Chandrashila & Tungnath

The route up from Chopta passes through Tungnath Temple — the world's highest Shiva temple at 3,680 meters — but Chandrashila summit at 4,000 meters is the real destination. The final stretch breaks free of the treeline completely, leaving nothing between you and a full 360-degree ring of snow peaks.

On a clear day the view is almost disorienting in its scale. Peaks you've only seen individually suddenly appear together — Nanda Devi, Trishul, Chaukhamba, Kedar Dome, Bandarpunch — lined up across the horizon in every direction.