Chopta 2025 April

 

A visit to Chopta in the month of April 2025 (10-4-2025 to 13-4-2025) was the fourth visit of mine to Chopta. The main attraction in April is the blossoming of Rhododendrons and the Monal male's display and courtship dance. We started from Delhi on the evening of 9th April (wednesay) and stayed at THDC Rishikesh. On the morning of 10th April we started early and reached Chopta by 3 pm. Stopping for breakfast at GMVN Kaudiyala some 50 km from Rishikesh. It was raining cats and dogs in Chopta at that time we arrived at around 3 pm. Buji reached late at 4 pm. This is because, after Rudraprayag buji took the second route via Makkumath whereas my car and Ashokda's car took the more popular highway. Buji reached late by 4 pm.

Next day morning it was a sunny and clear weather and immediately all of us started from Manoj's campt at 7 AM in search of Monal. My best sightings of Monal, Koklas and Red-headed Bulfinch was in this trip. Of course, I had the Z-8 and 600mm F-4 with me.