Chirbatiya, a relatively unknown destination, unfolds itself like a secret waiting to be discovered. Nestled within Uttarakhand’s lush greenery and majestic mountains, this hidden gem is poised to steal the hearts of adventurers seeking serenity and untouched beauty.
In this blog, I embark on a journey to unveil the mysteries and wonders that make Chirbatiya the best-kept secret of Uttarakhand.
Chirbatiya: A Hidden Gem
It is a picturesque tiny hamlet located in the Rudraprayag district of Uttarakhand. In addition, it is also a part of the Hindu pilgrimage route to Badrinath, due to which the village receives a large number of tourists heading to Badrinath and Kedarnath.
Chirbatiya village is strategically located at the hilltop with a majestic view of the Himalayas in the front and surrounded by dense oak and pine trees. The village receives heavy snow during winter, making it a perfect white winter land.
Although little known, recent years have seen a spike in the place’s popularity among travelers. People visit this village to spend a day in the lap of nature while immersing in the Gharwali culture.
In addition, it is also the base of Patangniya Top Trek or Chirbatiya Trek. It is a short hike to the lush green meadows with a 180-degree view of the majestic Himalayas. The trek is a perfect weekend escape, especially for people living in Delhi, as Chirbatiya from Delhi is just a few hours away.
Patangniya Top Trek / Chirbatiya Trek
The Patangniya Top trek has dense forest trails dominated by pine, oak, and rhododendron trees. It also has numerous lush green meadows and a small man-made lake.
One of the biggest attractions of this trek is the view of the peaks of the Gharwal Himalayas. You can spot Mrigthuni, Trishul, Nanda Devi, Chang-Bang, Dronagiri, Neelkanth, Chaukhamba and Kedarnath.
During winters, this trek receives 2-3 feet of Snowfall. Which makes it an excellent snow trek for the weekend.
Below is the itinerary of the Patangniya Top Trek) that you can follow for a smooth experience.
- Day 1: Rishikesh to Chirbatiya to Patangniya Top
- Day 2: Patangniya Top to Chirbatiya to Delhi
Day 1: Rishikesh to Chirbatiya to Patangniya Top
- Drive from Rishikesh To Chirbatiya And Trek To Patangniya Top
- Drive Distance: 150 km
- Trek Distance: 4.5 Km (approx)
- Time Taken: 3-4 hrs
- Accommodation: Tents
- Altitude: 7545 ft to 9100 ft
From Rishikesh, start your journey early in the morning towards Chirbatiya village.
The road passes through the famous Tehri Lake and Tehri Dam. After passing Tehri Lake, you reach the famous Ghansali market. It is the last market before Chirbatiya. Hence, if you are short of cash, withdraw it from the ATM available in the market.
From Ghansali, continue to drive towards Chirbatiya. It takes an hour from Ghansali to reach Chirbatiya.
After reaching your destination, have a filling lunch and rest for some time. Post lunch, head off for the trek towards Patangniya.
At the beginning of the this trek, the trails climb up towards the left of the Chirbatiya market, from where you can see the road and widening valley below.
Slowly continuing on the trail, you enter Pine Forest and reach Chound. Chound is a small shepherd village with three houses amid a dense forest.
From here, the forest becomes denser with the addition of oak and rhododendron trees. You will find a lot of clear water streams in this section. On Crossing the area, you reach Khalwa Khark, a tiny meadow.
A 20-minute trek from Khalwa Khark takes you to Rai Jheel- an artificial lake with a small mud hut in front. Spend some time at this lake and immerse yourself in the beauty of your surroundings.
The trail from this spot enters the dense forest and opens to a vast, lush green meadow with a view of the Gharwal Himalayas. This is the Patangniya Top.
Enjoy the views from this point and spend the rest of the day camping in the lapse of nature.
Day 2: Patangniya Top to Khalwa Village And Drive to Delhi
- Trek from Patangniya To Khalwa Khark And Drive To Delhi
- Drive Distance: 150 km
- Total Time Taken: 12 hrs
After a delicious breakfast, trek down to Khalwa village. The trail from the campsite passes through the oak forest and is an easy descend. It takes around 2 hrs to reach the road head.
From Khalwa Khark, drive back to Delhi via Tehri Lake.
Chirbatiya Weather
Chirbatiya village is among those places in Uttarakhand that have pleasant weather throughout the year. You mostly find clear skies except during the monsoon. Hence, avoid visiting this place during monsoon as the village receives heavy rainfall.
Moreover, it also receives heavy snow during winter, which sometimes blocks the route for days.
Plan A Perfect Weekend Escape
Chirbatiya is one of those hidden gems in Uttarakhand that is full of natural beauty and majestic Himalayan views. Furthermore, its proximity to Delhi makes it perfect for a weekend adventure.
So, what are you waiting for? Plan a thrilling weekend in the charming Chirbatiya village.
If you have any questions about Chirbatiya, comment below.
