There are several such beautiful lakes and one among them is the Brahmatal lake lying at an altitude of around 12,200 feet in the Uttarakhand Himalayas. The Brahmatal lake is steeped in mythos as the lord Brahma is said to have meditated there and you need to have some adventurous spirit to reach this lake. Brahmatal Trek is one of the most admired treks of the Uttarakhand Himalayas as it is a very picturesque and enchanting trek. Here is a full guide for this must-visit destination,
About Brahmatal
Lying in the lap of majestic peaks of the Himalayas the Brahmatal lake is a high altitude lake that is not so large but is beautiful enough to soothe your soul with its calmness and serenity. It presents nature in its purest form and also has spiritual importance. During winter the Brahmatal summit becomes more ravishing as it gets covered with snow and what could be more exciting than camping along the dazzling Glacier Lake with snow all around under a million stars. Another highlight of the Brahmatal trek is that you get stunning views of Himalayan peaks like Trishul, Nandaghunti, Chaukhamba, Nelkanth, Kamet, Hathi, and Ghoda Peak.
Brahmatal trek
The Brahmatal Trek is one of a kind trek as it is accessible even in the extreme winter month of December to February. The temperature ranges from 10 degrees Celsius in the daytime to minus 4 degrees Celsius during the night as a result it is often called winter Trek. The first snow arrives in late December and the whole region gets covered with a blanket of snow and that’s what makes the Brahmatal trek an incredible trek. The maximum altitude up to which you will be trekking is 22,000 feet covering a distance of 22 km over 6 days and on the difficulty level it has been graded as a moderate to hard level trek as the trail keeps changing with changing weather conditions and seasons.
In winters due to heavy snowfall, it gets a bit tricky for beginners however Spring and autumn are considered quite easy for budding trekkers. The base camp of Brahmatal Trek is Lohagunj which is a small town situated on a mountain at an altitude of 7,000 feet in the southern Uttarakhand on the Kumaon side of the Himalayas. As the trek starts you will be trekking(8 km) towards a Pristine crystal clear lake of Bekaltal at an altitude of 8,500 feet in the Kali Valley. The next day you will be trekking for about 5 to 6 hours crossing some of the most beautiful rhododendrons and oak forests, these forest is the treat to your eyes and there is a place nearby called Telindi Top from where you can view the Himalayan ranges with peaks over 7,000 m. Khabekhal Lake is also not so far from this spot. The very next day trek towards Daldun, the next campsite of the brahmatal lake trek starts. It will take 2.5 hours to reach the Brahmatal top from this point by crossing through Chota Jhandidar and Bada Jhandidar. This trail has valleys on both sides and offers the views of magnificent Himalayan ranges of mount Trishul, Nandaghunti and on a clear day, the whole Himalayan range can also be witnessed. Further, you will be trekking to the next Campsite named Daldun which is 2.7 km from the Brahmatal top and you will be passing through a forest trail. The Brahmatal expedition ends here and on the next day, you will be returning to basecamp town, Lohajung through a 4 km trek. If you have time in your hands consider exploring the local sightseeing destinations of the mountain town of Lohajung, or even do the Ajan Top trek ( an easy one-day trek near Lohajung).
How to reach the basecamp;
The journey of Brahmatal trek starts from Kathgodam of Uttarakhand which is quite reachable by a direct train from the national capital, Delhi. It takes 6 hours to leave you at Kathgodam.
Have a good trip!