Brahmatal Trek

A Snow covered Alpine lake shining like a pearl, nestled in the middle of the Great Himalayas at an elevation of 12,600ft isn’t just a sight but an experience to be cherished for a lifetime. This divine alpine lake is what gives the place its name, “Brahmatal” and the life-changing experience to witness this wonder is what’s called The Brahmatal Trek. 

A spell casting view of the famous beautiful peaks, ‘’Mt Trisul and Mt Nanda Gunti’’ resting peacefully under a white pristine blanket of snow is the reward you get once you reach the top. Camping beside a crystal clear Alpine lake under a star filled night sky is truly a surreal experience that every trekker lives for.

Although every winter trek is a delight, this one takes the cake as one of the most magnificent treks because of its special sights of frozen alpine lakes, dense oak forests and vast stretches of snow-covered meadows, making you realize the true meaning of beauty. Also, the walk on these narrow trails through dark, dense oak forests with snow hanging on the tired branches of these old treacherous trees is nothing short of a mystical experience for some. With very few visitors, Bhramtal also serves as an escape from all the noise of our daily life. 

You can anticipate cold air and snow on a mountain hike, especially in the winter. Winters in Brahmatal can be quite chilly. The range of the daytime average temperature is between 10 to 4 degrees Celsius. The average nighttime temperature in Brahmatal fluctuates from 2 degrees Celsius to minus 10 degrees Celsius. Although the temperature drops below zero degrees frequently due to the ample snowfall here, you can still be comfortable if you’re well prepared or if you chose to go with our team the ‘’Wild Hike Adventure’’ as we’ve been doing this for years now and with a team of experts who know the terrain like their homes you know you’re in good hands.

This trek is rated as being between easy to moderately challenging, as it’s a winter trek on a snow covered terrain, it does require some endurance to walk on snow, hence you should prepare in advance before you go for this trek.

With Lohajung serving as the base camp, the Brahmatal trek begins in Kathgodam and ends at Lohajung after 6 days of trekking through two beautiful alpine lakes, Brahmatal Pass and the famous Tilandi Top.

Mythological Significance

Uttarakhand is also famously known as ‘’Dev-Bhoomi’’, meaning the land of Gods. Hence, a lot of treks in the state have a significant place in the Hindu Mythology. ‘’Lord Brahma, the creator of the entire cosmos as per the hindu scriptures, meditated at the Brahmatal for several years thus giving it the name Brahmtal, meaning Brahma’s lake.

Also, the base camp named Lohajung is the setting for many mythical stories. According to local legend, this is where Goddess Parvati fought with the demon Lohasur, hence the name Lohajung. Also, trekking with the Wild Hike Adventure’s team you get to interact with the locals who have their own stories and myths to share, which I don’t think you’ll find even on the internet.

Brahmatal Through The Season

Between 10 and 20 degrees Celsius are the typical July highs. Because of the mild weather and plenty of sunshine, the surroundings are lush and green, and the trees are draped in leaves and blossoms. If you prefer hiking in a beautiful natural setting, summer is a great season to take this stroll.

The wintertime low is -5 degrees, and the air is bone-chillingly cold. Due to wind gusts, the temperature feels like -10 to -15 degrees. If you want some activity, winter is the greatest time to go. Winter is a great time to explore the area especially if you are a snow enthusiast, because it usually snows a lot during this time of the year and the old conifer trees look mesmerizing, with snow covered branches that look like huge arms trying to prevent the white blanket of snow from gently making its way to meet the mother earth after parting ways from the rivers and clouds.

Also, doing the trek in January, February and March is better if you like isolation on the trail as there aren’t many people due to the thick snow and chilling temperatures. Additionally the snow is better than in December.

If the Brahmatal temperatures in January and February are too harsh for you, you can go on the hike in November and December when the temperatures are more bearable and vary from minus 1 to minus 5 degrees Celsius.

Key things to know :

Start/ End Point of the Trek – Lohajung village

Duration – 6 Days/ 5 Nights

Kedarkantha Difficulty Level –  Easy To Moderate

Maximum Altitude – 12,250 ft

Temperature –  Day (2°C to 7°C) / Night – (-8°C to 1°C)

Nearest Airport – Jolly Grant Airport, Dehradun

Nearest Railway Station – Dehradun

Trekking Distance – 24 kms Approx

Trek Necessities  :

1. A decent-quality windproof jacket (no flimsy wind cheaters, please!) preferred with a hood. Thermal inner clothing (upper and lower), a scarf, and a muffler.
2. Wool socks, a wool cap, wool gloves, and ordinary socks (3-4 pairs),Rain cover.
3. Comfy hiking or trekking shoes (Waterproof shoes with a thick sole are recommended)
4. Lightweight slippers, sandals, and floaties
5. A cap or hat to protect your face from the harsh sun.
6. Polarized/UV-protective sunglasses, a trekking pole, and a walking stick
   
7. Lip balm, sunscreen, a water bottle and a torch or flashlight (with extra batteries)