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Ajan Top Trek

Chamoli, Uttarakhand

Easy1 dayBest Dec–JunSnow trek

Lohajung village, the start of the Ajan Top walk, with snow on rooftops and trees and snowy ridges behind in January2,560 mhighest point2 Photos
Max altitude
2,560 m
Days
1 day
Distance
4.7 km
Difficulty
Easy

Best months Dec–Jun

  1. Jan
  2. Feb
  3. Mar
  4. Apr
  5. May
  6. Jun
  7. Jul
  8. Aug
  9. Sep
  10. Oct
  11. Nov
  12. Dec

A short half-day walk of about 2.35 km each way from Lohajung, gaining roughly 250 m on village paths, cemented and stone trail, then a short steep unmarked climb through forest to an open meadow.

Photos

On the trail

Lohajung village, the start of the Ajan Top walk, with snow on rooftops and trees and snowy ridges behind in January
Lohajung village, the start of the Ajan Top walk, with snow on rooftops and trees and snowy ridges behind in JanuaryPhoto: Shreekanth Ramasamy · CC0

1 / 2

The route

Day by day

  1. Day 1 · highest point

    Lohajung → Lohajung (via Ajan Top)

    4.7 km · 4 h · No overnight

    2,316 m → 2,560 m → 2,316 m

Ups and downs

Altitude profile

2,0002,5003,000Lohajung: 2,316 m, 0 kmDay 1 high point: 2,560 m, 2.4 kmLohajung (via Ajan Top): 2,316 m, 4.7 km
Metres above sea level · distance 4.7 km

Where it is

Map

Download GPX waypoints

Trailhead and high point only — not a recorded track. Use it with a proper map.

Weather

Next 5 days on the trail

Live forecast for the trailhead and the high point. Mountain weather changes fast — check again on the morning you start.

Each day: high / low °C · rain mm and chance · snow cm · wind km/h

Weather data: Open-Meteo.comModel forecast, not an official warning. For alerts follow IMD and the local administration.

Plan the trip

How to reach

Trailhead
Lohajung
Nearest railway
Kathgodam
Nearest airport
Jolly Grant Airport, Dehradun (via Rishikesh and Karanprayag)
By road
Kathgodam (about 230 km via Nainital, Kausani and Gwaldam); Rishikesh via Devprayag, Srinagar, Rudraprayag, Karanprayag, Tharali, Debal and Mundoli; Direct overnight bus from Delhi Anand Vihar (about 9:15 pm) to Mundoli/Lohajung
Drive
About 9 h from Kathgodam

Plan the trip

Permits and fees

We could not confirm the current permit rules and fees from an official source. Check with the local forest department or tourism office before you go.

Plan the trip

Cost

Self-guided

₹0–1,500

With an operator

₹1,000–3,000

Per person, ex-Lohajung, for the day walk only. No operator sells Ajan Top as a separate package: Indiahikes and Trek The Himalayas describe it as an acclimatisation hike for trekkers already in Lohajung for Brahmatal or Ali-Bedni Bugyal, so there are no published guided prices to quote. The guided range is our estimate for hiring a local Lohajung guide for half a day; self-guided is an estimate for packed food and tea (the walk itself is free). Getting to Lohajung and a night there are extra.

Gear

Top picks for this trek

The gear that matters most on this route, chosen from its altitude, season and risks.

See the full packing checklist

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Packing checklist

Matched to this trek: altitude, season, days and the risks on the route.

Packed 0 of 28

Snow on the trail in Dec–Feb: microspikes, gaiters and a warm layer are not optional.

Tick each item as it goes in the bag.

What to wear
Pack and gear
Safety
Water and food
Documents and money
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Know before you go

Good to know

Mobile network
Not confirmed by our sources; check with your homestay in Lohajung.
Last ATM
Not confirmed by our sources; carry enough cash from Karanprayag or Tharali on the drive in.
Nearest hospital
Not confirmed by our sources; ask in Lohajung for the nearest health centre before you set out.
Water
A community tap a few minutes above the Lohajung market and a second tap on the stone path beyond Chibila village; nothing at the top. Two litres from Lohajung is enough.

Highlights

  • A 180-degree view of Nanda Ghunti, Trishul, Mrigthuni, Maiktoli, Devtoli and Tharkot from the meadow at the top
  • Darshan at the small Ajan Temple in the middle of the summit meadow
  • Terraced mustard fields at Chibila village, then rhododendron and oak forest that blooms in March and April
  • Sunset over the big peaks, and a view across to Ali Bugyal and Bedni Bugyal

Risks

  • Above the water tank there is no marked trail; soil erosion has cut several paths up to the meadow, so keep heading uphill to the clearing and come down the same way.
  • In December to February the top and the ridge meadows lie under snow and temperatures fall below zero; the path can be icy.
  • It gets cold at the top in the evening; carry two warm layers and a torch if you stay for sunset.

Know before you go

Questions

How long does the Ajan Top hike take?

It is about 2.35 km each way from Lohajung. Indiahikes gives 2.5-3 hours for the walk, and the descent on the same trail takes 40 minutes to an hour. Plan half a day with time at the top.

Is Ajan Top good for acclimatisation before Brahmatal or Ali-Bedni Bugyal?

Yes. Both Indiahikes and Trek The Himalayas suggest arriving in Lohajung a day early and walking up Ajan Top to acclimatise before the Brahmatal, Ali-Bedni Bugyal or Roopkund treks, which start from the same village.

What can I see from Ajan Top?

From the meadow around the Ajan Temple you see Nanda Ghunti, Trishul I (7,120 m) and II, Mrigthuni (6,855 m), Devtoli (6,788 m) and Tharkot (6,099 m), and across to Ali Bugyal and Bedni Bugyal.

When is the best time to visit Ajan Top?

Trek The Himalayas recommends December to June: December to February for snow and clear skies, March to June for green meadows and rhododendrons in bloom. Indiahikes notes the meadow is lush green with small flowers in autumn.

How do I reach Lohajung?

Lohajung is about 230 km from Kathgodam. You can take the direct overnight bus from Delhi Anand Vihar, or reach Rishikesh and go by taxi or bus via Karanprayag, Tharali (47 km) and Debal (14 km), then 24 km on to Lohajung.

Your 8-week plan for this trekEasy grade. Start about 8 weeks before you travel.
SOS

In an emergency

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You are in

District: ChamoliUttarakhand

Nearest hospital
Not confirmed by our sources; ask in Lohajung for the nearest health centre before you set out.
Last ATM
Not confirmed by our sources; carry enough cash from Karanprayag or Tharali on the drive in.
Phone network
Not confirmed by our sources; check with your homestay in Lohajung.

Before you set off

  1. Tell someone your route and when you will be back.
  2. Carry a charged phone and a power bank.
  3. Download an offline map of the route.
  4. Turn back if the weather turns bad — the mountain will wait.
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Where this comes from

Sources

Last reviewed:

  1. Ajan Top — Indiahikes
  2. Ajan Top Trek - Trek The Himalayas — Trek The Himalayas
  3. Ajan Top Trek — Trekup India

Photos: Shreekanth Ramasamy, CC0; Yash Soorma, CC BY-SA 4.0

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