Credit: Rashmi Rawat
About Dodital-Darwa pass trek
Connecting the Gangotri and Yamunotri valleys, the Dodital-Darwa Pass trek is a hidden gem located in the Uttarkashi district of Uttarakhand. The 40 km trek has a famous Dodital Lake, which is the abode of Lord Ganesha.
Many people trek to the freshwater lake, which also serves as the source of the river Asi Ganga that meets Bhagirathi. In the midst of the jungle, the beautiful lake gets frozen in the months of winter. In the other months, the lake comes alive and looks beautiful against the background of the Barahat Range. According to mythology, it is the birthplace of Lord Ganesha; hence, the lake is known as Ganesha- katal in the local language.
At Dwara Pass, which you reach after crossing Dodital, you get mesmerizing views of numerous peaks like Mt. Bandarpoonch, Mt. Srikanth, DraupadikaDanda, Mt. Jaunli, Deoli, and Black Peak. This stretch of the trek is a bit challenging and requires great stamina and acclimatization. An elevation gain of over 1,100 m presents a great challenge to adventure enthusiasts. Deara Pass is located at a soaring height of 4,151 m.
Best time to trek
Located in the Himalayan range, the best time to cover the trek is before or after the monsoon. The window of opportunity to arrive is from April-June and October to December. In summer, the landscape is carpeted with green, whereas in winter, it covers snow. At Dharasu, the road diverges to Sangamchatti and runs parallel to streams of the Assi Ganga river. Sangamchatti is the base camp and the confluence point of the Assi Ganga and Varna rivers.
Itinerary of Dodital-Darwa Pass trek
Day 1
Pack up your bags and take a local bus or taxi to village Agoda, which lies in the Bhatwari tehsil of Uttarkashi. The village is located 164 km from Dehradun and takes around 7 hours.
The route to Agoda offers rustic mountain views through and through. The divergence towards Dhanaulti on the Mussoorie road takes you towards the Garhwal interiors. A jade-shaded Bhagirathi river becomes prominently visible from Chinyalisaur all the way up to the small town of Maneri. The way is bordered with conical pine trees. A smaller route from here diverges towards Sangamchatti on the left, parallel to streams of the Assi Ganga River. An uphill dirt track from Sangamchatti, the confluence point of the Assi Ganga and Varna rivers, leads us up towards our basecamp village.
Day 2
On day 2, start your journey toward Manjhi which is at a height of 2,880 m. The route passes through an oak forest once you enter deeper inside the tree. The pleasant fragrance of leaves uplifts the mood in Bhebra village.
Day 3
We start the day at leisure, after breakfast. From Manjhi, the curvy pathway is comparatively level in gradient. Small streams amidst dense forests add to the charm of this trail today. For the last hour, the path descends smoothly towards Annapurna temple, which finally leads to the ground surrounding Dodital via the Lord Ganesha temple.