HOT ON THE TRAIL OF FAMILY ACTIVE VACATIONS IN CHOPTA AND JAYALGARH

When screen times and suffusion of digital interactions were not on top of the mind, holidays were made of leafy trails and bright sunny skies. On a recent trip to Uttarakhand, my mind went into a nostalgic loop of memories - muddy hands digging through dirt, climbing trees in hot summer afternoons and endless hours of playing hide and seek with siblings and friends. I was heading to the lower Himalayan region for an outdoor boost and had planned to visit Chopta and Jayalgarh. Even though it was a solo trip as a guest of Great Indian Outdoors, I could already re-live the times that had spent with cousins, neighbours and friends during school. Just rolling down the window of the car and letting the wind rush through my hair, was ample to transport me to the old carefree times.

As I dropped my bags in Himalayan Eco Lodges at Chopta, I saw that another family had checked –in. There was a warm and endearing chaos of assigning rooms, hunger pangs that were making the kids irritable and excitement of a new place. Finally, with rooms assigned, meals underway and itineraries discussed, there were smiles on the faces.Here, there were no phones and no Whatsapp – just the company of family. I could see that this was a perfect way to strengthen bonds and spend quality time together.The present day hectic city life is such that very little time is left for actual interactions.

Over the next few days, I spent time hiking around Chopta and spent some time by the River Alaknanda in Jayalgarh. In both places, I bumped into the same family. I could see that the stree-free time together was doing wonders for them. In five days, I was convinced that both Chopta and Jayalgarh offered the perfect combination of rustic charm and numerous activities for the family. In addition, these destinations were less tourist-clogged and treaded than their other hill-station counterparts likeRanikhet, Nainital, Mussoorie and others.

Chopta

Situated about 180 km (six hours) from the holy city of Haridwar, Chopta is well connected by road, which meanders along with the Ganges river on one side and spectacular mountain views on the other as soon as you start your ascend from Rishikesh.

The unique idea of providing affordable accommodation has been expertly developed by Himalayan Eco Lodges. They are the pioneers in offering good, clean rooms in the unspoilt locations of Kund and Chalkot (both close to Chopta) apart from many more other offbeat regions. From adventure, culture, wellness or just leisure, Chopta is the ideal destination to unwind and share valuable moments with the family.

The Eco Lodge at Kund (32km from Chopta) is located in the verdant valley of the Mandakini River, with the mighty mastiff of Mount Kedar towering in the background. The area is dotted with temples dating back to thousands of years, all rich in history and mythology. Some of the popular shrines in this area are Madhyamaheshwar, Triyuginarayan, Guptkashi and the lofty Shiva temple of Tungnath situated at an altitude of almost 3,600 m.

All the ingredients of a fun filled active family holiday are available here. Activities include, trekking, rappelling, rock climbing, bird watching and nature walks. I too, spent my time here on nature trails, bird watching and with a hike to Deoriatal and Tungnath & Chandrashila over the days.

Jayalgarh

The Eco Lodge at Jayalgarh, on the banks of the river Alaknanda, is one of the finest riverside properties on the rafting sector of Uttarakhand. Christened Camp High 5, it is a short four hour drive from Haridwar and offers an ideal setting for the family. Since it is both drivable and rail connected from Delhi, it makes for an ideal weekend getaway as well.
The entire concept of Himalayan Eco Lodges is developed to bring you as close to nature, adventure and family as possible. With picturesque locations in a fresh and invigorating atmosphere, your stay with them is certain to evoke a sense of satisfaction and a feeling of wellbeing.

There is no better place to spend a relaxing evening under the stars, with the sound of the river as a constant background melody. The area is full of nature trails and many short walks can be undertaken to view the flora and fauna of this spectacular region. For those thirsting for adventure, the Alaknanda river offers grade I to III rafting, which is great for beginners. If this is not enough, one can opt for rock climbing, rappelling, kayaking, zummering and the hugely popular, bridge slithering. And there is no room for nervousness – you’ll be in the hands of well-trained experts.

The evenings are highlighted by a crackling bonfire, replete with tales of the exciting experiences, related by the ever enthusiastic staff. The camp at Jayalgarh has just the right setting which allows you to bond with not only the family but other guests as well. The tents are adequate, the hospitality amazing and the food can give any five star establishment a run for their money.

I had reserved Jayalgarh for a more adrenlain pumping time. One of the days was allocated to rafting, while the other was my first time experience with zummering and bridge slithering. All the while, well-trained instructors kept a keen eye on my safety and technique. In the more relaxed times, they regaled me with stories of the river, their own backgrounds and their love for the Alaknanda. Despite a high-scale adventure trip, I thoroughly enjoyed amd felt rejuvenated.

Back at the camp, the evenings were spent with other groups by the bonfire. Everyone was full of stories from the day – first timers were especially thrilled with the excitement of rafting or having completed an adventure activity that they would have never imagined doing. It was evident that all of uswould go back with great memories and above all, stories to tell back home.
Even though I was travelling solo, I was well on the trail of two of the best family vacations spots in Uttarakhand. With sublime weather, stunning scenery and fresh local cuisine on offer, both Chopta and Jayalgarh seemed to be the ideal places for some quality active time with families.

Plan Your Chopta Summer Trek With GIO Adventures

When screen times and suffusion of digital interactions were not on top of the mind, holidays were made of leafy trails and bright sunny skies. On a recent trip to Uttarakhand, my mind went into a nostalgic loop of memories - muddy hands digging through dirt, climbing trees in hot summer afternoons and endless hours of playing hide and seek with siblings and friends. I was heading to the lower Himalayan region for an outdoor boost and had planned to visit Chopta and Jayalgarh. Even though it was a solo trip as a guest of Great Indian Outdoors, I could already re-live the times that had spent with cousins, neighbours and friends during school. Just rolling down the window of the car and letting the wind rush through my hair, was ample to transport me to the old carefree times.

As I dropped my bags in Himalayan Eco Lodges at Chopta, I saw that another family had checked –in. There was a warm and endearing chaos of assigning rooms, hunger pangs that were making the kids irritable and excitement of a new place. Finally, with rooms assigned, meals underway and itineraries discussed, there were smiles on the faces.Here, there were no phones and no Whatsapp – just the company of family. I could see that this was a perfect way to strengthen bonds and spend quality time together.The present day hectic city life is such that very little time is left for actual interactions.

Over the next few days, I spent time hiking around Chopta and spent some time by the River Alaknanda in Jayalgarh. In both places, I bumped into the same family. I could see that the stree-free time together was doing wonders for them. In five days, I was convinced that both Chopta and Jayalgarh offered the perfect combination of rustic charm and numerous activities for the family. In addition, these destinations were less tourist-clogged and treaded than their other hill-station counterparts likeRanikhet, Nainital, Mussoorie and others.

Chopta

Situated about 180 km (six hours) from the holy city of Haridwar, Chopta is well connected by road, which meanders along with the Ganges river on one side and spectacular mountain views on the other as soon as you start your ascend from Rishikesh.

The unique idea of providing affordable accommodation has been expertly developed by Himalayan Eco Lodges. They are the pioneers in offering good, clean rooms in the unspoilt locations of Kund and Chalkot (both close to Chopta) apart from many more other offbeat regions. From adventure, culture, wellness or just leisure, Chopta is the ideal destination to unwind and share valuable moments with the family.

The Eco Lodge at Kund (32km from Chopta) is located in the verdant valley of the Mandakini River, with the mighty mastiff of Mount Kedar towering in the background. The area is dotted with temples dating back to thousands of years, all rich in history and mythology. Some of the popular shrines in this area are Madhyamaheshwar, Triyuginarayan, Guptkashi and the lofty Shiva temple of Tungnath situated at an altitude of almost 3,600 m.

All the ingredients of a fun filled active family holiday are available here. Activities include, trekking, rappelling, rock climbing, bird watching and nature walks. I too, spent my time here on nature trails, bird watching and with a hike to Deoriatal and Tungnath & Chandrashila over the days.

Jayalgarh

The Eco Lodge at Jayalgarh, on the banks of the river Alaknanda, is one of the finest riverside properties on the rafting sector of Uttarakhand. Christened Camp High 5, it is a short four hour drive from Haridwar and offers an ideal setting for the family. Since it is both drivable and rail connected from Delhi, it makes for an ideal weekend getaway as well.
The entire concept of Himalayan Eco Lodges is developed to bring you as close to nature, adventure and family as possible. With picturesque locations in a fresh and invigorating atmosphere, your stay with them is certain to evoke a sense of satisfaction and a feeling of wellbeing.

There is no better place to spend a relaxing evening under the stars, with the sound of the river as a constant background melody. The area is full of nature trails and many short walks can be undertaken to view the flora and fauna of this spectacular region. For those thirsting for adventure, the Alaknanda river offers grade I to III rafting, which is great for beginners. If this is not enough, one can opt for rock climbing, rappelling, kayaking, zummering and the hugely popular, bridge slithering. And there is no room for nervousness – you’ll be in the hands of well-trained experts.

The evenings are highlighted by a crackling bonfire, replete with tales of the exciting experiences, related by the ever enthusiastic staff. The camp at Jayalgarh has just the right setting which allows you to bond with not only the family but other guests as well. The tents are adequate, the hospitality amazing and the food can give any five star establishment a run for their money.

I had reserved Jayalgarh for a more adrenlain pumping time. One of the days was allocated to rafting, while the other was my first time experience with zummering and bridge slithering. All the while, well-trained instructors kept a keen eye on my safety and technique. In the more relaxed times, they regaled me with stories of the river, their own backgrounds and their love for the Alaknanda. Despite a high-scale adventure trip, I thoroughly enjoyed amd felt rejuvenated.

Back at the camp, the evenings were spent with other groups by the bonfire. Everyone was full of stories from the day – first timers were especially thrilled with the excitement of rafting or having completed an adventure activity that they would have never imagined doing. It was evident that all of uswould go back with great memories and above all, stories to tell back home.
Even though I was travelling solo, I was well on the trail of two of the best family vacations spots in Uttarakhand. With sublime weather, stunning scenery and fresh local cuisine on offer, both Chopta and Jayalgarh seemed to be the ideal places for some quality active time with families.