Brahmatal - Who is this trek meant for?

Situated in the interiors of the Uttarakhand region, Brahmatal is one of the most popular and beautiful treks of the Himalayas. Its simple trails and changing landscapes make it an ideal choice, even for fit beginners. The alluring factors about this place are the glacial lakes, oak & rhododendron forest, vast meadows, and a closeup view of the majestic peaks Nandaghunti and Trishul 1 & 2 from the summit. Here, you can also get a small glimpse of other peaks like the Hathi-Goda Peak and Bethartoli.

In this article, we discuss who the Brahmatal trek is meant for, along with the gear and skills one will need to traverse this beauty of a trail enjoyably.

The difficulty level of the trek:

Brahmatal is a level 3 trek on the Bikat Rating Scale.

About the BRS: The Bikat Rating Scale rates the difficulty level of all treks and expeditions in our portfolio after taking into account their geographical and climatic conditions.

According to this scale, if you are a beginner who is unsure of your fitness level and don't know what to expect on a trek, a trek rated one will be a good place to start.

If you liked your very first trekking experience and are looking to test your limits next, the treks rated 2 or 3 will do the job for you.

A beginner who is sure of their fitness level, on the other hand, is welcome to skip the first two levels and directly start with one of the treks rated 3.

From 4 onwards, the rules change a little. It is mandatory to have trekking experience of the previous level to participate in the next level.

The trails of Brahmatal

The Brahmatal trek begins from the base village of Lohajung at an altitude of 2300 M. Every day; you will be covering 5 KM or more.

On the first day, you will be hiking from Lohajung to the Gujrani campsite. The first 3 km of the trail is a simple hike on well-laid-out pathways. At the end of 3 KM, you reach a small open area named Begam top.

From here, one gets treated to a complete view of the Lohajung Village below. The trail until Begum Top is peppered by small Dhabas.

From Begum Top, the trail will take you inside the oak and rhododendron forests. The Gujrani Campsite (2750 M) is 2 KMS away from here. The terrain is relatively easy to navigate and takes you through beautiful oak and rhododendron groves.

On the second day, the distance you will need to cover to your next campsite, almost doubles. Today is also the day you will be visiting the first of your two lakes, the Bekaltal Lake. It is situated 2 KM away from Gujrani. The path to the Bekaltal lake is easy-moderate with many turns and bends. 

From Bekaltal, the trails climb up steadily, gaining elevation. The terrain here is completely covered by sand. This stretch extends for 4 KM, at the end of which you will reach a beautiful meadow named Talindi Top. 

We will be stopping to rest here. One can see the tip of Trishul Peak I from Talindi Top. Just a kilometre from Talindi Top is Jandi Top.

The Jandi top sets a beautiful stage to catch glimpses of the much-coveted Trishul 1,2, and Nandaghunti peaks. After Bekaltal, Jandi top is the last place to fill drinking water from the local dhabas.

From Jandi Top, the trail gets easy to navigate. It is a descent of 4 KM all the way to our campsite for the day, Brahmatal.

The serene Brahmatal lake is only 500 metres from the campsite. After resting for a bit, you are welcome to take a leisurely walk to the lake in the evening.

On Day 3, we will be beginning our trek early to be able to catch the sunrise from the top of Brahmatal. The summit is 3 KM away from the campsite. The trail maintains a constant and steady ascent throughout.

The exertion required for the ascent is more than made up for by the stunning views one gets treated to at the Summit Point.

From the summit, you will get a closeup view of the massive Trishul 1,2 Peaks, Nandaghunti peak, and the tips of Hathi-Goda peak, Bethartoli, Maiktoli and Tharkot. After spending some quality time at the summit point, we will head back to our campsite and rest for the day.

On day 4, we will be retracing our path back to Jandi Top and start descending towards Lohajung from there. We will be covering close to 11 KM today. The constant descent could place pressure on your knees.

We discuss more on how to tackle this efficiently in the section titled Skills Required for Brahmatal Trek in the section below.

Fitness level required

Although Brahmatal is an easy trek, you will need good lung capacity and leg strength to reach the summit safely and back. If you are struggling most of the time, you won't be able to enjoy the trek. With the end goal being enjoying the trek thoroughly and not just completing it, the following is the fitness level we recommend.

Practice jogging/running four to five days a week and see if you can cover 5 km in 30-40 minutes. In addition to this, you can also add some resistance workouts for legs (like squats and lunges) and core workouts into your training schedule.

If you are completely new to the world of trekking and are unsure of your fitness levels, we recommend starting with a level 2 trek from our portfolio. Treks like the Beas Kund or Bhrigu valley, which are of lower altitude and lesser duration, are excellent choices.

These will give you an idea of the terrain you are likely to encounter at Brahmatal while equipping you with the knowledge of layering on Himalayan Treks, the kind of gear you will need, fitness levels required, etc.

Gear Required for Brahmatal

While we will be providing most of the equipment needed for trekking (tents, sleeping bags, crampons, snow boots, etc.), there is some basic gear you will need from your end to get through your hike comfortably.

These are sturdy, a lightweight backpack and comfortable trekking shoes. In case you plan on purchasing them, please refer to the articles below for some helpful tips on how to go about choosing the right gear for your trek.

How to choose your backpack – Choosing the right backpack is one of the important steps for a comfortable trek. Even a slight discomfort or imbalance can be a pain. Refer to the article linked above to get some helpful tips on how to choose your backpack.

How to choose a good pair of trekking shoes – Normal sports shoes are not well suited for trekking trails. We recommend wearing high ankle shoes, which provide better support and are likely to minimize the possibility of injury. Please refer to the article linked above for some helpful tips to keep in mind when choosing trekking shoes.

How to use a Trekking pole – Some people feel comfortable with trekking poles, and some don't. But it cannot be denied that trekking poles greatly reduce the stress on your legs and knees while hiking, especially during downhill descents and river crossings. To know more, please refer to the article linked for some helpful tips on how to use a trekking pole.

Skills required for Brahmatal

Bikat Adventures is primarily an adventure learning organization. This means our key objective is not just to help our trekkers complete treks but also to help them pick up some valuable skills in trekking and camping along the way.

To achieve this, we have built learning modules that are paired to each level on the Bikat Rating Scale. These modules are then taught in real-time on the trails by our trek leaders.

The following are some skills that are likely to come in handy on a trail like the Brahmatal Trek. While you will have all the assistance you need on the trek from our capable trek leaders, we suggest browsing through the articles below to get an idea of what is involved.

Ascending and Descending on Trails – Every trail is different. Ascents and descents can directly impact your knee and ankles. Maintaining the right rhythm and body position is critical and will help you to go long and go easy.

How to pack your rucksack – At Brahmatal, you will be covering more than 5 km every day. So, a compact approach towards packing is likely to make carrying your backpack easier.

How to pitch a tent – When you reach your campsite, the first thing you do is pitch a tent. Although we will be guiding you on how to pitch a tent on the trail, do give the article above a read to get a head start.

Hiking attire and layering – In winters, the temperature drops to -10 degrees in the Brahmatal campsite. Layering appropriately to protect yourself from the cold is mandatory. Take a look at the article linked above to get an idea of the winter layers you will be needing and how to layer them at campsites and while hiking.

How to use Microspikes – During peak winters, the weather frequently changes at Brahmatal. On many days there is snowfall. This fresh snow turns into ice after a day or two. The trails become slippery to navigate as a result. Microspikes 9which we will provide on treks) can give you the support and balance you will need to navigate these trails efficiently.

How to use gaiters – Around December, the snow level varies anywhere between 2-3 feet on the Brahmatal Trek. Gaiters are special layers that you wear over your shoes and ankles to prevent dirt, pebbles, and snow from getting inside your shoes. The article linked above will guide you on how to use them.

We hope this article answers all the questions you may have had on the Brahmatal Trek. In case you have any questions or need assistance with something, please feel free to reach out to us. We are only a phone call away.