Exploring Dodital and Darwa Top: A Winter Wonderland Trek
Discover the enchanting Dodital and Darwa Top trek, often considered the birthplace of Lord Ganesha. Home to the Himalayan Trout, this pristine lake captivates trekkers with its beauty. While it’s a popular trek during April-June and September-November, the winter charm is unparalleled.
Highlights of the Trek
- A challenging yet rewarding winter trek in the Garhwal Himalayas.
- The Dodital and Darwa Top trek unveils ever-changing Himalayan landscapes.
- Dodital, the sacred birthplace of Lord Ganesha, sits at 3,024M.
- The crystal green Dodital Lake turns semi-frozen in winter, creating a magical snow-covered spectacle.
- The trail leading to Dodital offers mesmerizing sceneries of mountain villages and lush green surroundings.
- Darwa Pass at 4,151M provides captivating views of prominent peaks like Mt. Bandarpoonch and Mt. Srikanth.
Trek Essentials
- Grade: Moderate
- Location: Uttarakhand
- Altitude: 4150m
- Duration: 5 Days
Dodital and Darwa Top Trek Overview Embark on a 40 km trek from Agoda village to Dodital Lake and onwards to Darwa Pass. Enjoy the serenity of Dodital, surrounded by pine trees, deodar trees, and golden and silver oaks. Darwa Pass, a gateway to Yamunotri, offers breathtaking views but presents a challenge in acclimatization and snow climb during winter.
Best Time to Trek
- April-June: Experience the summer landscape.
- October-December: Embrace the winter wonderland.
Detail Itinerary
Day 1 (Dehradun to Agoda)
- Distance: 164 kms
- Duration: 7 hours
- Participants travel from Dehradun to Agoda, a scenic Uttarkashi village.
- The route offers rustic mountain views and leads to the basecamp village.
- Upon arrival, a briefing covers the trek schedule, guidelines, and environmental practices.
Dev 2 (Agoda to Manjhi)
- Distance: 9 kms
- Duration: 5-6 hours
- Early morning start with a healthy breakfast.
- Follow a passageway upward, leaving Agoda for Dodital campsite.
- Camp at Manjhi, situated halfway between Agoda and Dodital.
- The route passes through an oak forest, silver oak jungle, and Bhebra village.
- Encounter gurgling streams and a translucent green pond along the way.
- Steeper ascent for the last 4 km brings you to the campsite.
Day 3 (Manjhi to Dodital Lake)
- Distance: 8 kms
- Duration: 4-5 hours
- Leisurely start after breakfast.
- The curvy pathway is relatively leveled in gradient.
- Small streams amidst dense forests enhance the trail’s charm.
- Last one hour involves a smooth descent towards Annapurna temple.
- The path leads to the ground surrounding Dodital via the Lord Ganesha temple.
- Campsite overlooks the picturesque Dodital Lake.
- Reach well before sunset for ample exploration time.
- Snacks and dinner in the dining tent.
- Night temperatures can drop as low as -15°C in mid-December.
Day 4 (Dodital Lake to Darwa Pass to Bhebra)
Dodital Lake to Darwa Pass to Bhebra
- Distance: 22 kms
- Duration: 8-9 hours
- Early start for Darwa Pass, gaining 1,127M elevation.
- Carry essentials in a day pack; leave backpack at camp.
- Trail with oak trees and vegetation, snowmelt streams.
- Views shift from lakes to Garhwal range mountains.
- Scarcity of water as we ascend.
- Steep ascent at Darwa Pass.
- Mesmerizing views of Mt. Srikanth, Deoli, Bandarpoonch, and more.
- Long descent to Bhebra, passing Dodital campsite.
- Reach Bhebra before dusk.
- Breaks for rest, lunch, and snacks.
- Enjoy a heavy dinner before calling it a day.
Day 5 (Bhebra to Dehradun)
Bhebra to Dehradun
- Distance: 4 km trek + 169 km drive
- Duration: 2 hours trek + 7 hours drive
- Descend through familiar terrain.
- Pass scenic trail and Assi Ganga streams.
- Short trek from Bhebra to Agoda.
- Transfer to cab at Agoda for a 7-hour drive.
- Possible lunch stop during the drive.
- Reach Dehradun by late evening.
- Plan onward journey accordingly.
- Due to mountain road unpredictability, consider next day bookings.
- Mobile network available within an hour into the drive from Agoda.