Lohajung is a small village at about 2,300 m in the Dewal block of Chamoli district, where the road up the Pindar valley ends and the trails to Roopkund, Bedni Bugyal and Brahmatal begin. It sits on a forested saddle with a view of Nanda Ghunti, and in winter it is often under snow. Folklore says the goddess Parvati fought the demon Lohasur here, which is how the village got its name.
Most people come for one of two treks. The Brahmatal trek, four days on foot from Lohajung, climbs through oak and rhododendron forest past Bekaltal to a ridge at about 3,800 m and runs right through the winter. The Roopkund trek is longer and much harder, crossing the Ali and Bedni meadows to the 5,020 m glacial lake known for its human skeletons. Overnight camping on these meadows was banned by the Uttarakhand High Court in 2018. Trek operators report that a Supreme Court order of 20 July 2026 set the ban aside; this is not yet confirmed from an official source, and permits and other conservation rules still apply.
The valley is also the heart of the Nanda Devi Raj Jat, the great pilgrimage that passes Wan and Bedni Bugyal on its way to Homkund. The Latu Devta temple at Wan, about 15 km by road, opens once a year and is one of the few sacred sites near Lohajung that older visitors can reach easily.
Lohajung is remote. It is a full day's drive from Kathgodam or Dehradun, has only homestays and simple guesthouses, and has no hospital. It suits trekkers and the families who travel with them. Older parents who are not trekking can enjoy a quiet base with views, a jeep trip to Wan and a gentler overnight in Gwaldam on the way.
Before you plan
Lohajung at a glance
- Best months
- October to November for clear viewsOctober to November for clear views; December to March for snow on Brahmatal; May to June and mid-September to October for Roopkund
- Ideal trip length
- 2 to 3 days for the village and Wan2 to 3 days for the village and Wan; 6 days for Brahmatal; 8 to 10 days for Roopkund including travel
- Airport
- Jolly Grant Airport, DehradunJolly Grant Airport, Dehradun (DED), about 290 km by road; Pantnagar (PGH) is the Kumaon-side alternative
- Railway station
- KathgodamKathgodam (KGM), about 200 km, or Rishikesh, about 250 km; both are a full day's drive
- Getting around
- Hire a car or shared jeep to LohajungHire a car or shared jeep to Lohajung; local jeeps run to Wan and Didna
- Daily budget
- Roughly ₹1,500-₹3,000 per person per…Roughly ₹1,500-₹3,000 per person per day for homestay and meals; treks are priced separately by operators
- Senior comfort
- Limited: long mountain drivesLimited: long mountain drives, cold nights, simple rooms and no hospital nearby
- Language
- Garhwali and Hindi
Prices, opening hours and weather change. Recheck live details before booking.
Best time to visit Lohajung: May, October, November. Month-by-month weather →
How many days do you have?
Lohajung itinerary
One good day
2 days in Lohajung
Arrive from Gwaldam or Karnaprayag by mid-afternoon if you can, so the last stretch of narrow road is in daylight. Settle into your homestay, walk up through the village at sunset and have an early night.
Day-by-day plan →Two days
3 days in Lohajung
Drive from Kathgodam or Kausani and stop overnight in Gwaldam, which is lower and milder. Walk the ridge road in the evening for views of Trishul.
Day-by-day plan →Three unhurried days
6 days for the Brahmatal trek
A long drive from Kathgodam or Dehradun. Overnight in a Lohajung homestay.
Day-by-day plan →
