Brahmatal from Delhi — itinerary, permits, gear & budget

2,335 mRoadhead

Getting there from Delhi

New for 2026

The Delhi–Dehradun Expressway opened on 14 April 2026: 210 km of access-controlled highway that cuts Delhi→Dehradun to roughly 2.5 hours and Delhi→Rishikesh to roughly 3.5 hours by car. Every itinerary here is re-timed around it — most Uttarakhand roadheads are now a comfortable single day from Delhi instead of an overnight ordeal.

Your gateway is Rishikesh / Haridwar. From there it is 250 km and 9–10 hours of hill road to Lohajung (2,335 m), which is where the walking starts.

Car / cab (expressway spur) approx 3.5 hrs

Expressway plus the Rishikesh spur. The single best way to reach a Garhwal roadhead in one day.

Indicative cost · ₹3,000–5,000 one-way cab

Train to Haridwar 4.5–6 hrs

Frequent services; Haridwar → Rishikesh is another 45–60 min by road.

Indicative cost · ₹300–1,500 depending on class

Volvo / AC bus 6–7 hrs

ISBT Kashmiri Gate → Rishikesh, frequent overnight departures.

Indicative cost · ₹500–1,300

Shared cabs and buses run Rishikesh / Haridwar → Lohajung in the morning. A private cab is the reliable option and splits well across four people.

Outline guide

This one is a planning outline, not the full day-by-day treatment yet — the numbers, permits and seasons below are researched and usable, but the detailed route notes are still being written. Get on the list to know when it goes deep.

2,741 mTiming

When to go

Best window: December – February.

When not to go

July – August (monsoon).

Suitable for fit beginners, with daily ascents and a few steep sections that ask for endurance.

3,147 mPaperwork

Permits, fees and budget

Forest entry at Lohajung Nominal

Where · Local forest post or operator

Confirm current fees locally.

Self-organised₹8,000–12,000

With an operator₹8,000–14,000

Lohajung-to-Lohajung, before Delhi travel.

3,688 mSummit

Know before you go

January is coldest and best — plan insulation for well below freezing.
Shares the Lohajung roadhead with Roopkund's lower trail; do not confuse operators' itineraries.

Why this one is worth your leave days

Two frozen lakes — Bekaltal and Brahmatal
Ridge-line views of Trishul and Nanda Ghunti
January delivers the deepest snow and clearest skies of any trek on this list
A quieter alternative to Kedarkantha in peak winter

Check before you book

Costs, permit fees and transport timings are researched estimates for the 2026 season and move around. Treat them as planning ranges, not quotes, and re-check permits and road status before you book.

Last updated 2026-08-18