Brahmatal Trek

The Brahmatal trekking tour begins. Today, you will go trekking for almost 5 hours. The route begins from Lohagunj up a snaky trail leading into the forest. After some time, you will reach a small village called Mandoli. Fill your water bottle and take a short break. The trekking route now will consist of gradual ascends. After a moderately steep climb for a while, you will reach a valley which is the confluence of two rivers, Kali and Pindari. 

After continuing along the route, you will reach the Kali Valley, followed by a group of mud huts. Here, you will find a grove of rhododendrons which takes the red colour from February to March. The next landmark of the route is a wooden bridge above a stream which is accessible while descending the slope. After crossing the wooden bridge, you will reach Begum, a resting point overlooking the vast lush bugyals at a distance. Set up camp in close proximity to Lake Khopdaliya. The tranquillity and serenity of this place will win you over.
Overnight stay in the camp.

While trekking today, you will cross oak and rhododendron forests over steep slopes for some time before you arrive at a meadow called Telandi. During winters, this vast stretch of green is covered with snow and is transformed into an enormous snowfield. 

The meadow stretches up to an altitude of 11,500 feet, from where it begins a descent to Brahmatal. From here, you will find a small temple if you go towards your left. You will recognise it by the yellow flags fluttering in the air. Descend the slope to make your way towards Brahmatal Lake, located at a distance of about 500 meters from the temple. As you proceed, the valleys of Almora and Nainital will accompany you. Everywhere you run your eyes, you are treated to spectacular views of the colossal peaks of several Himalayan ranges in Uttarakhand like Trishul, Nanda Ghunti and others of the Greater Himalayas. 

Set up camp at a distance of almost 500 meters from the Brahmatal lake.

Your day begins early in the morning as you make your way towards Lake Brahmatal, which involves an uphill climb. Oak and rhododendron trees dot the trail, making it an exceptionally beautiful one. After some time, the zigzag ascending trail will finally end in Lake Brahmatal. On a clear day with sunny skies, the lake reflects the sunlight and with its clear waters, appears like a mirror laid down in front of you. 

As you continue your trek, you will come across a small stream formed by snow melting. Keep hiking till you begin the final climb towards the pass. Even though this part of the trek is a bit challenging and tiring, the views that await you from the top are worth it. Once you reach the top, you are treated to the views of Mt. Trishul and Mt. Nanda Ghunti. Take your time and savour the beauty of the surroundings, for these are views that move you from within and remain etched in your memory for a long time. 

The descending trail is different from the ascending trail and offers you 180 degree views of the entire Himalayan ranges and peaks like Haukhamba, Mandi, Mana, Nilgiri, Neelkanth and Maitoli. After a while, you will reach a clearing surrounded by trees on all sides. This is the Tilbudi campsite, where you will be camping for the night. 

Stay overnight in the camp.

Start the day with an early breakfast, begin your descent to Wan, a trekking trail dotted with oak and rhododendron trees. It is a beautiful trail which lets you click several pictures and enjoy the beautiful surroundings. After a certain distance, you will reach a water source at Chota Tilbudi. After about 30 minutes, the village of Wan is visible below. From here, it will take you another 30 minutes to reach the main road from where a vehicle arranged by TMI will take you to Lohagunj.

After a good night’s rest at the Lohagunj rest house, you will be returning to Kathgodam today. From there on, you can continue with your onward journey. The tour comes to an end.