelled through the Kedarnath Wildlife Sanctuary area, seeing animals, waterfalls and misty roads. Rain was part of the day again. Some moments from that ride are memories I want to keep for myself.

07 · The feeling of being heard

A room above Gopeshwar—and someone who listened

Near Gopeshwar, we began looking for a room. One place looked okay, but the quoted price was ₹1,800. We thought that was high and tried to find somewhere else. A Chief Minister’s visit made it difficult to go much farther or find a budget option, so we returned to the same place.

The hotel uncle seemed a little rude to me, but eventually agreed to ₹1,500. Eddie was okay with it too. We were tired and had not eaten. With the weather as it was, I did not want her continuing to Badrinath at night.

The room was clean, with a view over Gopeshwar. She shared some yoga and techniques she had learned in Rishikesh, and I felt less tired afterwards. We talked about life. I told her about my own life and the confusion I was carrying.

She listened. I felt she really heard me.

That is what stays with me. To me, she felt like an angel sent by God. In that moment, she was God for me—the kindness, the calm, the feeling of being heard. I do not have a better way to describe it.

08 · Until the next journey

Morning goodbye, and the thought of Rudranath

In the morning, we had breakfast. I dropped Eddie near the jeep so she could continue towards Badrinath, then came back.

I felt a little low after saying goodbye. Soon, the thoughts and questions about my next trek began: Rudranath.

I had started this part of the journey alone. An unexpected meeting had brought me company, practical help and encouragement. Now I was on my own again, but I had her words with me: go for it.