What to Wear in Chopta

The basic kit, all year

Pack in layers. A quick-dry base layer, a fleece, and a windproof, waterproof jacket will cover most days from April to November. Add a warm hat, gloves and sunglasses, because the sun at this height is strong even when the air is cold. Proper walking boots with a good grip matter more than anything else, as the stone path to Tungnath is uneven and slippery when wet.

Spring and summer: April to June

Days can be warm on the lower trail, and many people walk up in a T-shirt. Carry the fleece and jacket anyway. At Chandrashila before sunrise, it can be close to freezing. Add sun cream and a cap for the open grassland above the tree line.

Monsoon: July to September

Rain can fall for hours, and the path turns to running water in places. Wear a proper rain jacket rather than a poncho that flaps in the wind. Quick-dry trousers are better than jeans, which stay wet all day. Pack dry socks in a plastic bag, and expect leeches in the lower forest.

Autumn: October and November

This is the clearest season, and the coldest before the snow. A down jacket or a heavy fleece is needed for dawn starts. Nights at Chopta drop close to freezing by November.

Winter: December to March

For the snow trek, you need thermals, a down jacket, waterproof trousers, waterproof boots and gloves. Microspikes or gaiters help on packed snow; many guides provide them. Temperatures fall well below freezing at night, and rooms are often unheated.

Buying and renting

Shops at Chopta and in Ukhimath sell or rent basic jackets, gloves and walking sticks. Choice is small and quality varies, so bring your main layers from home. Garhwali woollen caps and shawls are sold in Ukhimath too; check that what is sold as wool is not acrylic.

At the temple

You leave your shoes outside at Tungnath. Wear socks you do not mind standing on cold stone in, and dress modestly in the temple courtyard.