Maximum Altitude
12,250 ft
Trek Duration
5 Night / 6 Days
Trek Distance
29 Km
Difficulty Level
Easy to Moderate
Start/End Point
Natraj Chowk, Rishikesh
Nearest Airpot
Jollygrant Airpot, Dehradun
Best Season
(Oct - Apr)
Accommodation
At Lohajung guesthouse on the first day and during the trek at the dome style tent.
Meals
Breakfast, lunch, evening snacks and dinner
Permits
Forest Department & Trekking permit
Temperature
5°C to 12°C (daytime) -5°C to -15°C (night)
Snow
December to February
Brahmatal Trek is one of the most popular winter treks in the Garhwal Himalayas, offering trekkers an awesome combination of high snow-covered areas, as well as some of the most breathtaking alpine views to be found anywhere in the world! The highest point in this trek will be approximately 12,250 feet above sea level (or 1,073 meters). From oak, and rhododendron to vast open, snow-covered meadows. The transition from mid-December to March will freeze everything. The frozen lakes of Bekaltal and Brahmatal become the focal points of many trekkers, surrounded by completely white landscapes. What is truly unique about this trek, is the outstanding view over the summit ridge, with trekkers looking upon the tremendous profile of Mount Trishul, and Nanda Ghunti. This trek is also very similar to being in high-altitude trekking, but you will not need to be an experienced trekker to complete it. For new beginners, this trek is all about cultural immersion; visiting Lohajung, the oldest village on this trek's route, is an important part of the experience. A great degree of respect for the weather conditions should be shown by all trekkers; at night the temperatures drop to below freezing, and micro-spikes are essential gear for safely traversing icy hilltops.
1. Winter Gateway for Beginners:
The Brahmatal trek is convenient and safe for people of all skill levels to reach an alpine environment in the winter. Because most treks within the Himalayas above 12,000 feet are considered dangerous, challenging or impossible to complete due to the severe cold and high amounts of snow in the winter months (January and February), this makes Brahmatal stand out because it is considered to be moderately easy in difficulty—therefore, it is a good option for beginner trekkers who want to experience the difficulty of a winter trek while being safe from the hazardous conditions of other winter treks. Additionally, the trek offers a controlled environment for winter experience, allowing trekkers to achieve the feeling of skiing across a frozen lake at a high elevation.
2. Frozen Beauty: Brahmatal and Bekaltal lake
The beauty of freezing lakes are what define this trek and make it a truly unique opportunity. As the temperature drops below freezing, both Bekaltal and Brahmatal Lake's develop two feet/thick layers of ice. The ice formed on the top of the lake creates a mirror-like surface that reflects the surrounding forest, which is generally dark and heavy with snow (oak and rhododendron). This landscape, because of its dynamic nature—while the appearance is similar to the winter months—is considered to be among the most beautiful landscapes created on any known trek.
3. Giant Mountain Views are Unique and Beautiful
Brahmatal Top, located at 12,250 feet above sea level, provides an unrivaled 360-degree panoramic view of some of the highest and holiest mountains in the Garhwal Himalayas. From this high point, you can see some of the most impressive giants Mount Trishul, and Nanda Ghunti in the region with amazing clarity and very little distance. The breathtaking views from Brahmatal Top allow trekkers to experience an inspiring Giant Mountain View without having to travel as far or climb as high as would normally be required.
4. Clear Visibility for Winter Photography
Most people expect to have less visibility during winter months than in other seasons, but that is often not true in the Himalayas immediately after a fresh snowfall. The extremely cold temperatures and clear winter weather keep dust and haze away from the lower levels of the atmosphere, giving fabulous visibility (and also an ultra-crisp quality of light). The low angle of the winter sun highlights the detailed textures of the snow and the massive granite cliffs, making for some remarkable photography of the incredible scale of the mountains against the deep blue sky.