The Dodital Lake trek starts from a small quaint village called Sangamchatti. This lake lies in the Garhwal Himalayas bordered by the Bandarpoonch and Swargarohini ranges on one side and Yamunotri on the other. The whole duration of the trek is 6 days and 5 nights.
The whole trek route has lush green forests, wide variety of flora and fauna and stunning views of the various Himalayan peaks and ranges
According to a mythological legend, Dodital is the place of birth of Lord Ganesha. There is a small temple devoted to him that is situated at one of the corners of the lake.
The trek is not a difficult one and the beginners can go for it. However, it can test some endurance on part of the trekker.
We will reach Uttarkashi from Rishikesh by road and subsequently proceed towards Sangamchatti, from where the actual trekking to Dodital lake starts. The approximate distance that must be covered here is around 22 kilometers till Dodital lake.
From Dodital, we will also visit Darwa Top from where charming views of the many known and unknown Himalayan peaks can be seen.
Location & How to reach:
- The Dodital Lake lies in the Garhwal Himalayas and is surrounded by Dhauladhar and Greater Himalayan ranges
- Dodital can be reached from Uttarkashi which is very much accessible by road from Rishikesh and Dehradun, which are the nearest railheads as well. The nearest airport is the Jolly Grant airport at Dehradun.
- The distance from Rishikesh to Uttarkashi is around 170 kilometres. From Uttarkashi, one has to reach Sangamchatti from where the trekking starts. The distance from here to the Dodital lake is around 22 kilometres.
Itinerary:
Day 01: Drive Rishikesh to Uttarkashi (170 km)
- We start our day with a picturesque drive from Rishikesh to Uttarkashi which provides stunning views. The huge Tehri Dam can also be witnessed on the way. On reaching Uttarkashi, we will stay here for the night and rest.
- This day will be reserved for acclimatization and rest mostly. You can however go out and explore the local markets and do any necessary last moment shopping.
Day 02 : Drive Uttarkashi to Bhebra via Sangamchatti (17 km drive, 8 km trek)
- Today we will first reach Sangamchatti from Uttarkashi. The distance of 17 kilometres from Uttarkashi to Sangamchatti will be covered by road. Once we reach Sangamchatti, we will start our trekking to Bhebra.
- The total distance that must be trekked today is around 8 kilometres from Sangamchatti and mostly would take 4-5 hours of time in total.
- The quaint and picturesque village of Agoda would also fall in the way. We will stay here at Bhebra for the night.
Day 03 : Trek Bhebra to Dodital (3310m) –( 14 km, 7 hour)
- We will start our day with some breakfast and start our journey towards Dodital lake. The total distance that would be covered today is around 14 kilometres.
- You can witness lush green forests of oak, pine and rhododendron on the way. A lot of shepherd huts can also be seen on the way.
- It would approximately take around 7 hours to cover the whole distance till Dodital.
- The beautiful landscapes and views of Dodital Lake and its surroundings wait for you once you reach the place.
- We will be staying here for the night.
Day 04 : Trek Dodital to Darwa Top (4200m) and back –( 10 km, 6 hour.)
- We will start our day early and trek up to the Darwa Top. The Darwa Top is situated at a height of around 4200 metres above sea level and provides stunning panoramic views of the Himalayan ranges.
- This whole trail is extremely beautiful. The distance from Dodital to Darwa Top is 5 kilometres one way. The whole to and fro journey should take around 6 hours. We will stay at Dodital Lake for the night.
Day 05 : Trek Dodital to Agoda (2250m)—(14 km, 4-5 hour )
- This would be our penultimate day of our trip. We would trek down the whole distance of 14 kilometres from Dodital to Agoda today. We would be staying at Agoda today.
Day 06: Trek Agoda to Sangamchatti and Drive to Rishikesh— (2 hours trek, 187 km drive)
- It is the final day of our trek. After some breakfast, we start our journey from Agoda to Sangamchatti. From here we would drive down to Rishikesh. We thereby finish the trip with a lot of good memories to cherish forever.
Difficulty Level:
- This trek falls under the easy to moderate category. The trail is not so steep till Dodital Lake and therefore beginners can also do this trek.
- Having good physical fitness as the trek requires some good amount of endurance.
Weather:
- The best time to do this trek is from April to November except the monsoon months (July and August) as there are chances of landslides on the way during those rainy months.
- The temperature ranges between -2 and 20 degrees Celsius depending on the season.
Accommodation:
- The trekkers would be spending the nights in the tents and enjoy the camping time.
Meal:
- Simple and healthy tasty meal would be provided to the trekkers. The package includes all breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
- During the trekking expedition, packed food will be given which will be of good quality. There would be no compromise on the quality of the food.
Inclusions:
- Transport required in the trek.
- Highly advanced and certified mountaineering guide.
- Meals on the trek which includes breakfast, lunch and dinner.
- Rent for camping equipment like tent, sleeping mats and gears.
- Forest permit and camping trip charges.
- Tented accommodation throughout the trek
Exclusions:
- Personal trekking equipment like trekking poles or sleeping bag liners.
- Personal insurance and cost if emergency evacuation. Also exclude other expenses like tips, personal medicines, phone calls etc.
- Any transport support during the trek apart from what is included above.
- Purchase for personal use like mineral water, beverage, chocolates and other stuff.
- Anything else not specified in the inclusions and itinerary.
ATM Points and Connectivity:
- There are no ATMs on the trekking route and ATMs are available only at Uttarkashi. People should withdraw substantial cash from ATMs here before proceeding towards Sangamchatti.
- Mobile connectivity is limited, and it is recommended that you to make all the important calls while you are here before going to trek the Himalayas.
Permissions/Passes/Permit:
- There are no permits required for this trek. However, in case forest permits are required, we would arrange them.
Things to carry:
- Backpack with all your necessities
- A rain cover and umbrella
- Water bottles and all your refreshments
- Snacks like the dry fruits and the protein bars which would give you instant energy
- Personal Medical Kit with all the necessary first aid items and medicines which you feel you will need. It is always advisable to take medicines for dizziness, upset stomach, headache, and cold and cough while being in Himalayan camps or anywhere.
- Pack your outfits with all the relatable clothing items like wind and waterproof jackets, t-shirts, track pants, thermal inners, trekking shoes and fleece jackets. All the necessary winter outfits for the winter treks.
- All the toiletries products in a bag
- Also, do not forget to take your extra accessories like the sunglasses, caps, gloves, walking stick, torch, and similar other items.
- A good pair of trekking shoes
