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Brahmatal Trek in Uttarakhand

Brahmatal Trek

Easy ⏱ 6 Days ★ 4.6 (980) 📍 Dehradun, Uttarakhand

About

Brahmatal is a classic winter trek in Uttarakhand, built around a frozen high-altitude lake and a ridge walk with some of the best peak views in the Garhwal. Starting from the village of Lohajung, the trail climbs through oak and rhododendron forest and snow-covered meadows to the Brahmatal lake at around 12,250 ft.

What makes it special:

  • The frozen Brahmatal and Bekaltal lakes, locked in ice from mid-December through February
  • Ridge-top views of Mt Trishul and Nanda Ghunti standing almost directly overhead
  • A lower, gentler alternative to Kedarkantha — the high-altitude winter experience with less AMS risk

If a bigger snow trek feels intimidating, this is the one to start with: short daily distances, iconic views, and a real frozen-lake payoff.

Getting There

The base village is Lohajung, in Chamoli district. The nearest railhead is Kathgodam, around 210–230 km away and an 8–9 hour drive through the Kumaon hills; the nearest airport is Jolly Grant in Dehradun. Most trekkers take an overnight train to Kathgodam and a shared taxi onward to Lohajung.

There's no special permit beyond the local forest entry, which operators handle. Mobile networks reach Lohajung but drop on the trail, so plan to be offline. Go between December and March for the frozen lake and snow — outside that window the lake thaws and the trek loses its signature.

FAQs

When's the best window? +
December to March for snow. The frozen Brahmatal Lake is the whole reason to come, and it's only frozen mid-December through February. November sees colourful autumn but no snow. Skip April–October entirely.
Is this a good first winter trek? +
It's the best first winter trek in our list. Lower altitude than Kedarkantha (Brahmatal tops at ~12,200 ft) and the ridge walk views of Trishul and Nanda Ghunti are iconic. If Kedarkantha feels intimidating, start here.
How cold does it actually get? +
-8°C to -15°C at night in peak January. Days are 5–10°C in sunshine. Down jacket non-negotiable. Tip: wear two layers of woollen socks inside your shoes, and keep your water bottle inside your sleeping bag overnight or it freezes solid.
How fit do I need to be? +
Easy-to-moderate. If you can do Triund, you can do Brahmatal. Daily distance is 5–7 km with snow making the going slower. 3–4 weeks of cardio prep is enough — focus on stairs.
What about altitude sickness? +
Low risk at this altitude (~12,000 ft) with a 3-day ascent. Stay hydrated, eat fully, and you'll most likely be fine. Brahmatal is often picked specifically because it gives the high-altitude experience without the AMS risk of bigger treks.