Good Time
Tungnath in June
Uttarakhand, India
June is Tungnath in full bloom — 5-15°C at the temple, meadows carpeted with wildflowers, the trek comfortable in good weather. Pre-monsoon afternoons build cloud but mornings are clear. The Chandrashila summit at dawn — 360-degree Himalayan panorama — is one of India's great viewpoints. Char Dham pilgrims add to the traffic at Chopta. Book ahead for Chopta accommodation.
The June story
June Tungnath is May with wildflowers. The alpine meadows between Chopta and the temple (above the rhododendron zone) are carpeted in blue, yellow, and purple. The Chandrashila dawn trek is the experience that adventure travel magazines write about — headlamp start, forest climb, emerge above treeline, reach the summit as the sun hits the Himalayan crest. The pre-monsoon weather gives reliable morning clarity. The temple is fully active — Char Dham pilgrims add spiritual energy. Chopta fills up. Hotels at ₹1,000-2,000. The camping options around Chopta meadow are excellent in June. By late June, monsoon approaches and conditions become uncertain. The first two weeks of June are the sweet spot.
Why June scores 4/5
Weather
Good trekking 10-20°C. Bugyals carpeted green. Chandrashila summit views. Pre-monsoon clouds build by afternoon.
Roads & Access
self drive: Possible to Chopta. Parking at trek base. road condition: Narrow mountain road to Chopta via Ukhimath. Then 3.5km steep trek. public transport: Buses to Ukhimath from Rudraprayag. Shared taxi to Chopta. Then trek. from nearest city: Chopta (trek base) — 3.5km trek. Rudraprayag — 80km to Chopta. Rishikesh — 225km. last km difficulty: extreme
Safety & Emergency
Safety: 1/5. rescue: SDRF Uttarakhand. Helicopter if weather permits. helpline: 100, 1077 (UK disaster). ambulance: Not available on trek. 108 from Chopta may take hours. police station: Ukhimath PS — 25km. nearest hospital: No medical facility on trek. PHC Ukhimath — 25km. District Hospital Rudraprayag — 80km
Network
VI: No, JIO: No, BSNL: Yes, NOTE: Yes, AIRTEL: No. Weak BSNL at Chopta. NO signal on trek to Tungnath or Chandrashila
Kids
Not ideal for kids — Highest Shiva temple — unique experience for mature teens
Elevation
3,680m — High altitude, acclimatisation needed
Who should go
- ✓Travelers with basic fitness
- ✓Wildflower meadow seekers between Chopta and temple
- ✓Dawn Chandrashila summit photographers wanting reliable morning clarity
- ✓Camping enthusiasts at Chopta meadow
- ✓Char Dham circuit trekkers adding Tungnath
Who should think twice
- ✗Those with mobility issues
- ✗Late-June visitors — monsoon approaching
- ✗Those wanting guaranteed Chandrashila views — afternoon cloud builds
- ✗Weekend visitors without advance Chopta bookings
- ✗Altitude-sensitive visitors without gradual acclimatization
All 12 Months
| Month | Score | Note |
|---|---|---|
| January | 0/5 | Deep snow at 3,680m. Trail buried from Chopta onwards. Temple inaccessible. Chandrashila summit impossible. Do not attempt. |
| February | 0/5 | Snowbound -10 to 0°C. Chopta base deep in snow. No trail visible. Temple frozen shut. Extreme winter conditions. |
| March | 1/5 | Snow melting at lower elevations 0-10°C. Chopta clearing but Tungnath trail still snowy. Too early for safe trekking. |
| April | 3/5 | Spring arriving 4-14°C. Lower trail opening. Snow at temple still possible. Bugyals (meadows) emerging. Early season. |
| May | 5/5 | Best month 8-18°C. Rhododendrons blaze red and pink along trail. Chandrashila summit clear. Bugyals wildflower carpet. |
| Juneviewing | 4/5 | Good trekking 10-20°C. Bugyals carpeted green. Chandrashila summit views. Pre-monsoon clouds build by afternoon. |
| July | 1/5 | Heavy monsoon. Trail waterlogged and extremely slippery. Zero visibility at temple. Leeches active. Dangerous. Avoid. |
| August | 1/5 | Peak monsoon. Trail impassable with running water. Cloud cover total. Multiple rescue incidents yearly. Do not trek. |
| September | 3/5 | Post-monsoon clearing 4-14°C. Trail drying. Bugyals golden. Temple emerging from cloud. Brief autumn window works. |
| October | 5/5 | Excellent — golden meadows, clear Himalayan panorama |
| November | 2/5 | Winter approaching -2 to 8°C. Snow possible at summit. Trail icy mornings. Last trekkers leaving. Season ending fast. |
| December | 0/5 | Snowbound. Temple buried under snow. Trail impassable from Chopta. 5-month winter closure begins. Do not attempt. |
Practical Details
How to reach
Chopta (trek base) — 3.5km trek. Rudraprayag — 80km to Chopta. Rishikesh — 225km. Roads: Narrow mountain road to Chopta via Ukhimath. Then 3.5km steep trek. Self-drive: Possible to Chopta. Parking at trek base. Public transport: Buses to Ukhimath from Rudraprayag. Shared taxi to Chopta. Then trek. Last stretch: extreme
Elevation
3,680m
Difficulty
moderate
Budget tier
budget
Nearby in Uttarakhand scoring high in June
The Window — every Sunday
Best score this week, the honest skip, road intel, and what changed. Free. No spam.
One email per Sunday. Unsubscribe anytime.