I was tired. A little exhausted. Hungry. My water bottles had almost run dry, and all I wanted was rest.
But somewhere along the way, a conversation happened, and we decided to attempt the sunset summit.
It felt ambitious. We had already spent nearly 5–6 hours trekking from Basecamp 1 to Basecamp 2, and by the time we arrived, there was barely enough time to recover — just 30 minutes.
The path to the summit was challenging, and if we wanted to make it before sunset, we had to keep walking.
The trail ahead was steeper than anything we had walked that day. With every step, the mountains seemed to stretch further. I didn’t know whether we would make it in time, but turning back wasn’t something we were thinking about either.
What had started as a winter trek in Uttarakhand had suddenly turned into a race against daylight.
Looking back, that decision summed up the entire trek for me — a mix of excitement, questionable decisions, and moments that felt rewarding.
But I’m getting ahead of myself.
Table of Contents
Quick Overview – Brahmatal Trek
| Trek operator | Himalayan Hikers |
| Duration | 6 days |
| Difficulty | Moderate |
| Max altitude | 12,250 ft (Brahmatal Summit) |
| Base camp | Lohajung, Uttarakhand |
| Best season | December to March |
| Starting point | Lohajung via Dehradun and Rishikesh |
The Decision to Do Brahmatal Trek
A few days earlier, my biggest concern wasn’t racing against a sunset. It was simply getting to the mountains.
I wanted to do a longer trek over a long period, and eventually, this was the opportunity. I do some shorter day hikes in the mountains like the Triund Trek, Serolsar Lake trek, Rani Sui lake trek and Katarnag Lake trek in Kashmir.
It was the peak of winter in Delhi when my friend and I decided to do the Brahmatal Trek in Uttarakhand.
A Bus to Catch & 4:30 AM Drop in the Cold
I had a bus at night to Dehradun.
To reach ISBT Kashmiri Gate, I took an auto from home. Within some time, my friend also arrived. Since our pickup from Dehradun was around 6:00 AM, we had chosen a bus that would drop us off before then.
I’ve always had a problem with moving buses — I simply can’t sleep well on them.
The next morning, I reached Dehradun much before time. The bus dropped us off around 4:30 AM — it was very cold. We took an auto to the pickup point. I pulled out my cap and gloves immediately.
Whenever I wake up very early, I get hungry. So my friend and I went to a nearby dhaba and had paranthas and hot tea.
Meanwhile, it was 6:00 AM. I spotted the traveler at the pickup point.
We were the first to arrive. In the next 15 minutes, the traveler left for Rishikesh — the next pickup point.
From Night to Sunrise
The distance from Dehradun to Rishikesh is 38km, roughly 1 hour. I felt sleepy on the way but didn’t want to miss capturing the initial phases, so I kept my GoPro handy in my cargo pants.
The traveler reached Rishikesh around 7:30 AM to pick up the remaining Brahmatal trek members. It was sunrise by then.
After picking up the remaining travelers, we left by 8 AM.
It was the start of a very long drive to Lohajung — covering 280km, almost 10 hours on the road.
I was sitting in the middle back seat where I could see the front view. My friend took the window seat and was comfortable taking naps at frequent intervals.
I hadn’t visited beyond Rishikesh before.
We passed Devprayag — the traveler stopped for some time. I was amazed to see the Sangam — Bhagirathi and Alaknanda rivers merge here to form the holy Ganga.
After crossing Karnprayag, we halted for lunch. While everyone went to the same restaurant, my friend and I decided to eat something light — we had an omelette.
The views outside the windows were getting magnificent as we moved forward. By the time we crossed Tharali, it was almost sunset. The roads got narrower, steeper, and darker outside.
In the next hour, we reached Lohajung.
Lohajung — Where the Trek Actually Begins
Lohajung stands at 7,550 ft above sea level.
I stepped outside the traveler and felt the sheer cold immediately.
Our trek leader guided us to the homestay. I got freshened up, did some stretching, and went to have dinner.
The food was very delicious. Honestly, I didn’t expect it. But over time I’ve realised — pahadi people cook amazing food.
Shortly after, our trek leader ran a briefing session — there were 4 of us. He covered the challenges ahead, how to pack light, and other helpful information.
After the session, I went to my room to sleep.
Day 1 — Through Oak Forests and Rhododendron Juice
I woke up to see the sunrise. Mountain sunrises are always magical.
I took some shots, removed unnecessary items from the bag, and got ready.
It was 8:30 AM. We had our breakfast.
Quickly I picked up my bag and started the 5-hour trek to the Bekaltal campsite — passing narrow lanes, dusty paths, uneven surfaces, and dense oak forests.
We spotted a shop in between selling Rhododendron juice. I drank one cup and felt very fresh.
One of the participants kept asking the trek leader about the chances of snow. He had specifically come for the snow — and honestly, so had my friend and I.
The trek leader said to cross our fingers. Over the last few years, the snow pattern has shifted. It doesn’t snow much in January anymore. Mainly February or March.
With this piece of information settling in, we reached the Bekaltal campsite at around 2:00 PM.
It was a large space with plenty of camps. I found ours, kept my bag down — a major relief for my shoulders.
The first thing we did after putting our bags away was stretching. It releases stiffness in the muscles and helps the body recover after hours of carrying a heavy load.
Lunch was ready — and delicious again. My friend had already warned me about this after his previous trek with Himalayan Hikers. He was right.
After lunch, I rested, unpacked, and kept electronics on charge.
A Visit to the Nearby Lake Before Sunset
Before evening, we walked to Bekaltal Lake — right behind our campsite. It was surrounded by dense forest, and sunlight after 4:00 PM seemed impossible to reach the water.
I flew my drone there.
A dog present near the lake had serious objections and kept chasing it throughout.
Despite that, I spent wonderful time near the lake — admiring the streak of light passing through the forest, staying until the light was completely gone.
Back at the campsite, I watched the sunset from the mountains. The sun going down the valley — that’s something you can’t replicate anywhere.
In no time, it was dark and cold. Tea, conversations, everyone gathering inside the campsite.
After dinner, my friend and I stayed outside a little longer and captured the dark sky with stars.
You can watch the first part of my Brahmatal trek film here:
Day 2 — A 9hr Walk, Steep Climb, and a Tough Decision at the Top
Sleeping inside a sleeping bag isn’t as relaxing as it sounds. Rotating the body in any direction was a problem. I tried my best.
In the morning, I woke up early, freshened up, and did some exercise to warm up before the next day.
Today’s plan: trek from Bekaltal to Brahmatal campsite, then summit the next morning at sunrise.
We left at around 8:00 AM.
Dense forest, dusty paths, steep climbs — the same surroundings for the first couple of hours. Then the forest opened up into an open meadow with a 360-degree view.
We reached Jhandi Top. A Shiv temple, a few shops around.
I visited the temple and took some time there.
One trek member had his heart set on momos at 12,250 ft. I had a piece — delicious, unsurprisingly.
On our way to the second campsite, the trek leader shared two options:
- Summit today at sunset — will save one day
- Summit tomorrow morning, as originally planned
We thought it through:
- There was no snow on the Brahmatal trek, so no meaning of staying here for another day
- We would save a day and could return home earlier
- The sunset would happen in the opposite direction from the summit — meaning we’d see the last light falling on the mountains ahead
We decided to push for the sunset summit.
That decision meant no proper rest after reaching campsite 2. And a steep climb straight ahead.
We reached the second campsite at around 2:30 PM. We had 30 minutes — lunch, rest, and prepare.
The Sunset Push
At exactly 3:00 PM, I was ready with my small bag, drone packed in.
One trek member had decided to rest instead of summit. The three of us left with one goal — reach the top safely before sunset.
The route was a steep climb. It felt endless.
On the way I saw the Brahmatal Lake. Normally, by this time it gets frozen. Since no snowfall happened, the water was still visible.
I was taking breaks after climbing a few steps. Gather my energy and start again.
So was my friend.
An hour in, I looked back and saw one trek member far behind, struggling. The trek leader was with him, pushing him forward slowly.
Looking ahead — I still couldn’t tell how much was left.
The Summit to Brahmatal Top
Soon, patches of snow appeared on the corners of the mountain — the areas where sunlight doesn’t reach.
Then I could see the summit.
I looked back. The others were still behind.
In about 20 more minutes, I reached the top.
I was breathing heavily. Eyes a little wet.
I saw the Indian flag raised high.
“Wohoo, I did it.”
The snowy mountains were clearly visible now. The feeling of standing there — after everything the day had asked of us — is something I won’t describe too much.
In a gap of 15–20 minutes, my friend arrived.
It was almost 5:30 PM. Sunset was at 6:15 PM. We were right on time.
I started shooting photos and flew the drone. The mountains ahead were breathtaking. The light was slowly going.
As it got darker, it got colder. I couldn’t use my camera or take my hands out of my gloves for long.
We packed quickly and started the descent.
Coming Down in the Dark
The sunset had happened. Darkness was coming fast.
My headlight battery had died at the campsite — I hadn’t carried it. I used my phone’s flash and followed my friend who had a working headlight.
Visibility dropped to near zero. We were more than halfway down when we weren’t sure which direction to go.
Then my friend beeped a red light. Our trek leader guided us through the last section.
We reached Brahmatal campsite by 7:30 PM.
Tea. Conversations. Dinner. Everyone sharing their moments from the summit.
You can watch the second part of my Brahmatal trek film here:
Day 3 — The Return
We woke up in the morning. Today’s plan was to head straight to Lohajung.
The descent is faster — but I won’t say easier. Ankle twisting and falling are far more likely on the way down. Each step requires attention.
By 3:00 PM, my friend and I reached Lohajung basecamp. I had a memorable lunch, Rajma Chawal — reliving the moments from the past three days.
We also got the certificate for trek completion.
The next morning, we left for Rishikesh.
In the evening, we took a bus from Rishikesh to Delhi. Then, home.
About the Trek Operator — Himalayan Hikers
I booked through Himalayan Hikers — my friend had already done a trek with them before and vouched for their safety standards, food quality, and affordability. I trusted that completely, and they delivered on every count.
Trek details at a glance:
- Duration: 6 days
- Difficulty: Moderate — suitable for first-time trekkers with basic fitness
- Max altitude: 12,250 ft (Brahmatal Summit)
- Base camp: Lohajung, Uttarakhand
- Trek Cost : Rs. 7000 per person
- Best season: December to March (for snow — aim for February onwards)
- What’s included: Accommodation, all meals on trek, permits, trek leader, camping equipment
- Starting point: Lohajung (pickup from Dehradun and Rishikesh available)
What I Felt After
What felt like exhaustion on that day — the sunset summit made me forget all of it and just live in the moment.
Finding no snow was a little disappointing. But the journey, the people, the decisions made at the end — they were beyond expectations and truly memorable.
What’s one trekking memory that still stays with you long after the journey ended? I’d love to hear your story.
