Dodital Trek
Dodital lies in the Garhwal Himalayas bordered on one side by the Bandarpoonch and Swargarohini ranges. It opens through Darwa Pass towards Yamunotri on the other side.
Endowed with elevated grasslands that are covered with snow in winter, gurgling streams, dense alpine forest and a rich array of flowers, Dodital Trek is one of the scenic treks in the Garhwal Himalayan region.
The trek originates from the Bhagirathi valley which is at an altitude of 1350 meters and passes through the mysterious forest and gently climbs to a high altitude of 4150 meters to the Darwa Peak. Often nicknamed Ganesh-ka-Tal, Dodital is considered one of the sacred lakes in the Garhwal Himalayan region as it is believed to be the birthplace of Lord Ganesha, one of the Hindu deities.
The captivating natural atmosphere around the tranquil lake is ideal for overnight camping. There is an opportunity to explore the Asi Ganga valley. There are side treks transporting one from Asi Ganga to Bhagirathi Ganga valley and Yamuna valley and vice versa.
There is one thing about the Himalayas that has always excited us. A place changes every moment, every second, so much so that the same place looks completely different, adding a new dimension to the beauty it already has.
Dodital Trek is also a winter trek in the Indian Himalayan region, starting from Sangamchatti and heading to the village of Agoda nestled at an altitude of 2250 meters. The trail crosses the river Asi Ganga and is followed by gentle ups and downs and passes through the remote village of Bhebra.
From Agoda, a 16 Km road that passes through a beautiful Rhododendron forest leads to Manjhi, which is tucked away at a mighty height. It offers such an environment that forms a haven for tourists to camp overnight. From Manjhi turns towards Dodital, which is approx 6 km away and is located at a height of 3,307 meters.
The vast natural beauty, the refreshing climate and the calm water of the freshwater lake make camping here an absolute bliss. Next, a 5 km trek to Darwa Top, which passes through narrow gorges, birch forest, and rocky colonies and includes a number of streams, takes you to the stunning Bandarpunch Peak and the Swargarohini Range.
Dodital Trek, which is undertaken throughout the year, is considered one of the easy-moderate treks in the Garhwal Himalayan region located in Uttarakhand; the length of the trail is about 7-8 days. During the winter season, a large part of the trail has to be covered over a thick bed of snow, which clears away after crossing the village of Agoda.
Itinerary
Day 1 • Dehradun to Uttarkashi
- Drive Duration: 6-7 hours, Drive Distance: 140 km
- Altitude: 3,799 ft
Highlight:
- You will arrive at the meeting point in dehradun and drive 7 hours to Uttarkashi along the narrow valley of the Ganges and Bhagirathi.
- After a 6 to 7 hours journey with two breaks in a midway, we’ll reach Uttarkashi by 2 to 3 PM, We reached Uttarkashi on a freezing evening.
Day 2 • Uttarkashi to Bhebra via Sangamachatti
- Drive Duration: 1 hour, Drive Distance: 12 km
- Trek distance: 8 km, Trek Duration: 5 hours
- Altitude: 7,874 ft
Highlight:
- We wanted to do the trek the traditional way and carry our packs and gear ourselves rather than handing them over to porters.
- Your starting point for the trek will be after a 1-hour drive from Uttarkashi, to a place called Sangamchatti, situated by the river Assi Ganga.
- After starting the trek with several stops, we reached the village of Agoda nestled in the hills. We saw Dayara Bugyal and Bakra Top in the distance covered in snow. The trail from Agoda was less steep and it was actually downhill for the last 1km to Bebra as Bebra is located in a valley.
Day 3 • Bhebra to Manjhi
- Trek distance: 9 km, Trek Duration: 5 hours
- Altitude: 9,432 ft
Highlight:
- On this day you will be ready for another trek to Manjhi which was 9 km from Bebra.
- The drive to Manjhi was tougher than the first day of the trek, but you will see some beautiful views of the alpine trees standing against the blue sky with the Dayara hills in the background.
- About 3 km from Manjhi near Kachher Bandarpoonch range can be seen in the distance and after four and half hours we reached Manjhi.
- Manjhi is a seasonal village which is inhabited only during the summer months, at the other end of the village where it rested on the edge of the valley, the Bandarpunch range can be clearly seen from there.
Day 4 • Manjhi to Dodital
- Trek distance: 6 km, Trek Duration: 5 hours
- Altitude: 9,921 ft
Highlight:
- On this day you will proceed to the trek to Dodital which is quite short and easy.
- The Bandarpoonch massif looks completely different in the morning and I marvelled at the beauty of nature. The drive to Dodital is quite easy and the trail will be covered with snow in many places.
- As always, the lake is very beautiful and the surroundings will be covered with snow. you will find a completely frozen part of stagnant water.
- According to Hindu mythology, it is said to be the birthplace of Lord Ganesha and also the story of how Lord Shiva beheaded him while watching over his mother Parvati while she was bathing in the lake.
Day 5 • Dodital to Darwa Top and back to Dodital Camp
- Trek distance: 5 km, Trek Duration: 3 hours
- Altitude: 13,615 ft
Highlight:
- This day after breakfast you will start trekking to the top of darwa the trail will be so steep but the beautiful view of the hills and valleys will push you again. The final climb will be extremely steep and many stops will need to be made along the way. The tree line has passed below and you will now be able to see a whole range of snowy peaks dotting the horizon.
- After a tough climb, you will eventually land at a place called Darwa Pass. Darwa Top is actually on top of a snowy slope, the view from there was breathtaking. The peaks you can see from the top are Srikanta (6,140 m), Draupadi ka Danda (5,600 m), Jaonli (6,000 m), Swargarohini group (6,200 m), Kala Naag (6,387 m) and Bandarpunch ( 6,316 m).
- After clicking lots of photos and spending an hour above the darwa pass, you start the descent which turns out to be even more difficult but fast. then around 4 pm you get back to Dodital with sore feet but a mind full of the beauty you saw today.
Day 6 • Dodital to Bhebra
- Trek distance: 15 km, Trek Duration: 6 hours
- Altitude: 7874 ft
Highlight:
- This will be the second last day of your trek and on this day you’ll say bye to this wonderful place, though it’ll not be your wish.
- You’ll start descending at 9 Am in the morning through the same train which you took to come up.
- Today you going to cover 15 Km but the path is downwards so it’ll be easy to cover this distance. But You need to take care of your knees so please carry trekking poles for that.
Day 7 • Bhebra to Sangamachatti to Dehradun
- Trek distance: 7 km, Trek Duration: 2 hours
- Drive Duration: 7-8 hours, Drive Distance: 157km
- Altitude: 2099 ft Highlight:
Hightlight
- This will be the last day of your trek and you’ll descend back to Sangamchatti.
- Once you’ll reach Sangamchatti then you’ll take the jeep to Dehradun via Uttarkashi.
What's Included
- Accommodation – On the trek, you will live in tents/guesthouses on a sharing basis.
- Meals – Breakfast, lunch, snack, and dinner. We provide simple, nutritious vegetarian food for all days of the trek.
- Camping Fees – All trekking permits and forest camping fees are included in the price.
- Trekking equipment – Quality tents and sleeping bags in all camps. Sleeping bags withstand temperatures down to -10 ºC.
- Safety equipment – First aid kit, oximeter, etc. will be with the trek guide/leader and also at the camp to deal with emergencies.
- Expert Trek Leaders – All our trek leaders have at least basic/advanced mountaineering qualifications and a first aid course.
- Expert Trek Support Team – The mountain staff on this trek consists of certified guides, cooks, helpers, and porters.
- Transfers – Transport from Dehradun to Uttarkashi on Day 1st to Uttarkashi to Dehradun on Day 7th is included.
What's Not Included
- Food is purchased by individuals at local canteens on the trek or while driving.
- Any travel or accommodation costs for early return excluding days as per itinerary.
- Any cost of medical treatment for injuries or accidents before, during or after the trek.
- All cutlery (mugs, spoons, plates, snacks, etc.