Brahmatal Trek

Short Itinerary

Day 1: Reach Lohajung; 10 hours drive from Kathgodam. Transport will be arranged from Kathgodam Railway station at 6.30 am. Cost of cab – Rs. 5,500/- per vehicle.
Day 2: Lohajung (7,600 ft) to Bekaltal (9,885 ft); 5 hours, 6.3 km
Day 3: Bekaltal (9,885 ft) to Brahmatal (10,440 ft); 5-6 hours, 7.2 km
Day 4: Brahmatal (10,440 ft) to Brahmatal Top (12,250 ft) and on to Khorurai (9,160 ft); 8 hours, 7.5 km
Day 5: Khorurai (9,160 ft) to Lohajung (7,600 ft); 3-4 hours, 3km
Day 6: Drive from Lohajung to Kathgodam. You will reach Kathgodam between 6.00 pm and 7.00 pm.

Please note that you will be staying at a guest house in Lohajung. The stay on all other days is in tents (3 per tent).

It is mandatory for trekkers to carry a copy of their photo id for entry at forest check posts on the trek.

The Trek

Day 1: Reach Lohajung

Lohajung is the base camp for the Brahmtal trek. The best way to reach here is from Kathgodam. The route, once you cross Nainital, is beautiful. You drive along mountain roads, through forests. You also get glimpses of the Garhwal mountains in the distance on a clear day.

• Altitude: 7,600 ft (2,316 m)
• Drive time: 10 hours drive from Kathgodam

Once you reach Lohajung, you find yourself face to face with the beautiful Nanda Ghunti peak. If you reach before sunset, the colours of the peak will enthral you.

Lohajung is at the centre of 12-15 nearby villages. There are a couple of local stores where you can buy jackets, hand gloves, caps, shoes etc. if need be. However, it is advised that you carry all the required things for trek beforehand and not rely on these shops. You will have a mobile network in most parts of Lohajung.

Lohajung, as the locals say, is the place where Goddess Parvati had a war (jung) with the demon, Lohasur. Hence, the name, which translates to ‘War with Lohasur.’

Day 2: Lohajung to Bekaltal

• Altitude: 7,600 ft (2,316 m) to 9,689 ft (2,953 m)
• Time taken: 5 hours, 5.8 km
• Trek gradient: Moderate; gradually ascending through forests on well-defined trails
• Water sources: The first point where you can refill your water bottles will be around 3 hours into the trek, followed by another at the place where you stop for lunch

The trek begins from Lohajung central market (chowk). Move upwards from Bisht General Stores (compass direction 3000 NW) on the well-marked, human-made trail. Walk through the upper region of Lohajung and then through the forest trail with a few more houses. After a short trek, spot Mandoli village on your left.

As you climb higher, on your left, you will be able to see the Kali Valley, where Kali and Pindari Rivers join. Follow the water pipes that supply water to Lohajung, as they lie along the trek trail. After some time, cross a small cluster of homes called Budla, on the left. Here, you will find rhododendron trees, which make this part of the trail very beautiful from February to March.

At approx 8,500 ft, you will find a 10-metre bridge (known as Link-gaad), which will help you cross the stream. After around two hours, you will reach Begum, where you can rest for some time. This place provides splendid views of Navali Bugyal (145o SSE) and Bagdi Bugyal (125o SE). After 10-15 minutes of walking from Begum, you will find another stream.  From here, an hour’s walk will bring you to Gujrani stream.

From here, the trail enters thick Oak forests and keeps climbing moderately. At sections where the mountain side is to your left and valley to your right, catch the first views of Mt Trishul imposing itself in the horizon. An hour and a half through the forest climb you land at a flat with a small crater in the centre. At one end of the crater, the plateau is the valley of Deval.  This place is called Khopdalia. It is actually a small dried lake. This is the campsite for Bekaltal which lies just above the campsite.

Bekaltal is a ten-minute trek up from Khopdalia. It lies surrounded by a thick cluster of Oak trees. The waters of Bekaltal is always brown. The brown water indicates a high amount of dissolved organic matter.

Typically, brown lakes are surrounded by forests or wetlands. Dense forests provide dark organic material that dissolves in lake water like a teabag. This dissolved organic material stains the water brown and shades the underwater world.

Overall, brown water lakes tend to be light-limited. The algae in these lakes survive through certain adaptations that allow them to adjust to low light levels. These lakes can also sometimes be acidic and contain few fish or other organisms.

Day 3: Bekaltal to Brahmatal

• Altitude: 9,689 ft (2,953 m) to 10,440 ft (3,182 m)
• Time taken: 5-6 hours, 7 km
• Trek gradient: Moderate. Initial steep climb for an hour brings you to a meadow where you ascend gently, followed by a gradual descent to Brahmatal.
• Water sources: None. Make sure that you fill 2 litres of water before starting the trek since this will be a long day

The trail starts out of the campsite and climbs steeply into the Oak and Rhododendron forest. Notice that to your left is the ridge which opens up to the valley below. Immediately to your right below is Bekaltal. As you climb on, half the trail is dominated by Rhododendron trees and somewhere midway the Oak trees take over. After about an hour, the tree line ends and you enter the meadows. Right in front of you is the spectacular panorama of Mt Trishul and Mt Nanda Ghunti with their associated ranges.

You are usually drawn to the edge of the meadows which is a ridge right on top of Lohajung your base camp. Below you is the valley from Lohajung to Wan. Right opposite where you are on the opposite mountain ridge is the famous meadows of the Roopkund trail – Aali and Bedni Bugyals.

The trail weaves along the ridge. You see the tree line sometimes below you sometimes beside you as you gain and drop height. The trees are largely Rhododendron or Oak again. Overall you gain height when you head to Jhandi Top, the highest point on the ridge. Its another vantage point for clear views of the mountain panorama. You can map the entire Roopkund trail here right from Wan to Roopkund. Spend at least twenty minutes at Jhandi Top to soak in the place. It usually gives you goosebumps to just comprehend what you are seeing in front.

As you walk along the ridge, while the right gives you big mountain views, the left opens up to sweeping valley views. You see at least 7 to 8 layers of mountain ranges one behind another. The sense of openness is unmatchable to most trekking days anywhere.

From the Jhandi top, the trail gradually descends to Brahmatal over a kilometre and half.

Once off Jhandi top, you descend below the actual ridge which takes away the mountain views. The Brahmatal campsite at 10,351 ft is 500 meters away from the lake to the left on the edge of the slope.

Day 4: Brahmatal to Khorurai via Brahmatal Top

• Altitude: 10,440 ft (3,182 m) to 12,250 ft (3,734 m) and on to 9,640 ft (2,938 m)
• Time taken:  8 hours, 7.5 km
• Trek gradient: Moderate; Moderate ascent to the ridge followed by a flat walk and then a steep descent.
• Water sources: None. Make sure you carry 2 litres of water from the camp before setting off.

The day’s trek sees you climbing back to the ridgeline you left the day before, later traversing it further before descending down the steep into the treeline. All along you will be treated to great mountain views if you have a clear sky. Anyone who treks this day will not hesitate to say that the day is the most visually fascinating day of the entire trek.

Start early by 8 A.M to give you time to catch the mountain views before the clouds come in. It takes about 10-15 minutes to trek to the Brahmatal lake your first stop on the trail.  The trail till Brahmatal is a gradually ascending one through the grasslands. The Brahamatal lake sits pretty bang in the middle of the grassland in a crater. The lake glistens in deep blue colour as the morning sun rays hit its surface. The lone tree by the side of the lake reflects perfectly off its waters. Go around the lake to get a view from all angles. You will be surprised to see how different the lake looks at each angle.

From Brahmatal, take the trail to the left that climbs up to the ridge. As you move up, you see the lake set in the middle of the vast meadow.  Behind you appears a wide-open valley. You can see Tharali and Gwaldam, places that you crossed on the way from Kathgodam. The first ridge climb brings you to a gently ascending stretch which then leads you to the final ridge climb.

At the ridge opens up majestic views of Mt Trishul and Mt Nanda Ghunti. The view is a magnified or closer version of what you saw from Jhandi Top.

Take a moment at the pass. Have your packed lunch here. Don’t stop for long as the winds will be strong. Descent with mountains on your left and valley on your right. This part of the trail is completely new.

After the initial descent from the pass, the trail will ascend again through Alpine grass. Mt Trishul and  Mt Nanda Ghunti accompany you on the right. As the ascent ends, you reach a platform like an area from here you get a 180-degree view of the Himalayan range. Mountains such as Chaukhambha, Mandi, Mana, Nilgiri, Neelkanth, Trishul, Nanda Ghunti, Maitoli become visible.

As you continue further, a sharp narrow descent awaits you. This marks the tree line and beginning of Rhododendron and oak Forest. A descent of 1 hour will bring you to a clearing surrounded by trees on all the sides. You’ve now reached Khorurai – your campsite. Khoru in Garhwali means Brown Oak and Rai means the flat grassy area inside a forest. Take some time to rest and appreciate your surroundings.

Day 5: Khorurai to Lohajung

• Altitude: 9,640 ft (2,938 m) to 7,600 ft (2,316 m)
• Time taken: 3-4 hours, 3 km trek
• Trek gradient: Moderate.
• Water sources: Yes.

Begin the descent to Lohajung right after breakfast. The trail goes through thick oak and rhododendron forests once again. It is well made all the way and crosses 2 streams in between.

After about an hour from starting, you will reach Shephard huts. This place in the local language is also called ‘chawni’ and is used by villagers and shepherds to keep their livestock.

Continue on the man-made trail from here. This trail connects these mountain villages down to Lohajung.

Day 6: Lohajung to Kathgodam

Click here for details on getting back after your trek.

If you have an additional day in Lohajung before or after your trek, visit Ajan Top, an easy trek that you can do on your own.

Banner image by Gajendra Kumar

How to get to the basecamp – Lohajung

Delhi → Kathgodam → Lohajung

The Brahmatal trek begins from Lohajung, a picturesque village in the Chamoli district of Uttarakhand. It is also the basecamp of the popular Roopkund trek. Lohajung is situated around 213 km from Kathgodam. 

Indiahikes arranges transport from Kathgodam Railway station at 6.30 am on Day 1 of the trek. The cost of this transport (Rs.5,500 per cab) will have to be shared by trekkers. You can pay the driver directly.

The drive to Lohajung is a pleasurable one, as you pass through several Kumaoni and Garwahli hill stations – Nainital, Kausani and Gwaldam. You will reach Lohajung at around 6.00 pm. 

To reach Kathgodam
Take the Ranikhet Express from Delhi. It leaves at 10.30 pm from Old Delhi Railway Station and reaches Kathgodam at 5.05 am. 

What happens if you don’t get tickets on the Ranikhet Express?
Ranikhet express is a crowded train and often gets booked many days in advance. Firstly, don’t look for an AC ticket. It is an overnight journey and even sleeper berths are comfortable. Book a Tatkal ticket. Your chance of getting a sleeper ticket in Tatkal is very high. If, for some reason, you still don’t get a ticket on the Ranikhet express, there are two options for you. 

Option 1
Take the earlier day’s Sampark Kranti from Old Delhi, which leaves at 4.00 pm. Tickets on the Sampark Kranti are usually easy to get as it is a day seating train. Stay overnight in a hotel at Kathgodam and join the team vehicle the next morning. KMVN Kathgodam is a good place to halt for the night. KMVN is Kumaon Mandal Vikas Nigam, a government tourist guest house right next to the railway station. The place is decent and clean. You can book online at http://www.kmvn.gov.in/

Option 2
Take an overnight bus from Delhi’s Anand Vihar ISBT to Kathgodam. Volvo buses leave Anand Vihar for Kathgodam around 9.00 pm. This is an 8 hour journey. There is no online booking, so arrive a couple of hours early at Anand Vihar to book your tickets. No advanced reservation is required. Try to get to Kathgodam early (by 5.30 am) to catch the Indiahikes pickup at the station.

Getting back

Lohajung → Kathgodam → Delhi

The Brahmatal trek ends at Lohajung. We arrange transport from Lohajung to Kathgodam Railway Station. The cost of this transport (Rs.5,500 per cab) will have to be shared by trekkers. You can pay the driver directly. You will reach Kathgodam around 6.00 pm. 

If you are travelling further from Kathgodam, you can book your transport post 8.00 pm, keeping two hours as buffer time in case of road blocks in the mountain roads. 

If you want to reach the base camp by yourself

Option 1: Delhi → Lohajung (24 hours)
There is a direct bus from Delhi to Mundoli/Lohajung. It leaves Delhi Anand Vihar terminal at 9.15 pm. You will reach Kathgodam at 4.00 am and Lohajung at 5.30 pm.
Note: This is an extremely long and tiring journey and the buses are not too comfortable. We recommend Options 2 and 3.

Option 2: Delhi → Rishikesh → Lohajung (cab)
From Delhi, get to Rishikesh/Haridwar and hire a Sumo to Lohajung. The route: Devprayag – Srinagar – Rudraprayag – Karanprayag – turn right to Tharali – Debal – Mundoli – Lohajung
Note: Most taxi operators may not have heard of Lohajung. So, you’ll have to show them the direction as given above.

Option 3: Delhi → Rishikesh → Karanprayag → Lohajung (bus)
From Rishikesh Bus Stand., take any bus on the Joshimath/Badrinath route and buy a ticket to Karanprayag. It is a 6-7 hour journey from Rishikesh to Karanprayag. Take a bus that leaves as early in the morning as possible, preferably around 6.00 am. From Karanprayag Bus Stand, take a shared Jeep to Tharali (47 km). The road to Tharali runs along the Pindar river.

From Tharali, take a shared taxi to Debal (14 km). Once you reach Debal, contact our transporter, Raju Shah Ji on +91 8979 321 600. He will help you with an onward transport to Lohajung (24 km).

Network Connectivity
At the basecamp Lohajung, all network signal is available.

Around Bekaltal Lake, Jandhi Top and at the Brahmatal summit, Vodafone Airtel, Idea and BSNL network is available in patches.

How to get fit for the Brahmatal trek

The Brahmatal trek is classified as a trek of moderate difficulty. You start from an altitude of 7,600 ft at Lohajung and reach a highest point of 12,250 ft at Brahmatal top. You gain around 4,650 ft over two days of trekking. While this isn’t much altitude gain, there is a lot of snow on the trail in the months of January and February, which makes it a trek of moderate difficulty. 

Cardiovascular endurance
This trek requires a good amount of cardiovascular endurance. You can begin by jogging everyday. Start jogging at a slow pace and then keep increasing your pace day by day. In order to be prepared for high altitude trek, you should have a combination of distance and speed targets.

Here’s a fitness routine that works:

• –>Target completing 5 km in 45 minutes when you begin.
• –>Gradually increase your pace by running 4 times a week and bring it down to 5 km in less than 40 mins.
• –>If you are 45 years old and above and are comfortable with long distance walking than jogging, then before you go on the trek, you should be able to walk at least 10 km at a stretch. Target completing this in 90 minutes.
  If jogging is fine for you, your target should be completing 5 km in 50 minutes initially, and 5 km in less than 45 minutes before you go on the trek.
• –>If you are somebody who prefers cycling over running, your target must be to cover 22 km in 60 minutes.

Strength – Target 3 sets of squats with 15 in each set

This is another area you should work on. Carrying your backpack and ascending will require core body strength and also strong legs. For this, add squats to your routine. Start with 3 sets of squats, with 8 squats in each set and work towards reaching your target in 3 weeks.

Flexibility
Another aspect that will help you trek comfortably is flexibility. For this, you can do some stretching exercises – stretch your hamstrings, quadriceps, hip flexors, lower back muscles and shoulders regularly. These exercises will help you to be in good shape before the trek.

Here’s a guide to help you get fit for the trek.

Working out indoors
If you can’t go out and jog because of time and space constraints, here’s a video you can use to work out indoors.

What to take on the Brahmatal trek

Bare Necessities:

1. Trekking shoes: Carry trekking shoes and not sports shoes. The trail will be slippery at several places and will require shoes with good grip and ankle support. You can watch this video to learn to choose the right trekking shoes.
2. Backpack (40-60 litres): A backpack with sturdy straps and a supporting frame. Rain cover for backpack is essential.
3. Daypack (20 litres): On the climb to Brahmatal Top on the fifth day, you will be leaving your bigger backpack behind at the Brahmatal campsite. So you’ll need a smaller backpack to carry water, snacks and your medical kit. Bring a foldable backpack. If you’re coming in a group, two of you can share a daypack.

Clothes

On a trek, carry fewer clothes than you would normally need. Do not pack for ‘what if situations’. That will only add to the weight of your backpack and not be used on the trek. Once your clothes get warmed up on a trek, you will not feel like changing. Just maintain personal hygiene.

1. Five layers of warm clothes: If you’re trekking in winter, carry two sweaters, two fleece jackets and a padded jacket. If you’re trekking in spring (March/April), three warm layers will suffice.
2. Three trek pants: Carry light cotton trek pants. One of your pants can be tights that you can wear as an inner layer while trekking, especially on the day of the summit climb. Denim/jeans and shorts are not suitable for trekking.
3. Three collared t-shirts: Carry light, full sleeved t-shirts that prevent sun burns on the neck and arms. Let one of these be a dri-fit t-shirt. It will dry quickly in case you are trekking on a rainy day. A common mistake that trekkers make is not changing their tshirts often enough. Regardless of how cold it is, the body tends to sweat a lot. Trekkers who don’t change to fresh clothes after reaching the campsite fall ill due to wet clothes and are often unable to complete their trek. 
4. Thermals: Carry thermals (top and bottom) to keep yourself warm at night. Keep your thermals fresh and don’t wear them while trekking.

Accessories

1. Sunglasses: Sunglasses are mandatory. There will be a lot of snow in winter and can cause snow blindness.
2. Suncap: At high altitude, the sun is extra harsh, as the UV rays don’t get filtered. So carry a suncap to protect yourself.
3. Synthetic hand gloves: Avoid woolen gloves as they will get wet if you touch snow. Carry one pair each of fleece and synthetic hand gloves. You can add the fleece glove as an inner layer, and wear two gloves on each hand if you’re more susceptible to cold.
4. Balaclava: You’ll need this to cover your head, as most of the heat escapes from your head.
5. Socks (2 pairs) and a pair of woollen socks:  Apart from two sports socks, you can take a pair of woolen socks for the night.
6. Headlamp / LED torch: Mandatory
7. Trekking pole: Watch this video to understand why you need a trekking pole. Looking to rent a trek-pole just for this trek. Just click here. This can be made available to you directly at the base campsite.
8. Poncho: At high altitudes, snowfall and rain are quite common and hence it’s mandatory that you don’t get wet.

Indiahikes offers rentals on this trek. You can now rent trekking shoes, trekking pole, padded jacket and poncho instead of buying them. You can collect these directly at the base camp and return them there after the trek. Get the details here.

Others

1. Toiletries: Sunscreen, moisturizer, light towel, lip balm, toilet paper, toothbrush, toothpaste, hand sanitiser. Do not carry wet wipes since these are not biodegradable. We do not like biodegradable wet wipes because they take a long time to decompose in the mountains. Use toilet paper instead.
2. Sanitary waste: Make sure you bring your used sanitary napkins back to the city with you. Carry a zip lock bag to put used napkins. Bring this ziplock bag back with you to the city and do not dispose sanitary napkins in the mountains.
3. Cutlery:Carry a spoon, coffee mug and a lunch box. We insist on trekkers getting their own cutlery for hygiene reasons. We do not allow biodegradable or disposable cutlery on our treks.
4. One 1 litre water bottle. We recommend the Lifestraw Go. Indiahikes trekkers can get it at a discounted price here. 
5. One 1 litre thermos flask
6. Plastic covers: While packing, use plastic bags to compartmentalize things and carry a few extra plastic bags for wet clothes.

Mandatory Personal Medical Kit

1. Diamox – 1 Strip
2. Crocin – 10 tablets
3. Avomine (optional, in case of motion sickness)- 1 Strip
4. Combiflam- Half Strip
5. Muscle relaxant – Half Strip
6. Digene – Half Strip
7. Avil – 1 strip
8. ORS – 6 packs
9. Knee Cap (If you are prone to knee injury)

Here’s a guide to help you pack for the trek – 

How safe is the Brahmatal trek?

The Brahmatal trek is a moderate one. The trails are well laid out. The altitude isn’t too high – the highest point is 12,250 ft and you gain this slowly over 3-4 days. At 12,250 feet, the risk of being hit by Acute Mountain Sickness is relatively low. However, you still need to be mindful of the fact that you are in the mountains in extreme weather conditions, and take necessary precautions to ensure that you have a safe trek.

What Indiahikes does to ensure your safety

Our philosophy is simple. We ingrain safety aspects in the people we work with, in the processes that we follow, and in the equipment we carry. All our trek leaders are trained repeatedly on safety issues and protocols. Most issues are resolved with their intervention.

Right from the time you decide to register for the trek till the last day of the trek, these safety procedures will be running in the background. We have listed a few of them below:

1. Fitness criteria before registration

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