The Dodital Snow Trek takes you deep into the serene forests
of the Assi Ganga Valley—far from the bustle of city life and right into the
heart of the Garhwal Himalayas. Spread across ~40 km, this trek begins from the
quaint mountain village of Agoda and leads up to the emerald Dodital Lake
(3,024M), further rising to the high mountain pass of Darwa Pass (4,151M).
The legendary Dodital Lake, also known as Dhundi-tal or Ganesha-katal,
is believed to be the sacred birthplace of Lord Ganesha. It is a pristine
freshwater lake that feeds the Assi Ganga river before it meets the Bhagirathi
downstream. During winters, Dodital transforms beautifully—its green waters
partially freeze while the surrounding forests wear a soft blanket of snow. A
small Ganpati temple sits peacefully beside the lake, adding to the spiritual
charm of the Barahat range.
The trail to Dodital is adorned with towering pine, deodar, silver oak,
and golden oak forests. Charming Himalayan settlements, cascading streams, rock
formations and sweeping valleys accompany you throughout the climb—making every
step a scenic delight.
From Dodital, the climb to Darwa Pass is steep and adventurous with a
rapid gain of over 1,100M. In the winter months, this section often gets
covered with knee-deep snow—rewarding trekkers with a thrilling climb and
incredible vistas. From the top, the majestic peaks of Bandarpoonch, Srikanth,
Draupadika Danda, Jaonli, Deoli and Black Peak command the horizon.
Historically, the pass served as a traditional route toward Yamunotri via
Hanuman Chatti—traversed by pilgrims for centuries.