DEORIA-TAL

Deoria Tal (also pronounced as Devaria Tal or Deoriya Tal) is an emerald lake lies within the Garhwal region of Uttarakhand state in India, perched at an altitude of 2438 meter (7999 feet), guarded with long thick trees and lush greenery all over along with the majestic view of the snow-capped Himalayan ranges of Garwhal region namely Chaukhamba, Neelkantha, Banderpunch, Kedar Range and Kalang peaks at its backdrop. The word Deoritataal means ‘the bathing lake of the Gods’ and is considered a very sacred among the Hindus. Deoriatal Lake is wide open from all sides and it resides on an open meadow (bugial land). Alternatively Deoriatal is also referred to as ‘Indra Sarovar’ in the Puranas by wandering Hindu mendicants and it lies within the periphery of ‘Kedarnath Musk Deer Sanctuary’ which is home to numerous wildlife species like Himalayan Bear, Deer, Leopard along with numerous species of Himalayan birds as well. Deoriatal serves only as a popular trekking destination within Garwhal region because of its ease of access and soothing scenic landscape. The main attraction of Deoriatal is the reflection of these Himalayan ranges and its surrounding beauty on the lake water. During the early morning tourists and trekkers can often spot wild animals wandering around Deoriatal to drink water. Deoriatal also has a mythological connection with the epic Mahabharata, as this is the place where Yaksha asked the Pandavas to answer his questions before drinking water from the lake, for which the locals believe that the place possesses some magical beauty until now due to its mythical background.

Places to see around Deoriatal:

Omkar Ratneshwar Mahadev Temple:
Omkar Ratneshwar Mahadev Temple is dedicated to Nag Devta and is located around 01 km from Saari Village en-route Deoriatal. The temple of Omkar Ratneshwar has a unique feature, when water is poured over the Shiva Lingam it drips down in the wave form of a snake.

Sari Village:
Saari Village is a scenic hamlet located around 20 km away from Chopta and is nestled at an altitude of 2000 meters (6535 feet) enclosed with thick Oak and Rhododendrons all over. Saari village is considered to be the base camp for Deoriatal trek which is located around 2.5 km away.

Chopta:
Chopta is another hamlet in the Garhwal region of Uttarakhand and is referred to as ‘Mini Switzerland of Uttarakhand’. The hushed abode of Chopta is enclosed by dwindling Pine, Deodar, Rhododendron and other conifer trees all over. Deoriatal is located at a distance of 22 km away from Chopta.

Tungnath:
Tungnath is a temple dedicated to Lord Shiva and is the highest altitude Shiva temple in the world and is one of the five Kedars (Panch Kedar) seated at an elevation of 3680 meters (12074 feet). Tungnath is located at a distance of 22 km away from Deoriatal via Chopta and this whole route is accessed by trekking only.

Chandrashila:
Chandrashila literally stands as ‘Moon Rock’ and is the summit of the Chandranath Parvat (Chandranath Hill) at an elevation of 4000 meters (13123 feet) on which lies Tungnath temple. The majestic Chandrashila summit serves as a vantage point that heavenly panoramic view of Greater Himalayas. Trekkers can plan their trek from Deoriatal – Tungnath – Chandrashila.

Things to do at Deoriatal:
Deoriatal is a trekking destination rather than a tourist destination and hence there are options of activities or sightseeing are less in number. The main activities at Deoriatal are detailed below.

Trekking:
Trekking is the first and foremost activity at Deorital. The 2.5 km route from Saari Village to Deoriatal is comparatively less steep and is enclosed with Fir, Maple, Oak and Rhododendrons all over. To the northeast fringe of Deoriatal there is a watchtower that offers majestic view of the Greater Himalayas of Chaukhamba range. From Deoriatal en-route Chandrshila a stopover at Rohini Bugyal nestled at an altitude of 2730 meters (8956 feet) serves as an ideal camping site. From Deoriatal on the trekking route towards Rohini Bugyal tourists will come across Jhandi Dhar nestled at an altitude of 2650 meters (8695 feet) and it offers majestic view of Kedar Dome and Chaukhamba Peaks.

Bird Watching:
The surrounding meadows, forests, thick natural vegetation and secluded location make it a perfect habitat for numerous Himalayan birds. Bird’s watchers and photographers find the surrounding periphery of Deoriatal an ideal spot.

Camping:
Deoriatal is an ideal camping site for both trekkers and tourists. One can arrange for camp sites nearby the lake to make their halt at Deoriatal, but necessary permissions from forest department is required. The majestic view of sunrise above Chaukhamba along with the reflection on the lake is a sight worth remembering.

Village Tourism:
From Deoriatal tourists dive into village tourism at the nearby villages. Tourists are advised to make a night halt at Sari village and start trekking to Deoriatal the next day early morning which in turn tourists gains an opportunity for village trail and learn more about their customs and culture.

Things to know about Deoriatal Trek:

  1. Deoriatal Trek is an easy and short trek route. Trekking is the only option available to reach Deoriatal from Sari Village.
  2. Deoriatal is a protected place under Kedar Valley Biosphere Reserve and trekkers need to abide all the guidelines. Entry passes are to be obtained from the forest officials.
  3. Littering around and throwing of garbage are strictly restricted and is a punishable offense.
  4. Trekkers are advised to avail a proper guide from the nearby village.
  5. While trekking to Deoriatal trekkers are advised to carry some dry foods and adequate water along with them.
  6. Enthusiasts can make a night halt near the lake either in the Forest Rest House or in the tents only or they can also get back to Sari Village.

How to reach:

By Air:
Jolly Grant Airport located at Dehradun is the nearest airport to Sari village (the base camp for Deoriatal trek) located at a distance of 209 km away. From Jolly Grant Airport tourists and trekkers are required to hire vehicle to reach at Ukhimath and from there around 12 km away via Mastura one can reach at Sari village. Deoriatal is located around 2.5 km away from Sari village by trekking.

By Rail:
Haridwar is the nearest railway station to Deoriatal trek located at a distance of 218 km away. From Haridwar railway station tourists are required to avail shared/ reserved vehicles to reach either at Ukhimath or at Sari village directly. And from Sari Village the remaining route is availed by trekking only.

By Road:
Deoriatal is a trekking route that starts from Sari village the base camp of this trek. From Dehradun, Haridwar, Rishikesh trekkers need to reach at Sari village via Ukhimath (12 km away from Sari village). Sari village is well connected by motor-able road with Ukhimath and other major destinations of Garhwal region. Deoriatal can also be reached from Chopta via Sari village.

Best time to visit:
The best to visit Deoriatal is from March to May and October to November. During March and April the whole route to Deoriatal gets bloom with numerous Rhododendrons and other known and unknown flowers of the greater Himalayas. During winter the whole region get covered with thick blankets of snow. The temperature during this time of the year remains extremely chilly. Monsoon is not recommended.

Phone connectivity and Electricity:
Phone connectivity signal is very low at Deoriatal. BSNL is the only available networks near Deoriatal, other than this trekkers will get no other connections. Electricity is not available at Deoriatal, if trekkers can carry their own LED lamps, then only they will get light during the night time.

What to Eat:
Eating option is very limited at Deoriatal. There are very few shacks and make shift stalls are available around 100 meters away from the Kund (Deoriatal) with very limited food items. Trekkers can also opt to eat at Sari village where local food joints and small restaurants are available.