Brahmatal Trek

Brahmatal Lake is one of those most stunning alpine lakes whose breathtaking scenic beauty spellbinds its viewers. Situated in the serenity of Uttarakhand's Chamoli Garhwal at an elevation of over 12.500 feet, the Brahmatal Lake is one of the popular winter treks. During winter, it becomes a popular destination for trekking among trekking and adventure enthusiasts. Rated as easy to moderate in difficulty level, the Barhamatal Lake can also be attempted without any prior experience. The majestic view of Brahmatal Lake is unique from the Deoriatal Trek and Vasuki Tal Trek. In this Brahmatal Trek Guide, we have transmitted some essential details about the trek.

Base Camp of the Trek

Lohajung, a small village in Uttarakhand's Chamoli district, serves as the base camp of the Brahmatal Trek. Surrounded by lush green mountains, it is known for its lovely views and serenity. Along with this trek, Lohajung is also used as a base camp for other popular treks in Chamoli, such as the 'Bedni Bugyal Trek' and the 'Roopkund Trek'. Lies 260 km away from Rishikesh, it is accessible by bus and taxi. Being a small village, Lohajung offers basic amenities which are sufficient and helpful for trekkers.
 

Trivia: As per the local folklore, it is said that Goddess Parvati fought a battle with the demon Lohasur at this place. Hence, the place is named Lohajung (where jung means 'War')

Trek Difficulty Level

The Brahamtal Trek difficulty level is graded between easy to moderate. Even beginners without any prior trekking experience can undertake it under expert supervision. Brahamtal Trek covers a distance of 22 km, which usually takes 4 to 5 days to complete. The ascent to the Brahmtal summit is steep but manageable if a person is physically fit. Along the way, trekkers may face various challenges, especially in Talandi, which is known for its strong wind currents. The weather here is a big challenge, as it changes rapidly, which may also cause inconvenience. The region is known for its rainfall and snowfall, which increases the difficulty of the trail.

Best Time for the Brahmatal Trek

The Brahmatal Trek is open throughout the year, but the best time to visit is considered from October to May. During this period, the trekkers can enjoy the different shades of this lake, from clear and blue in spring and autumn to transforming into a frozen lake in winter. Besides this, the scenic beauty of the surrounding landscape and snow-clad mountains adds a charm to its charm. Oak and rhododendron forest along the trail further enhances its view, especially during the spring when the rhododendron are in full bloom.

Brahmatal Trek Short Itinerary

The Brahmatal Lake Trek can be completed in six days, covering a distance of 22 km. It is considered an easy trek and can be undertaken by anyone with good physical fitness. If you wish to undertake this trek, then you must check what its each day looks like. Here's we have shared a short itinerary of this beautiful Brahmatal Trek.

Day 1: Drive from Rishikesh to Lohajung

• The first day of the journey begins from Rishikesh, where trekkers must reach the trek's base camp at Lohajung.
• For this journey, you can hire a taxi or take a bus from the Rishikesh Bus Stand.
• A taxi will take you to the base camp directly without any inconvenience, while the bus services are available only up to Deval.
• From Deval, trekkers need to take a shared taxi service.
• If undertaking this journey through a trekking agency, you can use their transportation facility.
• Today's journey will be of 9-10 hours, covering around 260 km.
• Upon arrival, check in to your accommodation and give some rest to your body.
• If time permits, enjoy the sunset (if possible) and take a short walk around the nearby areas, which will help your body to acclimatise.

Day 2: Trek from Lohajung to Gujreni

• With the beautiful sunrise, the actual journey of our trek begins, where we will trek around 4.6 km from Lohajung to Gujreni.
• Today gradual ascent is easy and takes about 5 hours.
• The trail goes through a forest, where you can also spot Mundali Village and the confluence of Pindari and Kali Rivers.
• Moving forward, you will pass Budla, which is surrounded by a Rhododendron forest.
• After walking continuously for a couple of hours, you will arrive at Begum, a scenic vantage point, where you can rest for some time. From Begum, one can spot the majestic view of Navali Bugyal and Bagdi Bugyal.
• After moving some distance, you will come across a stream that marks the trail, and from here, the Gujreni campsite is just an hour's walk ahead.
• The campsite is surrounded by silver oak, golden oak, and rhododendron trees.
• Such trees can be viewed in the spring and autumn seasons, as during winter, they are all blanketed in snow and are hard to distinguish.
• Bird lovers will especially enjoy this campsite, as it is home to many Himalayan species.
• After lunch, explore the areas and soak in the natural beauty.

Day 3: Trek from Gujreni to Tilandi

• Today's trek will cover a distance of 3 km from Gujreni to Tilandi campsite, and takes approximately 5 to 6 hours.
• The trail will go through a meadow, usually covered in snow during winter.
• As soon as you step into the meadows, a majestic panorama of Mt. Trishul and Mt. Nanda Ghunti appears.
• Though the trek route is short, but provides a stunning view of the Himalayas and the surrounding landscape.

Day 4: Trek from Tilandi to Brahmtal

• This is an important day of the trek, which covers about 6 km.
• Today's route will go through via Jhandi Top and Brahmatal summit, which takes around 7 to 8 hours to complete.
• The ridge walk along the trails drops a scenic view of the surroundings.
• Brahmatal, the highest summit of the entire trek, which is around 12,250 feet, gives you a breathtaking sight.
• After reaching the summit, descend towards the alpine lake, i.e. Brahmatal Lake.
• In winter, the lake is completely frozen, while in spring and autumn, it reflects a perfect reflection of the night sky.
• If the weather is clear, do not miss the sunset from the Brahmatal campsite.

Day 5: Trek from Brahmatal to Lohajung

• On the fifth day, we will cover around 8.45 km to reach the base camp of the trek, i.e. Lohajung.
• It takes around 6 hours to complete the journey.
• As you descend, the majestic view of the Himalayas will fade out slowly, and soon you will reach Lohajung.
• Upon reaching Lohajung, spend some time strolling around the area and cherish the last evening of the trek.
• As the sun sets, you will keep scrolling through beautiful memories of the trek through your mind.

Day 6: Drive from Lohajung to Rishikesh

• Wake up early, as today you have to leave for Rishikesh.
• If you have not hired a taxi or the agency transport, take a shared taxi to Deval.
• From Deval, take a bus to Rishikesh that usually departs around 6:00 AM.

Journey Commenced From

The Brahmatal Trek journey ideally starts from Rishikesh, which is around 259 km from Delhi. The city is accessible by road, rail and air transport. However, there is no direct air connectivity; the nearest airport is Jolly Grant Airport in Dehradun, situated just 16 km away. From Rishikesh, you can take a bus or taxi to reach Deval, which is 27 km from the trek's base camp. From Deval, shared taxis are easily available to reach Lohajung, the base camp of Brahmatal Trek.

How to reach Rishikesh?

Rishikesh is accessible by road, rail, and air. Trekkers can choose the travel mode which suits them most.

• By Road: Rishikesh is well connected by road from Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Chandigarh, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, and Punjab. You can easily reach using a bus or a private cab.
• By Train: Not many, but some trains from Delhi to Rishikesh run daily and weekly. The Yog Nagri Rishikesh Railway Station is located just 2 km from the Rishikesh Bus Stand.
• By Air: Rishikesh is not directly connected by air services. For this, you have to reach the nearest airport, i.e. Jolly Grant Airport, which is just 16 km from the city, with direct flights from all major Indian cities.

Brahmatal Trek Route: Key details

Brahmatal Trek Route Map

The Brahmatal Trek journey passes through several scenic places that attract various visitors throughout the year. The commencement point of the journey. i.e Rishikesh itself is a hub for tourists and pilgrims. Situated on the banks of the holy Ganga River, Rishikesh is renowned as the Yoga capital of the World. After moving forward, you will witness the site where the Ganges forms, i.e. Devprayag. Further along the way, you will come across the Dhari Devi Temple, revered as the protector of the Char Dham. The route map involves in the Brahmatal Trek is given as: -
 

Rishikesh → Devprayag → Srinagar → Dhari Devi Mandir → Rudraprayag → Gauchar → Karnaprayag → Gwaldam → Dewal → Lohajung

Backpack Check List for Brahmatal Trek

Accommodation

Lohajung serves as the base camp for the Brahmatal Trek and offers accommodation for trekkers. It is advisable to book accommodation in advance, as Lohajung also serves base camp for other treks too; otherwise, you may face a last-minute issue. The accommodation available here consists mostly of guesthouses and homestays, which fulfil only basic needs.

• Himalayan Homestay
• Mount Nanda Lodge
• Hills Prince Homestay
• Rana Tourist Lodge

Important Tips for Trekkers

• Hire an agency or local tour guide for the trek.
• Direct transport services are unavailable; it is advisable to hire a taxi or use the transport facility provided by the trekking agency
• Buses are available up to Deval, and from there you must take a shared taxi.
• The site doesn't offer ATM facilities, so keep sufficient cash.
• Bring all the essential items, documents or as suggested by the trekking agency.
• Trekking gear can also be rented from the trekking agency upon prior request.
• The trekking agency also provides offloading facilities on prior intimation.
• Read all the terms and conditions shared by the agency.

Brahmatal Trek Package

The Brahmatal Trek package ranges between Rs 7,000/- to Rs 13,000/-. Several trekking agencies, including the local tour guide, provide this package. The package comes with various benefits, while those not included are available as add-ons.

Facilities offered by the agencies

Popular Trek Providers

Note: The prices mentioned above are indicative and subject to change by the agencies. For the latest package cost, visit the portal of the respective agencies.