Overview
Steeped in mythos, Brahmatal is a lake nestling in the depths of Uttarakhand Himalayas. Winter sweeps alluringly on the slopes here, making Brahmatal one of the rare Himalayan destinations available for trekking in December, January, February, and March.
Pull factors are many on this trek—changing vistas, from deep and shadowy forests of oaks and rhododendrons to snow-covered meadows, lakeside camping at Bekaltal, the alpine Brahmatal lake vicinity, and a climactic vision of fabulous high peaks glittering across a brilliant sky! The Garhwal snowline view is all the more special from here because rarely are colossal ice-capped peaks like Mt. Nanda Ghunti and Mt. Trishul are accessible to view on a low-lying trek like this one.
Owing to gradually ascending rolling slopes, the Brahmatal Trek route is deemed fit for beginners and less experienced trekkers. A major part of the trek continues under forest cover, diminishing the chances of altitude sickness. All the same, the trek will not deprive one of an out and out thrilling winter experience with the sweet mellow of falling snow, a fascinating trail caught in an absolute white out, the depthless silence inside the grove of rhododendrons and oaks, and iced over lake water faces.
A special shout out for this trek goes to the shutterbugs—diverse frames, from snow-laden forests to white-gold high peaks in alpenglow, and a desolate alpine mountain-scape of a lone tree standing on icy shores of the Brahmatal lake make up the composition of this trek.
Trek Highlight
- One of a few winter trek, with 2 Glacier Lake just at an altitude of 3180 meters, with entire trail in snow in peak winter.
- Catch the glimpses of magnificent Himalayan Ranges. Mt. Trishul which is closely allocated with the views of Nanda Ghunti at each step of Brahmatal trek.
- The trail offers the peek into the Skeleton Lake, The Roopkund from Brahmatal Ridge.
- Get ready to know more about the history of Lord Brahma, meditating at Brahmatal Lake in a small town of Lohajung.
Itinerary
We will see you the first day at Dehradun railway station or Haridwar Bus Station. The pickup place is Dehradun early in the morning. An overnight train travel from Delhi could be sufficiently convenient.
The journey uphill from Dehradun to Lohajung will take you cruising through mountain alleyways connecting the lower Himalayan belt of Kumaom hills to that of Garhwal. This is going to be a hectic 10 hour drive, despite the marvellous changing vistas of the mountains. For the first few hours, the course of our journey will be running parallel to river Ganga flowing softly. Soon, a blustery Pindar river will meet our path.
Look out for a few of the best known tourist hubs nestling in Uttarakhand’s sublime hills. We will pass through Rishikesh, Devprayag, and Karnpryag—all celebrated hill stations. Upon entering the last stretch of the drive, near Lohajung, the mesmerizing Nanda Ghunti peak will come to sight. We will reach Lohajung guest house, our halt for the night around 5:00 pm, close to dusk and just in time for tea!
Note: If you are not carrying something of winter clothing or basic gear, the Lohajung market can come in pretty handy.
The first day’s trek spanning 5 hours will kick off from Lohajung up a snaky trail going into the forest. After a short while the forest will give way to a small village named Mandoli to your left. Here you can fill your bottles and take a first major hiatus. The trail continues in mostly gradual ascent curves. A little way higher, you will come across the valley where two mountain rivers Kali and Pindari confluence. This is the Kali valley, lying in a splendid green scrap even in the midst of wintry heights. We will trek on further to stumble upon a huddle of mud huts. You are going to find a grove of rhododendron here that sure grows red and heavy from February to March, but at the peak of winter, the trail will be pretty matte.
Crossing this point, trek on to find the next identifiable landmark—a wooden bridge over a stream. This steam is a viable water point which you can access going down the slope. Crossing over on to the other side, you will reach Begum—a nestling rest point on the slopes overlooking a vast expanse of bugyals at distance. From here, the path bends on to two more chattering streams, the last being Gujrani stream. Take approximately an hour’s hike after crossing the last stream to reach the beautiful Bekaltal gleaming peacefully in the summer while partially frozen over in the winters.
We will be camping in the vicinity by the lake Khopdaliya. Enjoy the stillness and the quiet of this place with the thick oak forests closing in from around.
Today’s trek will take you through thickets of oaks and rhododendrons over steep slopes for quite some time before finally coming out to a meadow. This is the meadow of Telandi. In the winter, you will find the green expanse of Telandi transform into a vast snowfield and crossing the area, a gala of thrill.
The meadow rolls till 11,500 ft.- the highest point, from where begins a slow descent to Brahmatal. To your left from here, you will find a small temple, bright yellow flags flying in the air. Walk down the slope to the temple and find the trail winding towards the Brahmatal Lake, about 500 meters away from the temple now. We will find the valleys of Almora and Nainital rise and fall around us as we go. The soaring peaks of Trishul, Nanda Ghunti, and others of the Greater Himalayas can be spotted far across the sky. We will be camping at the mark 500 meter away from the lake, nestling in the beautiful aura of the place.
Note: Make sure to carry 2-3 litres of water on today’s trek since there are no water points on this trail.
Start your day early in the morning as you will be heading towards the Brahmatal lake which is an uphill climb. You will be greeted with Oak and Rhododendron trees on the way which has a charm of their own. After a while, the zigzag ascent trail will take you Brahmatal Lake. On a bright day, the lake looks charismatic and the sunlight makes it look even more artistic. As you walk ahead you will come across a small stream which is formed by the melting of snow. You might get fooled by every passing top which will feel like the last ascent. After walking for a while and crossing the meadow, the final climb towards the pass begins.
It will be a tiring walk towards but as soon as you reach the top you will be greeted with a magnificent view of Mt. Trishul and Mt. Nanda Ghunti. Take your time and click some jaw-dropping pictures that will last a lifetime. As soon as you start descending, you discover that the trail is different from that which got you up. You will be able to witness a 180 degree of the entire Himalayan range and peaks such as Haukhambha, Mandi, Mana, Nilgiri, Neelkanth, Trishul, Nanda Ghunti, Maitoli become visible. As you continue to descent, after an hour you will reach a clearing surrounded by trees on all the sides which is the Tilbudi campsite. You will be camping here for the night.
After having your breakfast you will start your descent to Wan which is a trail filled with Oak and Rhododendron trees. This is a very beautiful trail which allows you to click end number of scenic pictures. After walking some distance you will come across a water source at Chhota Tilbundi.
Half an hour later you will be able to spot Wan village which is visible below. From here onwards it will take you half an hour more to reach the road from where The Mountain Hike will arrange vehicles to take you to Lohajung.
After a good night’s sleep at our Lohajung guest house, we will go back to Dehradun today. Destination will be reached by 6:00 pm. We can manage a brief stopover at Karnprayag to commemorate the trek with souvenir shopping.
Includes/Excludes
Cost Includes
- 1.Accommodation. (Guest house, Home stay, Camping)
- 2.Meals while on trek (Veg.+ Egg)
- 3.Trek equipments (Sleeping bag, mattress, Kitchen & dinning tent, crampon, utensils, tent)
- 4.All necessary permits and entry fees.
- 5.First aid medical kits, stretcher and oxygen cylinder.
- 6.Mountaineering qualified & professional trek Leader, guide and Support staff.
Cost Excludes
- 1.Any kind of personal expenses.
- 2. Food during the transit.
- 3. Insurance.
- 4. Mules or porter to carry personal luggage.
- 5. Anything not specifically mentioned under the head
Cancellation and Refund Policy
Bag pack
Basic Trek Essentials
Rucksack (60-70 ltr with cover)
Down Jacket
Fleece
Gloves (Woollen and Waterproof)
Poncho or a Rain Coat
Trekking Pole
Head Torch
Trek Shoes – Men or Women
Trek Pant – 2 Nos. Preferred
Day Pack ( 20-30 litres)
Clothes :
A pair of Thermals
Warm Socks and cotton socks ( 2-3 pair)
Woollen Cap
Sun Cap
Gloves ( Woollen and waterproof)
Extra Layering of Warm Clothing as per necessity
Extra lowers for Nights
Utensils : Plates, Spoon and Coffee Mug
Photo ID proof
Balaclava
Personal Utilities :
Sun Glasses ( UV Protected )
Hand Towel
Sun Screen Lotion (Min SPF- 30 min)
Moisturiser
Lunch box, Coffee mug and spoon
Water bottle or Hydration Bag
Sandals
Basic First Aid
Energy Bars
Power Banks
Toiletries :
Toilet paper rolls
Towels
Wet wipes (unscented)
Zip Lock Bags
Sanitizing Toilet Spray
Soap and Handwash (pocket sized)
Tooth Paste and Tooth Brush
A.1.1. Process – The cancellation process is completely automated. Please login to you’re Trekstory account and find relevant instructions on your dashboard. You can choose your preferred mode of refund (Instant/Cash) as per the policy below and your refund would automatically be processed by the system.
A.1.2. Replacement of participant(s) – Our system allows you to seamlessly replace any of the participants in your booking through the Trekstory login account dashboard. Please note that this feature is applicable only when the status of the Booking is “Paid” and there are at least 5 days remaining prior to the departure date (departure date minus 5). If you are unable to replace a participant through your dashboard, then, drop an email to infotrekstory@gmail.com the screenshot of the error. The new participant needs to print, sign, scan and send the undertaking form to infotrekstory@gmail.com
Please note that the replacement would not be applicable on any Volvo/Train transport booked for the original participant. The same would be automatically cancelled. This is simply because the seats booked in such transport mediums are not transferrable.
A.1.3. Cash Refund: Cash refund is applicable only in case of bookings made without using any promotional offer code or vouchers. Also, the cash refunds would not be applicable in case of shifted batch bookings & if the status of the Booking is “Booked”.
The Refund of the amount would be processed as per deduction guidelines outlined below:
- Cancellations up to 30 days prior to departure date – 5% deduction
- Between 30 days to 15 days prior to departure – 50% deduction
- Less than 15 days of departure – No Cash Refund
All cancellation refunds will be processed back to the bank account or the credit card account from which the event fee has been paid. The amount for refund processing would always be calculated basis the net amount paid* for booking the event w.r.t the Base Price of the event (excluding additional components like transport, insurance, rent, portage, etc.).
A.1.4. Voucher Refund: This option is available for all types of bookings including the bookings made under promotional offers.
The Trekstory would offer you a short term voucher that would enable you with a flexibility to book any other The Trekstory Hike event using the voucher. The option of claiming a voucher is available till 5 day prior to the departure of the event. The Refund of the amount would be processed as per deduction guidelines outlined below:
- Cancellations up to 5 days prior to departure date – No deduction
- Less than 5 days prior to departure – No Refund
The amount for refund processing would always be calculated basis the net amount paid* for booking the event w.r.t the Base Price of the event (excluding additional components like transport, insurance, rent, portage, etc.). Please note that the voucher issued would not include the service tax amount paid while making the booking. However, when you use the voucher to book again on our website, service tax would not be applicable on the voucher amount. Validity of the voucher would be 10 months from the date of issue.*Net Amount Paid would be the amount paid to The Mountain Hike Ak at the time of booking after adjusting for all rebates provided by applying vouchers.
Please note that any additional transport bookings are completely non-refundable, be it cash or voucher refund. For e.g. If you have booked Monal Top Trek by paying a base prices of INR 6,950 along with the transportation from Dehradun to Village Wan and back, and with portage and insurance, then in case of postponement or cancellation, only the base price of INR 6,950 would be considered for calculations of refund as per the slabs defined above or for the matter of issuing a voucher (for postponement cases). The additional transport fee deposited is completely non-refundable.A.2. In case of Cancellation or change initiated by The Mountain Hike
The Mountain Hike reserves the right to cancel your booking or change any of the facilities, services or prices described in our brochures or website. We will endeavour to advise you of any changes known at the time of booking. We plan the arrangements for your events many months in advance and may occasionally have to make minor changes..Transport timings and carriers shown or communicated on our website are for guidance only and are subject to change.
However in the field of adventure activities, there are many variables beyond our control like weather conditions, landslides, road situations and any other force majeure conditions. Circumstances amounting to “force majeure” include any event which we or the supplier of the service(s) in question could not even with all due care, foresee or forestall such as (by way of example and not by way of limitation) war, threat of war, riots, civil disturbances, industrial disputes, actual or threatened terrorist activity and its consequences, natural or nuclear disasters, fire, epidemics, health risks and pandemics, ban by local authorities, acts of God, unavoidable and unforeseeable technical problems with transport for reasons beyond our control or that of our suppliers, closed or congested airports or ports, hurricanes and other actual or potential adverse weather conditions, and any other similar events. In such situations we might be forced to change the itinerary or even cancel an event. In case of a change /cancellation, you will have the choice of either:
Accepting a replacement event from us of equivalent or similar standard and price (at the date of the change), if we are able to offer you one; or Cancelling your event, in which case you shall receive a full refund*, including all the components paid by you (transport, base fee, taxes).
*The refund would always be in the form of a voucher (validity 6 months) if the change or cancellation arises from circumstances amounting to “force majeure” or from any other reason beyond our control. However, for cancellations made otherwise (low participation due to cancellation by other participants), the participant would have a choice between voucher of 6 month validity or cash refund. Please note that in case you have made the booking using a voucher, cash refund would only be made for the part paid in cash. However, we will reactivate your consumed voucher with an additional validity of 6 month.A.3 In case of changes/cancellation of the event after departure
A.3.1. When the change or cancellation arise from circumstances amounting to “force majeure” or for any other reason beyond our control The Mountain Hike shall not be liable to refund the amount already deposited.
A.3.2. When the change or cancellation arising otherwise: We will, wherever possible, make suitable alternative arrangements. If we are unable to make such alternative arrangements, or you reject the same for good reason then we will return you to your point of departure and refund you for any unused services, as appropriate. The refund would be primarily made in the form of a voucher (6 month validity). However, in case the participant desires, the same amount can also be refunded in cash.
A.4. In case of drop out by the participant in between the event We shall not be liable to make any refund in such situation. The participant would also have to pay additionally for unplanned expenses on planning and executing the retreat of the participant on actual basis. In case suitable arrangements for retreat are not possible, The Mountain Hike reserves the right to deny such drop out in between the event.
A.5. In case of early return from an event In situations wherein the participant(s) return early from the event due to the event being completed earlier than estimated or wherein due to force majeur conditions, the participant(s) had to return early, in such cases, any extra service(s) availed or extra night(s) accommodation booked, etc., the participant will have to bear the expenses incurred.
A.6. In case of Emergency Evacuation While we do have first aid and experts available on all our events but still there might be situations under which an emergency evacuation might be needed. We are committed to make a safe evacuation for you in case of an emergency. We would make necessary and adequate arrangements for your evacuation till the nearest road head that is well connected by road, and would also help you in boarding a vehicle to the nearest Hospital or any other facility so required. Any additional expenses incurred, that of porters, vehicle, ambulance, hospitalization, or any other expense incurred for evacuation, would be covered by the participant
