Brahmatal – A gorgeous and secluded Alpine Lake

Northern India is packed full of many wonders and hidden natural gems. One such place is the glorious lake of Brahmatal. This alpine lake sits at a lofty height of 3240m amidst a crown of epic Himalayan mountains such as Trishul, Hati Ghoda, and Mrigthuni. If you want to experience the glory of the Indian mountains, but also be treated with a surprise, the Brahmatal Trek is a brilliant adventure to embark on. Read more about this trip below!

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The Uttarakhand section of the Himalayas are mighty and home to some amazing landscapes such as the Valley of Flowers. Nestled deep in northern India, this mountain range sits close to the borders of both Nepal and China and is a brilliant place for hiking tours. A lesser-known spot within this mighty region of mountains is Brahmatal. This is both a mountain and a hidden alpine lake. The mountain is partially covered with beautiful alpine forests and its crown is often covered in a thick layer of snow. The lake sits just 200m from the highest point and is truly an amazing site to behold. Who would have thought that you could find such a body of water amidst this lofty mountain range?

During the winter, lake Brahmatal is frozen over and this in itself is a brilliant site to see. The frozen waters reflect the winter sunlight perfectly, and the surrounding landscape is a white wonderland. During warmer seasons, the lake is often unfrozen and the surrounding landscape changes from white to green. The places come alive and is bursting with greenery. This means that the Brahmatal trek is suitable in different seasons, and depending on when you visit, you may get a completely different experience!

The Brahmatal trek typically takes 6 days regardless of if you are group traveling or doing the Brahmatal trek solo. This includes two days of driving, and four days of trekking and exploring. The overall Brahmatal trek distance is usually around 25km but this depends on the route taken, and the sites you will see. Also, it is important to note that you will be hiking up to heights of 12,200ft (3718m) so it is ideal to have at least a little high-altitude walking experience.

The typical starting point of this mountain adventure is Rishikesh. The best way to reach this starting point is via a flight from New Delhi to the neighbouring city of Dehradun – Rishikesh does not have an airport. From here, you can expect the first day to be a long-distance drive to the first stop of Lohajung. Lohajung is the actual starting point of the hiking and it is where you will make your first camp.

The next 4 days are where the adventure and mountain exploration begin. The itinerary can vary here, however there are some common routes and sites that you will likely experience. Firstly, a smaller testing hike is usually taken to Bekaltal. This is a much smaller alpine like that is nestled in a huge forest. This is a fantastic place to explore and a great way to ease into the hiking.

The main trek, and one of the highlights of the journey is the hike to Brahmatal itself, however. This is a longer trek and is approximately 7km in distance. Usually, the route takes up to 7 hours to complete, and you will ascend to an elevation of 10,450ft (3200m). During this trek, you will see some amazing sites including some of the greater Himalayan mountains like Shivalik. When arriving at the top, you can see the peaceful lake Brahmatal and are rewarded for your effort. The scenery here is like nowhere else – it’s quite something to see the lake, and the glorious mountains surrounding it.

Other notable sites you may trek to include the epic Jatropani Peak, the amazing Brahmatal Pass, and Tilbudi. When on the Brahmatal pass, you are given sweeping views of the landscape and can see many of the mightiest mountains in this region – it will leave you stunned!

In terms of accommodation, you will stay in a guest house at Lohajung, and the rest of the trip will be in tents at designated campsites. Lunch and hot meals are typically included, but we advise brining energy bars and some non-perishable snacks too to boost your energy during the hikes. Walking spikes could also help when hiking the steeper paths.