Brahmatal Trek

Resting in the depths of the Uttarakhand Himalayas, the Brahmatal trek treats you to soaring views of some lofty mountain peaks such as Mt. Trishul, Mt Nanda Ghunti and Mt. Khamet. At an altitude of 3800 m, the Brahmatal trek is open throughout the winters when most of the other trekking routes are closed making it a perfect winter trek for beginners. Brahmatal hosts one of the loveliest forest walks that are home to diverse bird species and century old oak trees. During spring, the trails of these forests are carpeted in the red and pink blooms of rhododendrons. In winters, the landscape transforms dramatically sheathing the region in pristine white snow, making it nothing short of a Winter wonderland. Long, never-ending ridgelines, expansive meadows, and 360-degree views of colossal peaks from the summit are some of the other attractions of the Brahmatal Trek.Spanning over 28 km, the Brahmatal trek begins from the base village of Lohajung located in the Chamoli district in Garhwal Himalayas. The 6 km trek from Lohajung to the Gujreni campsite runs through dense forests of Conifer, Cedar, Oak and Fir.

The Gujreni campsite is at the heart of a beautiful clearing surrounded by Oak and Rhododendrons with panoramic views of snow-capped ranges. The next day, the trek gradient increases gradually. A 2-hour trek will lead you to the Bekaltal lake, frozen during the winter months, making up for a tranquil view. The next day, the trek gradient increases gradually. A 2-hour trek will lead you to the Bekaltal lake, frozen during the winter months, making up for a tranquil view. The trail heading out of the lake continues to remain dominated by Oak and Rhododendron forests. You start catching glimpses of Mt Trishul through the woods from here on. The forest soon opens up to an expansive meadow, Talindi Top, that rewards you with spectacular views of Mt. Trishul and Mt. Nanda Ghunti amongst others. The ascent continues beyond this point until you reach Jhandi Top which surpasses the views offered by Talindi Top. It is a 1.5 km descent from here onwards to the Brahmatal campsite. The campsite is delightfully set at one end of a ridge, opening up to a stunning view of the blue silhouette of mountain ranges stacked layer after layer at the horizon. The Brahmatal lake is only 500 M from the campsite. According to legend, the lake is believed to be the place where Lord Brahma meditated ages ago. The trek to the summit begins the next day and is nothing short of thrilling. The trail climbs through moderately inclined dense forests eventually translating into a ridge stretch that opens up to gaping views of the tremendous valley behind. The summit offers awe-inspiring vistas of some well-known Himalayan ranges like Mount Trishul, sacred Mount Nanda Ghunti, Mount Chaukhamba, Mount Neelkanth, Mount Kamet and Mount Hathi Ghoda. While the trail is relatively easy to navigate, the ascent to Brahmatal Top can be challenging during heavy snowfall season. The snow, during these times can run knee deep requiring some effort during ascent and descent.