Unfolding The Trails to Brahmatal

Brahmatal, a journey from the serene landscapes of Lohajung to the mighty views of Mt. Trishul and Mt. Nanda Ghunti! The journey which was magical; with mountains showcasing their beauty adorned with Rhododendron flowers and the brown oaks; the journey which highlights that breathtaking views at the top are reserved for those willing to put efforts and are determined. A sudden 'Yes' was the answer when Brahmatal Trek discussion was at the peak. The only reason I believe was the glimpse I wanted of Mt. Trishul. The peak I fell in love with on the first sight on Instagram. Packing up the bags we were all set for the journey!

The trek started from Lohajung, a cozy little village of Chamoli district, Uttarakhand. Locals believe that goddess Parvati had a fierce battle (Jung) with demon 'Lohasur' at the spot where the village stands now, hence getting its name- Lohajung. We were accompanied with Himalaya Shelter team our instructors channeled our inner spirits during the 'How's the Josh' moments and made sure we always replied to it to be High Sir!

With icy cold weather, difficult to get out of the cozy blankets, my alarm rang as if Mt Trishul calling off me, 'Get ready now! We started our trek towards Gujreni after having a delicious breakfast. The trail is adorned with High Brown Oak trees, Cedar trees and the center of attraction-the Rhododendron trees (gulabi Buransh in local language). During spring the flowers burst into bloom, adding a natural blush to the mountains enhancing their charm. How is one not supposed to fall in love with such captivating Nazara! Locals extract juice from the petals of the flowers, and we can have the energy boosting juice at few local stalls on the way. We met Nanda devi, an 80-year grandma who treated us with the juice and some cheerful moments on the way. The beautiful meadows, the cold streams, the high mountain range views kept us going till we finally reached Gujreni.

Surrounded by lush green trees, Gujreni is exceptional bird watching zone and a treat to bird watchers. Our trek leaders acquainted us with the flora and fauna; the various bird species one can spot including the woodpecker, Solitary snipe, and Asian barred owlet. The camp was set and as we gathered around, the warmth of delicious food enveloped us. The night sky sparkled with countless starts as if diamonds scattered across a velvet canvas. Each twinkle felt magical as we shared our  stories and our trek experiences.

The next day after breakfast we began our ascent, towards Bekaltal a large lake with a small stone temple on the edge. Taking blessings we continued ascending towards Tilandi. The ascend, the higher altitude, the freezing weather challenged every step, but the view of Mt. Trishul reminded me of the goal. It was as it the Mountain whispered to me," Stay strong and keep going" Mt. Trishul was my guardian, my friend all the way- an unwavering bond with this majestic peak was all that I still feel when I pen down this experience.

Tilandi is a campsite at around 1100 feet. A grassland; a perfect place to experience the sunrise and sunset. I was awestruck with the view of the sun coming up from the mountains, spreading its warm love on Mt. Trishul and Mt. Nandaghunti and the peaks blushing and turning pink with such abundant love. No lens can ever capture the better picture than your eyes.

Our next day began with a hike ascending to Jhandi top. A small Shiva temple, and a massive Trishul stands at the place. An emotional wave wrapped me as I saw the two Trishuls In a straight line watching each other; each of them depicting the fierce power of Shiva. It felt nearly impossible to leave this moment behind. Each step forward was a bittersweet farewell to the moment I still cherish. The trek must go on it says, and so we walked on the ridge with few ascends and ridge with few ascends and reached the Brahmatal Summit. I could see my guardian the majestic Mt. Trishul standing tall who had been looking after us, caring us, encouraging us for the complete trek. From the summit we get the closest possible view of the mountain range. I was transported into a whole new world watching the peaks Tharkot, Mrigthuni, Trishul 1, Trishul 2, Bethartoli, Nandaghunti. Lost in the breathtaking views, we were so mesmerized that our trek leaders had to remind us that- there is still some serious hiking to do!

We walked down to the Brahmatal Lake from the summit. Brahmatal also known as the reflection lake is a beauty. The vibrant green algae beneath the surface combined with crystal clear water above create stunning visuals as it emeralds scattered throughout. The lake gets its name from an ancient tale. When Lord Brahma was writing the Vedas to turn pages, he needed pure water to wet his fingertip. Thus, he created this lake. 'Tal' means lake in Hindi and Garhwali language. It is also believed that Brahma did meditation at this place for years. We hiked back to Tilandi campsite- a cherry on the cake to spend one more amazing night, experiencing the dance of stars and a sunrise to behold in eyes forever. Next morning we descended back to the Lohajung.

Each one of us created memories that will stay for life. For me, it will always be a girl standing at the summit, gazing at the majestic Mt, Trishul with tears rolling down the cheeks, the purest joy I believe...