What to know:

Nestled between lofty and majestic mountain ranges and boasting scenic terrace farms and small waterbodies, serene Gopeshwar is one of the undiscovered tourist destinations in Uttarakhand. As the district headquarters of Chamoli, the beautiful town is situated at an elevation of 1,308 above mean sea level. According to local lore, the name of the town, Gopeshwar, is associated with that of Lord Krishna. It is believed that, once Lord Shiva was impressed by the tune of the flute of Lord Krishna, who was playing at a maharaas (a music and dance event) in Vrindavan. The gatekeeper stopped the lord from entering, saying that only one man - Lord Krishna - was allowed in the maharaas, which was attended by only gopis (female devotees of the lord). Wanting to see Lord Krishna, Lord Shiva transformed into a gopi and entered the maharaas. Lord Krishna identified Lord Shiva and welcomed him by calling him ‘Maharaj Gopeshwar’. The ancient Gopinath temple that is dedicated to Lord Shiva and is visited by thousands of pilgrims all year round, is the main attraction here. And since the town has religious associations, non-vegetarian food is not served here, but visitors can savour traditional pahadi (mountain) cuisine that very delicious. Besides the ancient temple of Lord Shiva, Vaitarni Kund, a group of temples without idols are other places of interest.

Gopeshwar is also visited by pilgrims on their way to Badrinath. Here, tourists can shop for local hand-made pickles, jams, craft and decorative objects, and handloom products.

When to visit:

Summer months (April to June) are ideal as the weather is pleasant. However, if you enjoy the crisp cold and snowfall, you can visit during winter (October to March).

Where to stay

Gopeshwar