Brahmatal Trek: A Winter Sojourn In The Charming White Wilderness of the Himalayas

Brahmatal Trek is sure to captivate the adventure seekers all year round and offers you with a side of nature that you’d otherwise not see. This is a 6 kms long journey that starts at the Lohajung base camp and ends when you reach the enchanting Brahmatal. While on the way, you will encounter several pine trees, cedar and oaks and the infamous Rhododendrons of the Garhwal Himalayan region. Each season, the mountain landscapes have something spectacular to show to their visitors. Finding your way through the wilderness while enjoying the melodious sounds of the hidden waterfalls…what else can you ask for?

Here’s everything you need to know before embarking on the Brahmatal Trek – an overview of the entire journey, places to visit on your way and things to do during your trekking time. 

Read on!

Brahmatal trek itinerary

Brahmatal trek is suitable for everyone who’s interested in trekking up the mountains. The path is moderately difficult; both experienced and beginner trekking enthusiasts can easily set out and enjoy the journey. You will find that the chance of altitude sickness is also very low. 

Brahmatal is at a height of 3734 metres from sea level and you will be trekking through beautiful forest area to reach the spot. This is a round trek and takes 6 days to complete. 

If you love trekking, you should also read about the most captivating trekking trails in the Himalayan region. 

Here’s the detailed itinerary of each day. 

Day 1 – Arriving at Lohajung

Lohajung is present in the Chamoli region of the mighty Garhwal Himalayan mountains. This is at a height of 2331 metres above sea level and will serve as the base camp for the Brahmatal trek. To set out toward Lohajung, you must start from Dehradun. The journey is about 260 kilometres. On the way, there are a few things that you can explore. During your journey, you will be able to see the Shivalik mountain range in the distance. There are occasional pine trees that will greet you along the way and splendid valley views that will leave you spellbound. 

You can come across the famous confluences of the Alakananda River while you travel toward Lohajung. These are the ones that you need to look out for – 

Devprayag – The point where Alakananda and Bhagirathi rivers meet.

Rudraprayag – The point where Alakananda and Mandakini rivers greet each other.

Karnaprayag – This is where the Alakananda and Pindari rivers meet.

Devprayag and Rudraprayag confluences also have great significance in Hindu mythology. 

The highway is smooth and you will comfortably reach the Lohajung region within 10-12 hours even if you make pitstops in between. 

Day 2 – Trek to Gujreni

Once you are settled in Lohajung base camp, you will be starting your trek towards Gujreni. This is situated at a height of 2750 metres above sea level and you will be trekking for about 4 hours to cover a distance of 6 kms. Initially, you will be starting on a well-made stone path that will eventually lead into the woods. Then, you will reach a clearing from where the mighty Nanda Ghunti Peak will be visible. Also, you can see the Kali Valley along the way where the Kali and Pindari rivers meet each other. After you cross the Kali Valley viewpoint, most of the trekking path is covered by thick coniferous trees that block your view of the mountains. However, you can enjoy the colourful blossom of the Rhododendrons. In winter, this path is covered by pristine white snow without any vegetation. 

On your way, you will find a place called ‘Begum’ where you can rest before setting out to cover the rest of the distance to Gujreni. Once you start from Begum, you will come across two streams. The second stream is the Gujreni stream which marks your entry into the region. This is where you can set camp and prepare yourself for the next day. 

Once you are done exploring Uttarakhand, you must consider visiting the serene villages in Himachal Pradesh to familiarise yourself with the local’s unique culture. 

Day 3 – From Gujreni to Brahmatal

The path becomes challenging once you start from the Gujreni campsite. You will be walking through thick forests, woodlands and also taking steep ascents that will challenge your fitness. So, it is advisable to take your time and go slow. The journey is about 5 kilometres and will take 5 hours. After 2 hours of the trek, you will come across the Bekaltal Lake which has a rich brown colour because of the dissolved organic material. 

This lake will be frozen during the winter months. You can rest here for a while and enjoy the serene surroundings. After an hour’s trek from the Bekaltal Lake, you will arrive at the Talindi Top from where you will get the most enchanting views of Mount Trishul and Mount Nanda Ghunti. Finally, you will reach the Jhandi Top and from there, you will start your descent for about 1.5 kilometres to reach Brahmatal campsite. At this point, you will be surrounded by the towering snow-capped mountains and can hear the symphonies of the forests nearby. The experience is ethereal. 

Day 4 – Towards Brahmatal Top and back to Brahmatal

After 20 minutes of starting your trek from the Brahmatal basecamp, you will come across the Brahmatal Lake, a beautiful waterbody that sparkles under the early rays of the sun. It is a slightly steep slope that will eventually lead you to the open expanse of the lake. You can spend some time here and then set out to reach the Brahmatal Top.

The rest of the journey is a gradual climb of the ridges and you will eventually reach the Brahmatal Top from where you can clearly see Mount Trishul, Mount Kamet, Mount Neelkanth, Mount Chaukhamba and Mount Hathi Ghoda. In the spring season, you will find a lot of Rhododendrons along the way but in the winters, this route is no less than a marvellous wonder with dense snow everywhere. 

Day 5 – Journey back to Lohajung 

After exploring the Top and the lake, you will be winding up the Brahmatal trek by descending towards Lohajung. This is relatively easier than the ascent and you can complete the 11-kilometre journey in around 8 hours.

Along the way, you might come across the locals so do not hesitate to greet them! Once you reach Lohajung, you can explore the village and go on a cultural walk to see what it has in store. You will be treated with the most stunning sunset on your way down. Keep your eyes open for that! 

Day 6 – Going back to Dehradun

After you get sufficient rest at Lohajung, you will begin with the final stretch of your Brahmatal Trek. The journey from Lohajung to Dehradun will take about 12 hours and you can see the three confluences of the Alakananda River again. 

Want to enjoy a memorable trek while listening to the mysterious tales of the Himalayas? Then you must set out on the Kinnaur Kailash trek soon! 

Places to visit during your Brahmatal Trek

1 – Lohajung Village

Lohajung village is the base camp from where the Brahmatal trek begins. The word ‘Lohajung’ can be broken down to ‘Loha – the name of a demon and ‘Jung’ which means battle. It is said that Goddess Parvati fought the demon Lohasur here and that is why the village is named after this historical incident. The hamlet is peaceful and is adjacent to another village named Wan, which has the best valleys and stunning rivers. You can go around and explore the village, talk to the locals, buy some souvenirs from the local markets and also enjoy stargazing at night. It is possible to set up your tents here and enjoy the views of the green meadows. 

If you love seeing the twinkling stars, there are several alluring locations for stargazing in India. You must explore all of them. 

2 – Jhandi Top

Jhandi Top is at an elevation of 3400 metres above sea level and from this point, you will be descending toward the Brahmatal. However, you must spend at least a few minutes here and enjoy the picturesque view of the Himalayan vistas. You can see the 360-degree scenery of the rolling valleys, meadows and snow-capped mountains. It is so peaceful to just stand there while enjoying the beauty of nature in its untouched pureness. 

Also consider exploring the hidden gems of Uttarakhand, places that will show you how beautiful nature can be. 

3 – Mundoli

During your Brahmatal trek, you will come across the Mundoli village which is present at a height of 2100 metres above sea level. Mundoli is all about dense forests, rolling meadows and terraced fields. It offers breathtaking views of the surrounding Himalayan ranges and it won’t be a bad idea to explore this quaint hamlet during your trek if you can find the time. 

While you are in Uttarakhand, we suggest that you also pay a visit to Nainital – the City of Lakes to enjoy the rippling waters that showcase the reflection of the towering mountains. 

4 – Bekaltal 

Bekaltal is a serene lake that you will encounter during your Brahmatal trek. The place is great for bird spotting as you can hear those little avians chirping from behind the trees and also dropping by to quench their thirst at the lake. Bekaltal Lake is innately brown coloured and this colour turns a deeper shade during the rainy season or after heavy snowfall as more organic matter gets washed into the lake and sediments at the bottom. 

Things to do during Brahmatal Trek

1 – Camping

Camping is one of the best things to do during your Brahmatal trek. There are several ideal spots throughout your journey where you can set camp. Bekaltal, Tilbudi, Lohajung and Wan are some of the spots where you can put up your tent and enjoy being in the heart of nature. Spare some time for camping at Lohajung or Wan either before or after your trek and you will definitely enjoy the experience. 

2 – Swimming

While on the Brahmatal trek, you will come across a few hidden waterfalls that cascade down the rocky terrains of the dense pine forests. You can relax for a while here and the adventurous ones can also go swimming for a while! However, keep in mind to check the flow of the water and avoid swimming if you are trekking during the monsoon months. 

3 – Exploring the villages

Lohajung and Wan serve as the base camps for not only the Brahmatal trek but also the Roopkund trek and Nanda Ghunti base camp trek. You must definitely explore these two villages when you come to Uttarakhand for the Brahmatal trek. You can interact with the locals who are very friendly and will tell you everything about the villages. You must try the delicious local food and also visit the markets to buy the traditional handicrafts. The people here sell shawls, caps, blankets, woven baskets, knitted clothes, organic honey and medicinal herbs.  

Best time to go on Brahmatal Trek

The Brahmatal trek is open all year round and you can enjoy this surreal journey whenever you want to! However, people prefer to come here during the winter or spring season. 

Winter Season – December to March

The winter season is ideal for trekking, especially for those who enjoy the snow and do not mind the minus-degree temperature. This is when the entire landscape is covered by thick snow and the skies are clear and a bright blue. 

Spring Season – April to June

Summer is more or less absent in this region because the temperature remains relatively low than in other states of India and the hot days are hardly noticeable. Spring marks the bloom of the Rhododendrons and you will find several crimson, pink and yellow flowers around. 

Monsoon Season – July to August

The monsoons bring the hidden waterfalls to life but this might not be the ideal season for trekking. The route becomes extremely slippery and the ascent is highly challenging with the heavy downpour. 

Post Monsoon Season – September to November

If you want to go trekking when the crowd is very less, this is the best time. Post monsoons, the greenery is refreshing and vibrant. The trekking route is not as slippery as before and you can comfortably complete the Brahmatal trek. 

How to reach the Lohajung base camp?

By Air

You can take a flight from your respective cities to reach Jolly Grant Airport in Dehradun. If there are no direct flights to Dehradun, you can consider reaching Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport first and then take a bus or train to reach Dehradun. You will find public buses that will take you from Dehradun to Lohajung through intermediate pitstops. 

By Rail

There are direct trains that will take you to Dehradun from cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Ujjain, Varanasi, Lucknow and Allahabad. Also, there is the Vande Bharat train that runs between Delhi and Dehradun. 

By Road

There are no direct buses from Dehradun to Lohajung. You will have to take a bus from Dehradun to Rishikesh and from Rishikesh to Lohajung. The bus goes from Rishikesh to Karnaprayag and to Deval before reaching Lohajung. You can also hire shared taxis that are much quicker. People on road trips must stay on NH7 to reach Lohajung from Dehradun. 

Brahmatal trek is an experience that can relax the mind and soul. Not just adventure enthusiasts, everyone who loves nature and is up for a challenge should pick up their trekking shoes and go on to explore the raw beauty of the Himalayan terrain.