Uttarakhand, fondly called the ‘Land of the Gods', is a beautiful state in the northern part of the country. Nestled in the Himalayas, this state is mainly known for its abundance of natural beauty. Boasting a number of crystalline lakes, lush green valleys, towering mountain peaks, and dense forests, it enthrals nature lovers from across the world. In addition to this, this state is equally popular among tourists wanting to experience an adrenaline rush. Offering plenty of adventure opportunities, Uttarakhand is on the travel bucket list of almost every thrill seeker. From paragliding to bungee jumping, and river rafting to trekking; there are so many things to do in Uttarakhand for adventure enthusiasts.
Are you also planning a trip to this fascinating state and want to experience the purest form of adventure? Well, this is where your search ends! Brahmatal Trek is a place that every adventure lover coming to Uttarakhand should visit. Often referred to as the best winter trek in India, this is something you can find in the itinerary of all Uttarakhand tour packages.
Read on to know everything about Brahmatal Trek, Uttarakhand:
Brahmatal Trek: An Overview
Situated in the Garhwal region of the Himalayan Mountains, Brahmatal Trek is the rarest combination of nature, adventure, and culture. Running through several small villages and dense forests, this trek offers stunning panoramic views of the surroundings with just the right kind of thrill. Apart from this, Brahmatal also has great religious significance. According to Hindu mythology, this is the place where Lord Brahma, the creator of the universe, performed penance. Since Lord Brahma meditated here for several years, this place got its name, Brahmatal.
The end-point of the Brahmatal Trek is the awe-inspiring Brahmatal Lake, which is surrounded by towering mountain peaks and lush green forests. The Brahmatal summit offers breathtakingly beautiful views of magnificent Himalayan ranges comprising Mrigthuni, Nanda Ghunti, and Trishul.
Whether you want to admire the natural beauty or feel some thrill, this place will not disappoint you at all. In short, Brahmatal Trek is a must-visit for every tourist coming to Uttarakhand. This place is bound to give you an incredible experience you will cherish forever.
Other Highlights: Altitude, Distance and Routes
Covering a total distance of 28 kilometres, the Brahmatal trek starts at a small village named Lohajung, located in the Chamoli district. With an altitude of 3800 meters, Brahmatal Trek is one of the best options in Uttarakhand. Since a major part of the trek has dense forests, there are fewer chances of altitude sickness. With an easy to moderate difficulty level, this is suitable for beginners as well as experienced trekkers.
This trek has multiple stops, and the major ones include Gujreni, Bekaltal Lake, Talindi Top, and Jhandi Top. The last stop is Brahmatal Lake, which is believed to be the place where Lord Brahma meditated ages ago. After that, the trek to the summit begins, and the trail runs through moderately inclined dense forests, offering gaping views of the valley. Upon reaching the summit, you’ll be treated to absolutely stunning views of some of the most prominent Himalayan ranges, including Mount Trishul, Mount Nanda Ghunti, Mount Chaukhamba, Mount Neelkanth, Mount Kamet, and Mount Hathi Ghoda.
Best Time to Visit
Due to its beautiful surroundings and high altitude, Brahmatal Trek can be done throughout the year. However, this place experiences the highest visitor influx in the winter season (December to March). During this time, the entire region is covered in a thick layer of snow, making it the best time for the Brahmatal trek. Although the difficulty level of Brahmatal Trek is a little higher in peak winters, this can turn out to be a memorable winter adventure.
How to Reach
The small village of Lohajung serves as the initial point of the Brahmatal Trek in Uttarakhand. Given the popularity of Brhmatal Trek, this place offers seamless connectivity to other parts of the country. Two key routes to reach Lohajung are via Kathgodam and Dehradun. Here’s how you can reach here using different transportation modes:
Via Kathgodam
- By Air: Located at a distance of 32 kilometres, Pantnagar Airport is the nearest to Kathgodam. You can easily find a flight to this airport from other cities. Once you reach here, you can take a taxi to reach Kathgodam.
- By Train: The Kathgodam railway station is well connected to cities such as Mumbai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Lucknow, etc. You can find direct trains to Kathgodam from all major Indian cities.
- By Road: From nearby cities like Delhi, Chandigarh, etc., you can find direct buses to Kathgodam. Since the roads are well maintained, you can also choose to come here in your own car or taxi.
There are no direct buses between Kathgodam and Lohajung. Once you reach Kathgodam, you can book a private or shared taxi to get to Lohajung.
Via Dehradun
- By Air: Taking a flight to the Jolly Grant Airport is the fastest way to reach Dehradun. You can easily find direct flights from several Indian cities.
- By Train: Dehradun Railway Station (DDN) is well-connected to other major cities in India, including Delhi, Mumbai, Chandigarh, etc. You can find several superfast and express trains to reach here.
- By Road: Dehradun offers great road connectivity to several nearby cities like Delhi and Chandigarh through state and national highways. You can either find a bus or hire a private taxi to reach Dehradun. Or, you can also choose to come here in your own car.
Just like Kathgodam, there are no direct buses between Dehradun and Lohajung as well. But you can take a private or shared taxi to reach this village.
How to Plan
Despite its moderate difficulty level, Brahmatal Trek is time-consuming, and you’ll need at least 5 days to finish it. Here is a detailed itinerary for the Brahmatal Trek that you can use:
Day 1: Arrive at Lohajung
Lohajung is a small village in the Chamoli district and serves as the base point of several treks, including Brahmatal. Located at an altitude of 2,316 meters, this place has a relatively milder climate. By spending one night here, you can get acclimatised and prepare yourself for the trek. If you reach here during the day, you can use the extra time to take a small stroll around the village. This will give you a chance to meet the friendly locals and know more about the place.
Day 2: Lohajung to Bekaltal
On the second day, you can start your journey from Lohajung to Bekaltal Lake. The total distance between these two points is 5.8 kilometres, and you’ll need approximately 5 hours to cover this. Situated at an altitude of 2,953 meters, Bekaltal is also among the popular tourist attractions in Uttarakhand. The difficulty level of this part of the Brahmatal Trek is moderate, as you have to ascend through thick oak and rhododendron forests. This trail also offers absolutely gorgeous views of Kali Valley, the point where the rivers Kali and Pindari meet.
Before reaching the final destination, you’ll find two resting points, which are Begum and Gujrani. Upon reaching the Bekaltal campsite, you’ll get to see stunning views of Mount Trishul on the horizon. After resting for some time, you can explore the area and move towards the Bekaltal Lake. Situated amidst oak trees, this lake is the best place to unwind after a long, tiring day.
Day 3: Bekaltal to Brahmatal
The next day, you’ll have to travel from Bekaltal campsite to Brahmatal, which is situated at an altitude of 3,182 meters. The distance between these two points is 7 kilometres, and you’ll need 5-6 hours for this trek. If you start early, you’ll get to witness the beautiful views of the surrounding mountains as clouds start covering them later in the day. Talindi Top and Jhandi Top are two main points in this part of Brahmatal Trek that offer stunning natural vistas. After spending some time at Jhandi Top, you can start moving towards Brahmatal, which is approximately 1.5 kilometres away.
Day 4: Move towards Brahmatal Top
Now you’ll start trekking to reach the summit of the Brahmatal trek, located at a height of 3,734 meters. The total distance is 7.5 kilometres and can be covered in 8 hours. The first stop on this trail is Brahmatal Lake. During the winter season, this lake remains frozen but can serve as a rest point.
You’ll have to keep trekking until you find a ridge and start getting a clear view of Brahmatal Lake. After some time, you’ll reach the Brahmatal Top, where you can spend some time admiring the surrounding views. Now, you’ll have to start descending to reach Daldum, which is about 3 hours from here. This is the point where you can spend the night before heading back to Lohajung.
Day 5: Reach Lohajung
The distance between Daldum and Lohjung is 2.5 kilometres, and you’ll need at least 4 hours to get there. The descending trail also runs through a forest and has a low difficulty level. Malling is the only rest point here, but you can take breaks whenever you want. Upon reaching Lohajung, you can check into your hotel and relax.
There is no denying the fact that a trip to Uttarakhand is incomplete without the Brahmatal Trek. With the help of this comprehensive guide, you can easily plan your vacation. Or, you can choose Veena World as your travel partner and explore our range of Uttarakhand tour packages from Mumbai, Delhi, Hyderabad, and several other cities. Here, we offer an extensive collection of all-inclusive packages designed to meet the diverse requirements of travellers. Whether you’re exploring Uttarakhand tour packages for couples or looking for a suitable package for your solo trip, you can find everything here!
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