Lohaghat itinerary

Plan 01

1 day in Lohaghat

1. 01

   Day 1: Mayawati and Abbott Mount

   Leave Lohaghat after breakfast for Advaita Ashrama at Mayawati, about 9 km away, and spend a quiet morning in the library and grounds. Return for lunch and rest, then take a short afternoon drive up to Abbott Mount to see the old cottages and the church while the light is clear. Be back before dusk, as the forest road has sharp bends.

   Stop	Time needed	Walking	Best time
   Abbott Mount	2–3 hours including the drive and a slow walk	Moderate	Clear mornings from October to November and April to June; avoid the monsoon when landslides can block the road

   Pace: Moderate walking today — plan a sit-down break between stops.

   With parents at Abbott Mount: The approach road climbs through forest with many sharp bends, and the hamlet is at about 2,100 m, so winters are cold and mornings can be sharp. Paths between the cottages are uneven, and there is no formal seating; take a folding stool or sit on the church steps.

Plan 02

2 days in Lohaghat

1. 01

   Day 1: Ashram and hilltop

   Spend the morning at Advaita Ashrama in Mayawati, then lunch in Lohaghat and a slow afternoon at Abbott Mount.

   Stop	Time needed	Walking	Best time
   Abbott Mount	2–3 hours including the drive and a slow walk	Moderate	Clear mornings from October to November and April to June; avoid the monsoon when landslides can block the road

   Pace: Moderate walking today — plan a sit-down break between stops.

   With parents at Abbott Mount: The approach road climbs through forest with many sharp bends, and the hamlet is at about 2,100 m, so winters are cold and mornings can be sharp. Paths between the cottages are uneven, and there is no formal seating; take a folding stool or sit on the church steps.

2. 02

   Day 2: Fort and lake

   Climb to Banasur Fort in the morning if your group is comfortable with a steep 1 to 2 km walk, then rest. In the late afternoon, take a calm hour at Koli Dhek Lake.

   Stop	Time needed	Walking	Best time
   Banasur Fort	2–3 hours including the drive and climb	Demanding	Clear mornings in April–June and October–November; avoid wet weather when steps are slippery
   Koli Dhek Lake	1–1.5 hours	Easy	Morning or late afternoon; clearest from October to November and in spring

   Pace: Banasur Fort involves a lot of walking or steps — do it early, and keep the rest of the day light.

   With parents at Banasur Fort: Sources describe a steep walk of roughly 1 to 2 km uphill with stone steps to the entrance, and there is little shelter. Many older travellers will prefer to walk part-way, rest often, or enjoy the view from the lower slope.

Plan 03

3 days in Lohaghat

1. 01

   Day 1: Mayawati

   Take a full morning at Advaita Ashrama, then rest in town and use the late afternoon for a walk around Lohaghat's market.

2. 02

   Day 2: Abbott Mount, Banasur and the lake

   Do Banasur Fort first thing, then lunch, then Abbott Mount in the afternoon. If energy remains, finish at Koli Dhek Lake.

   Stop	Time needed	Walking	Best time
   Abbott Mount	2–3 hours including the drive and a slow walk	Moderate	Clear mornings from October to November and April to June; avoid the monsoon when landslides can block the road
   Banasur Fort	2–3 hours including the drive and climb	Demanding	Clear mornings in April–June and October–November; avoid wet weather when steps are slippery
   Koli Dhek Lake	1–1.5 hours	Easy	Morning or late afternoon; clearest from October to November and in spring

   Pace: Banasur Fort involves a lot of walking or steps — do it early, and keep the rest of the day light.

   With parents at Abbott Mount: The approach road climbs through forest with many sharp bends, and the hamlet is at about 2,100 m, so winters are cold and mornings can be sharp. Paths between the cottages are uneven, and there is no formal seating; take a folding stool or sit on the church steps.

   With parents at Banasur Fort: Sources describe a steep walk of roughly 1 to 2 km uphill with stone steps to the entrance, and there is little shelter. Many older travellers will prefer to walk part-way, rest often, or enjoy the view from the lower slope.

3. 03

   Day 3: Champawat

   Drive about 13 to 14 km to Champawat for the Baleshwar temples and Ek Hathiya Ka Naula, and stop at a Golu Devta shrine. Return to Lohaghat by late afternoon.

   Stop	Time needed	Walking	Best time
   Ek Hathiya Ka Naula	20–40 minutes	Easy	Morning light; dry months for safer footing

   Pace: All the stops today are easy on the legs.

Read before you go

Guides for the stops on these routes

Pacing

Pacing a Lohaghat trip for parents and children

• Plan one sight a day and rest after lunch; the roads are winding and the altitude is around 1,750 m.
• Choose Advaita Ashrama and Koli Dhek Lake first, as they involve the least walking. Banasur Fort is a steep climb of roughly 1 to 2 km.
• Carry a warm layer all year; mornings and evenings are cold, and Abbott Mount at about 2,100 m is cooler still.
• Hire a driver who knows the hill roads and agree timings; avoid driving after dark, especially in the monsoon.
• Bring any regular medicines, water and snacks, as medical and food options outside town are limited.
• Check weather and road reports during July and August, when landslides can close routes.

Lohaghat with elderly parents: the full guide →