Brahmatal Trek

Trek to a high-altitude lake in Mt Trishul's shadow

Dates not suiting you? Check the new Ranthan Kharak TrekView details here.

This new discovery in Kumaon with terrific mountain views makes for a great alternative to Brahmatal.View details here.

TREK DIFFICULTY

Easy Moderate

TREK DURATION

6 days

HIGHEST ALTITUDE

12,250 ft

Trek to a high altitude lake in Mt Trishul's shadow

Some of our top treks are favourites because of the mountain views they offer. Think of Chaukhambha from Deoriatal Chandrashila or Bandarpoonch from Dayara Bugyal. It is difficult to find such magnified views of big mountains like these. However, Brahmatal is a trek that takes the cake. It has a view that beats all of these!

Here is why. Right on your second day, you climb out of the beautiful rhododendron and oak forest to see a white wall of the Trishul massif. And these views only come closer as you traverse the ridge towards Jhandi Top.

At Jhandi top, you are almost at the center of the mountain views. To your right rises the massive Mt Trishul and to your left stands Mt Nanda Ghunti. You even see the Ronti Saddle, the ridge that connects Mt Trishul and Mt Nanda Ghunti!

That is not all. At the highest point of the Brahmatal trek, Brahmatal Top,  a new set of mountains open themselves up before you. You see Mt Neelkanth, and Mt Hathi Ghoda… while Trishul and Nanda Ghunti are to your right. Always there.

trek snippet icon

Did you know that Lohajung, the basecamp of Brahmatal, is the birthplace of Indiahikes? Click to watch the whole story.

Mt Trishul and Mt Nanda Ghunti, are your companions throughout the trek. Even the highest point of this trek is approached from the side that is exposed to Mt Trishul and Mt Nanda Ghunti.  This trek deserves to be talked about among treks with the best mountain views.

To top it all, Brahmatal has lovely forests, two lakes to look forward to and a meadow to traverse through.

Some of our top treks are favourites because of the mountain views they offer. Think of Chaukhambha from Deoriatal Chandrashila or Bandarpoonch from Dayara Bugyal. It is difficult to find such magnified views of big mountains like these. However, Brahmatal is a trek that takes the cake. It has a view that beats all of these!

Here is why. Right on your second day, you climb out of the beautiful rhododendron and oak forest to see a white wall of the Trishul massif. And these views only come closer as you traverse the ridge towards Jhandi Top.

Brahmatal Trek Videos

Watch these videos to prepare for your Brahmatal trek

Brahmatal Trek - Complete Information

We have always wanted trekkers to be well-informed before they go on a Himalayan trek. Knowledge is the difference between a safe trek and a dangerous one. It’s also the difference between a wholesome experience and a superficial experience.

Use this section to learn about the Brahmatal trek. It has in-depth information about each day of the trek, what to expect, and how you need to prepare for it. Many years of expertise have gone into this content. Trekkers find that extremely useful.

Expert Speak

Sandhya UC, Co-Founder, COO

Sandhya UC, Co-Founder, COO

Sandhya is a founding partner at Indiahikes. Over the past ten years, she has explored and put on the map a few of the greatest Himalayan treks in India, including Kashmir Great Lakes and Kedarkantha. She is a TedX Speaker and has been awarded the "Women of Worth" Award by Outlook Business in 2017. She believes in sustainable living just as she believes in sustainable trekking.

Here’s Sandhya talking about one of the well-known treks in our country.

What I Like About the Brahmatal Trek

What I Like About the Brahmatal Trek

Sandhya UC, Co-Founder, COO

Sandhya is a founding partner at Indiahikes. Over the past ten years, she has explored and put on the map a few of the greatest Himalayan treks in India, including Kashmir Great Lakes and Kedarkantha. She is a TedX Speaker and has been awarded the "Women of Worth" Award by Outlook Business in 2017. She believes in sustainable living just as she believes in sustainable trekking. Here’s Sandhya talking about one of the well-known treks in our country.

1. The Rhododendron forest from Lohajung to Bekaltal

Brahmatal has mesmerising forest walks. You get to walk through the centuries-old forests of Oaks and Rhododendrons. What particularly stays with me is the dedicated section on Rhododendrons! Just out of Bekaltal, you get a demarcated section of Rhododendron forests.

The Rhodo forests are a treat to the eyes. The trunks twist and turn in shapes and forms. The trunks are usually bare and smooth wooded. The trees are not too tall and form a nice canopy at the top. They are close enough to form a perfect green roof over your head.

This is what you see throughout the year. If you come here during March and April, you get a pink flowery roof. If you come here during winters, you get a white snowy carpet

A lone rhododendron tree in bloom at Lohajung, the base camp of the Brahmatal trek.
Picture by Jothiranjan.

2. The ridge meadow walk from Tilandi to Jhandi Top

On the second day, you climb out of Bekaltal trekking up through some of the most beautiful rhododendron and oak forests. As you near the top, you are curious and impatient to see what lies outside the tree line.

You enter the meadow on the mountain top and in front of you is a wall of white mountains. Having climbed all the way up to the ridge (which runs parallel to Ali Bugyal of the Roopkund trek), you see grand views of the Trishul range.

You know you are climbing to the top but the enormity of the mountain ranges so up close is something very special to Brahmatal.

Starting there, all the way to Jhandi top is one of the best ridges walks you will do in our mountains. On one side you have the mighty Trishul range fanning out and on the other side opens up to layers and layers of mountain ranges arranging themselves in height order going down all the way to Deval and Tharali.

These are the villages that you drove through to reach the base camp. To your right below the Trishul, the range spreads out the entire Roopkund trek. Every landmark, every campsite, and every climb on the Roopkund trek is seen from the Brahmatal ridge. I have never stood on one trek and gone through another trek, that too perhaps the most iconic trek in its entirety like this.

An adventurous ridge walk to the Jhandi top. Picture from Indiahikes Archive

3. The Gujreni Campsite

The Gujreni campsite enclosed by forest but in grassy clearings, with commanding views of mountain tops, I think I could fall in love with these camps.

They are secluded, with plenty of space to stretch your legs, walkabout, or take a peek in the forests, yet, you can just sit in one corner taking in the views. I have done lots of treks and have loved lots of camps, but if you ask me about Brahmatal, then I think it has some of the better campsites.

The picture-perfect Gujreni Campsite. Picture by Avijit Jamloki

Trek Trivia

Things Nobody Tells You About Brahmatal

The Arrowheads of Bekal Tal

In the neighbouring areas of Bekal Tal, people can be seen wearing or carrying arrowheads. These are used as lockets, some are displayed in homes, and some are attached to peoples’ walking sticks among other such ornamentations. These arrowheads have a couple of stories behind them. 

Uttarakhand is known as dev bhumi (divine or holy land) as Mahabharat is said to have taken place in parts of it. It is said that the arrowheads are from the days of the grand epic when they were used in battles. These arrowheads can be found stuck on trees in the forests as well today too. However, most of them have been removed and are being used by the locals.

There's also another story related to Lord Curzon linked to the arrowheads. It's often hard to verify what is fact and what isn't, but they're good stories to listen to. Make sure you ask your guide or the locals about it.

Tale of the Bekal Naag Devta and the Pundit

There are stories of a local pundit who would come to pray to this Naag Devta regularly. Pleased with his steady devotion and service, the God once invited him down to his golden temple at the depths of the lake. The pundit is said to have seen a stunning sight. That of an underwater city of snakes, with the Naag Devta presiding over them in his temple. 

The story takes a sad turn when the pundit defies the snake god. However, the myth brings forth interesting elements in the region. Not only is the Bekal Tal a sight of this myth, but the Ratgaon water source appears like the meandering body of a snake, as seen from Tilandi. Mythology tells us that Bekal Naag Devta left the lake through that route, leaving the Ratgaon water body in this snake-like figure. 

Even the water from Bekal Tal is said to have seeped down along with him and appeared in the Ratgaon source.

5 Reasons Why Indiahikes

We are India’s safest trekking organisation

When we brought out new trails in Indian trekking, safety came with us. Back in 2012, we were the first to introduce microspikes, and two years later, pulse oximeters became standard thanks to us. Nobody does safe treks like Indiahikes. In the mountains, emergencies don't care who you're with – everyone knows that when trouble hits, you look for the yellow tents of Indiahikes.

We are pioneers of treks in India

We are pioneers in trekking. Since 2007, we have brought out treks that have become India's most famous treks: Roopkund, Rupin Pass, Buran Ghati, Kedarkantha, Kashmir Great Lakes, Tarsar Marsar, Brahmatal, Phulara Ridge—the list goes on. In 2023 alone, we brought out five new treks in Indian trekking. We know treks better than anyone. This comes directly from the reason why Indiahikes was born: to bring out trek information and enable trekkers to trek on their own.

We are India’s largest trekking organisation

More than 25,000 people trek with us every year. We are the largest trekking organisation in India. 24% of our trekkers come back to trek with us every year. Over 4,000 students from the top educational institutions trek with us every year. Aside from this, families with children choose to trek with Indiahikes knowing that our treks are the safest. We have taken over 8000 children trekking so far, and the number continues to grow.

Our treks are transformative

We focus on designing transformative experiences. Our trek leaders conduct thought-provoking exercises that help you reflect and contemplate. This impact stays with you for a long time. Trekkers return feeling energised, more confident, or developing abilities to deal with difficulties. Many have changed careers, rethought their core values, become more humble, shown gratitude to others, or started a new fitness journey.

We are India's most sustainable trekking organisation

Since 2012, we have pioneered sustainable practices that have become standard in trekking. Using eco-bags, our trekkers have cleared over 120 tonnes of litter from the mountains. We do not carry packaged foods; instead, we serve freshly made food. We do not light campfires; we carry coal to light angethis to keep you warm. Our bio-toilets not only keep our toilets odour-free but also enrich the soil. When you trek with us, you leave mountains better.

Indiahikes Features

You’re guarded with our trek again philosophy

If you are unable to complete a trek, or if you love a trek, you can repeat it with us anytime. You don’t have to pay us for it. See our thoughts behind this here.

Get expert guidance even before you start the trek

Get personalised support from our expert Experience Coordinators. From registration to departure, they'll prepare you every step of the way.

Join any group, they are all women-friendly groups 

With around 30% of our trekkers being women, all women, including those travelling solo are comfortable to join any of our groups.

Meet like-minded trekkers

Indiahikes carries with it a strong spirit of trekking, one that comes with fitness, minimalism, mindfulness and a deep love for nature.

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