Brahmatal Winter Trek: Journey To The Paradise – Important Tips for Winter Trek

Last year I was badly planning for a winter trek. When I was searching for the best option I came to know about Brahmatal Trek.

Brahmatal is a high altitude lake. It is situated in the Uttarakhand Himalaya region of Chamoli district. As in winter, the lake turns into a complete frozen lake and this is why the trek is more popular at this time. This trek basecamp is in a small village called Lohajung. For your information, this place is also used as the basecamp for another very popular trek called Roopkund Trek.

During Brahmatal trek you can get a complete combination of dense forest, stiff mountain hiking, beautiful snow trail and star gazing nights. Sometime you will get flat meadow and sometime you will get the rocky uneven path. To enjoy the snow falls the winter season is the perfect time to go Brahmatal.

What is the altitude of Brahmatal?

It is nearly 10,000 ft. You will start from Lohajung which will be your basecamp for the trek. It is in altitude of 7,600 ft. Gradually you will gain the height. The Brahmatal summit top which is known as Jatropani Peak is at the altitude of 12,250 ft.

Which month is the perfect time to go for the Brahmatal trek?

Brahmatal is mostly popular for winter trek. From December to March is the perfect time for this trek as the trail covered with snow and you can also get the snow falls. Also, you will get clear blue sky and the stunning view of Himalayan range and mountain peaks

Now coming back to my trekking experience. Well as this was a short 5-6 days trek, I managed to get leave from my office easily. Me and my wife started our journey on 23rd December from Kolkata.

Day 1 (23rd December): It was 4th Saturday and my office was open. I left office at 5 PM. My wife picked me up from Saltlake area and we headed to Dumdum Airport. We boarded and fly out for Delhi at 8:35 PM. Reached Delhi and booked a cab for Delhi Vasant Vihar. We stayed at Indranil da’s place there. We got a warm welcome in there. Thanks, Indranil da for your reception. That night was quite rocking.

For Your Information: The trek was organized by Ongoz Escapades owned by Indranil Kar.

Pro Tips: Take some light dinner and go to sleep as early as possible because next day there will be more than 15 hours of journey by train + by car.

Day 2 (24th December): Next day we nearly missed the Satabdi Express if the cab driver didn’t knock at 5 AM. We got up as soon as possible and left the place. The train left New Delhi railway station at 6 AM. Satabdi Express was on time and we reached Kathgodam at 12:30 PM.

After 7-8 hours long journey we finally reached Lohajung. Lohajung is a small, beautiful village which is also basecamp for another popular trek called Roopkund. Well, it was a chilling -2 degree cold Christmas Eve and we celebrated with other trek groups that night at Lohajung.

Pro Tips: Always book the ticket for Satabdi Express, not any other train. I had very bad experience with Sampark Kranti Express while returning back from Kathgodam. You can read the full experience of that from the below link:

How Google Made Me Miss My Flight from Delhi to Kolkata after Brahmatal Trek

Day 3 (25th December): The Christmas Day was started with an early morning tea wake up call. We got up and came out to see the Sunrise and it was breathtaking. The clear sky was giving us an extraordinary view of Nanda Ghunti from our guest house roof.

We got ready, took our breakfast and started our first ascend after a brief from our trek leader. It was a 6.3 km hike from Lohajung (7,600 ft) to Bekaltal (9,885 ft) which took almost 5 hrs.

The first few kilometers were man-made trail and as you climb higher you can see Mandoli village and then after few meters spot Kali Valley in your left.

We crossed some dense forest and a beautiful snow trail and finally reached Bekaltal camp at 4 PM.

After some refreshment at there, we went for a small hike to Bekaltal. It is a beautiful frozen lake in the midst of oak forests.

In hills, you should take your dinner early and sleep early. So we took out dinner at 8 PM and got inside our tents. But my plan was something else. My passion for traveling is not only because I love mountains, but also I want to see the countless stars, Milkyway from top of it. I never miss capturing the sky, night sky photography when I go for any trek or road trip into the mountains.

When almost everyone went inside the tent after the dinner and to survive from -2 to -5 degrees cold I was outside with countless glittering stars, feeling the moments and capturing them.

Pro Tips: Drink plenty of water. Water will prevent AMS (Acute mountain sickness).

Take hot water bags inside your tent while sleeping. Put this under your feet and you will get good sleep at minus degree temperature and in that high altitude.

Day 4 (26th December): It was a beautiful fresh morning and we were getting ready for our second last ascend for Brahmatal. It was a long long hike from Bekaltal (9,689 ft) to Brahmatal (10,440 ft). The trail is 7 km long and it took 6 to 7 hours to reach Brahmatal camp point.

This time it was not an easy hike. The trail was bit stiff and rocky. We went through some of the snowfields, then plain. The most beautiful thing you will get is the long mountain range of great Himalaya.

On the way to Brahmatal camp, most of the time you will get to see some of the height mountain peaks link Nanda Ghunti (6,309m), Trishul (7,120m), Maiktoli (6,803m), Panchachulli (6,904m).

A gently ascending meadow walk brings you to the highest point of the day at 11,500 ft. From here, it is a very gradual descent. During this last hour, you will get to see an ancient thousand years old Brahma temple.

The Brahmatal campsite at 10,351 ft is 500 meters away from the lake.

During the approach towards our camp, we visited the half-frozen Brahmatal Lake.

Pro Tips: Don’t miss the Sunset from the camp side. It is just breathtaking. Always change your socks before sleeping inside the tent otherwise we will get cold from your old sweaty socks.

Day 5 (27th December): This is the day when we were going for the final push to the Brahmatal summit top. It was a very very tough day. It was a very stiff climb. The very first hour was taken to cover the forest trail and gradually enter to a stiff mountain ridge which has no tree at all.

The trail was filled with rocks and snows. It was quite challenging to push yourself to the last point of that mountain.

This was an ascend from 10,440 ft to 12,250 ft. The total time was taken around 6 hours and we covered 6.4 km.

It was a slow zig-zag ascend through the forest and then a wide meadow. For this final day trek, you have to be very very strong in physically and mentally.

When I reached the summit top, it was felt like I actually reached to the heaven. My all pain, tiredness just gone within a seconds after witnessing the most beautiful and fascinating view of this entire trek.

The summit point gives you a total panoramic view from right to left and in your behind layers of mountains and valleys.

The panoramic of mountains open up from right to left with Panchachuli range, Maitoli, Trishul, Nanda Ghunti, Neelkanth, Nilgiri, Mana, Mandir, Chaukhambha

At the top, I took many photos, took a timelapse with my new Procus Rush 4K Sports Action Camera. The place is just like dream, so I set there for a while and feel the nature’s most beautiful gift to us, the snow-capped mountains of great Himalaya.

Now it time to come down. The descent was less time taken but as tough as climbing. We took a short path as the main trail was not so easy. In this short trail, we got the top and almost an aerial view of Brahmatal. I doubt anyone ever took the picture of Brahmatal with this perspective.

We returned to our camp around 3 PM and took our lunch quickly. In mountains and especially when you are on the trek, you have to take your breakfast, lunch, and dinner at our usual times. Like you have to take dinner in between 7:30 PM to 9 PM and go to sleep asap. Early sleep, an early rise is a very basic concept in mountains.

It was our last night to Brahmatal camp, so we did lots of fun activities like the campfire, played Antakshari, sang a lot of songs. Not only it was a day to remember but an unforgettable night too. People say that there is no camp without the campfire, we say the fire was lit and so was our spirit.

Pro Tips: Don’t take too many loads, bags with you during the Summit push as it is a quite hard hike.

Day 6 (28th December) – This was the day when we returned back to Lohajung. We took the route to Lohajung via Jhandi Top. The altitude was from 10,440 ft to 7,600 ft via 10,935 ft. Total time taken to reach Lohajung from Brahmatal was 6-7 hours. It was an 8 to 9 km hike.

At Jhandi Top we played with snowballs and made a snowman. That was the last meadow from where we saw the beautiful Himalayan range last time in this trek. From there we gradually came down and went through a very very beautiful forest. Somewhere in that forest, we completed our light lunch and again continued for descending. We finally reached Lohajung at 5 PM.

Pro Tips: While getting down from the hills please be careful. Hold your trekking pole on top, it will give you good support.

I don’t know what heaven looks like and neither do you but we definitely had a taste of it here. After returning from the trek I am still dreaming the shear alpine in front me.

If Brahmatal trek enticing you, do it.

If you afraid, do it

If you feel me, do it

and

if nothing at all, do it anyway

Watch an inspiration video on brahmatal trek made by me

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Here is some important information regarding Brahmatal Trek:

Brahmatal Short itinerary:

Day 1: Start Journey for Delhi

Day 2: Delhi to Kathgodam (By Train) | Kathgodam to Lohajung (By Car)

Day 3: Lohajung to Bekaltal Camp (Trekking) | HIking to Bekaltal Lake

Day 4: Bekaltal to Brahmatal Camp (Trekking) | Hiking to Brahmatal Lake

Day 5: Brahmatal Camp to Brahmatal Top or Summit Point (Trekking) & Return back to Brahmatal Camp

Day 6: Brahmatal Camp to Lohajung (Trekking)

Day 7: Lohajung to Kathgodam

Day 8: Kathgodam to Delhi

Some important tips and percussion during trekking & camping:

1. Always listen to your trek leader instructions.
2. Be in the group
3. Don’t take photos while walking at the mountain edge. If you really want to take photos, stop and then take it.
4. When mules are coming from in front of you or from the backside, go to the mountain wall side and give them space to pass.
5. Don’t pee in any stream water or nearby of it. Remember that stream water is the only water source for the mountain people for their daily living.
6. When you drink water while hiking, clear your mouth with the first sip then from 2nd sip drink the water.
7. Don’t throw any plastic wrappers, bottles here and there when you trek, keep it with you and put it in the dustbin when you finally reached your camp.
8. Don’t put earphones to listen to music while hiking.
9. This is important: Try to clean the trail as much as possible by yourself. It is our responsibility to keep the mountains pollution free. So you can always carry a small plastic bag and whenever you see any small wrappers, plastics on your path, pick that and put it into that plastic bag. When you reach your camp, put it into the common dustbin of the camp.
10. Don’t make so many noises or play music loud at the camp, it can hamper the natural peacefulness and also harm the nearby animals & birds.

Things to carry while you are on a Winter Trek like Brahmatal:

1. Layers: This is very important to protect yourself from the bone-chilling cold during November to March into minus temperature and snowy situation.

I took mainly three layers:

1. Inner
2. Fleece
3. Down Jacket

I would recommend Forclaz 200 Men’s Mountain Hiking Fleece as you can wear it throughout your hikes

For down jacket, I would recommend Quechua X-Light Men’s Down Jacket. It is best for winter trek. I will protect you from cold wind and warm your body as it has feather inside into it.

2. Trouser: You should take lower inners and adjustable trekking pant.

I have used Forclaz 100 Adjustable Male Trekking Trousers

3. Backpack: Me and my wife both are using Wildcraft 45 Rucksack
4. Hand Gloves
5. Woolen Socks
6. Headlamp (Very Important): I used Hiking Headlamp 30 Lumens. This is very very necessary because there will be no light in your camp.
7. Hiking Poles
8. Hot Water Bags
9. Caps or Hats
10. Balaclava
11. Trekking Poncho: This is very important to carry a poncho as in winter trek you can get snowfalls and rain anytime. I am using Quechua Poncho Forclaz Rain Wear.
12. Footwear: I am using Quechua Forclaz 500 Shoe. This is perfect for any type of hiking. (Except Chadar Trek / Frozen Lake Trek)

Tips for Photographers while trekking:

1. Please take extra batteries.

I took total 4 Nikon Batteries. (I am using Nikon D5300). As there is no electricity after Lohajung, you need to fully charge your all batteries before leaving that place.

2. Take extra memory cards, I have taken 2 extras.
3. Take camera lens hood to protect the lens from sun flare and snowfalls.
4. Use a polarizer filter for your lens to get color detailing.
5. Carry power charger. At least two.
6. If you also want to use your smartphone to take photos, videos, you need to save the battery. Decrease the brightness level as low as possible. Turn on the Airplane mode, it will save your battery for sure. In this 4 days of trekking I have charged up my phone at first in Lohajung then again did it in Lohajung. This above-mentioned technique will save your mobile phone’s battery life maximum 3 to 4 days.
7. If you are night sky photography freak (Like me ;)), understand that in the night time in mountains, especially at high altitudes the temperature drops below zero degrees. That time your camera battery power will drain for sure. So keep your all batteries your inner pocket of down jacket. Also when you are sleeping keep it inside your sleeping bag.
8. If your battery went dead accidentally in a crucial time of photography, try to rub your battery as much as possible with your hand. Keep the battery for some time under your armpit. It will help your battery to get some heat and gain some charge so you can click some more photos.

Hope these above tips will help you for your upcoming winter trek or any kinda a high altitude mountain treks. If you really like it please do share it with your friends, do comment below and subscribe to our blog. Till then Travel, Share and Inspire.

If you want to go for this Winter trek in Brahmatal? Do you need more details? Don’t hesitate to contact me here: contact@topfivebuzz.com