Dodital Trek
Uttarkashi, Uttarakhand
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- Max altitude
- 4,150 m
- Days
- 6 days
- Distance
- 40 km
- Difficulty
- Moderate
Walking days to the lake are gentle forest trails, but the Darwa Pass day climbs about 1,100 m from Dodital to 4,150 m and back, and the walk out to Agoda is a long 15 km descent.
Photos
On the trail
The route
Day by day
Day 1
Dehradun → Agoda
640 m → 2,250 m
Day 2
Agoda → Manjhi
2,250 m → 2,880 m
Day 3
Manjhi → Dodital
2,880 m → 3,024 m
Day 4 · highest point
Dodital → Dodital (via Darwa Pass)
3,024 m → 4,150 m → 3,024 m
Day 5
Dodital → Agoda
3,024 m → 2,250 m
Day 6
Agoda → Dehradun
2,250 m → 640 m
Ups and downs
Altitude profile
Where it is
Map
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.
Trailhead · Agoda
at 2,250 mLoading forecast…
High point · Darwa Pass (Darwa Top)
at 4,150 mLoading forecast…
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
- Agoda (nearest town: Uttarkashi)
- Nearest railway
- Dehradun (Rishikesh is a similar distance)
- Nearest airport
- Jolly Grant Airport, Dehradun
- By road
- Dehradun (about 160-165 km via Uttarkashi and Sangamchatti); Uttarkashi (about 20 km to Agoda, roughly an hour)
- Drive
- About 7 h from Dehradun
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
₹4,000–9,000
With an operator
₹12,000–13,500
Per person, ex-Agoda. Guided prices published October 2026: Bikat Adventures ₹11,600 + 5% GST Agoda to Agoda (Dehradun transport ₹2,500 extra); Himalayan Dream Treks ₹12,500 + 5% GST (Dehradun transport not included); Trek The Himalayas ₹11,400 + 5% GST ex-Uttarkashi on its 7-day Sangamchatti version. Self-guided is an estimate: shared transport via Uttarkashi, homestay nights in Agoda, a local guide and porter (about ₹800-1,200 a day), tent and stove hire, and forest camping charges.
Gear
Top picks for this trek
The gear that matters most on this route, chosen from its altitude, season and risks.
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Packing checklist
Matched to this trek: altitude, season, days and the risks on the route.
Packed 0 of 35
Nights near 4,150 m can drop close to freezing even in summer. Pack one more warm layer than you think.
Tick each item as it goes in the bag.
Know before you go
Good to know
- Mobile network
- All major networks work in Uttarkashi; there is no dependable signal at Agoda or on the trail, and coverage returns about an hour's drive from Agoda towards Uttarkashi.
- Last ATM
- Uttarkashi; there is no ATM at Agoda or on the trail
- Nearest hospital
- Uttarkashi (district headquarters) for medical care; AIIMS Rishikesh for serious cases
- Water
- Streams along the forest trail and Dodital Lake itself; water becomes scarce above the lake on the way to Darwa Pass, so carry two litres on the pass day. Boil or treat all water and keep the sacred lake clean.
Highlights
- Dodital, a clear forest lake at about 3,024 m revered as the birthplace of Lord Ganesha, with a small Shri Ganesh temple on its shore
- View from Darwa Pass (4,150 m) of Bandarpoonch, Swargarohini, Srikanth and Draupadi ka Danda
- Oak, deodar, pine and rhododendron forest of the Assi Ganga valley, red with rhododendron bloom in April
- Village homestays at Agoda and forest camps at Manjhi and the lakeshore
Risks
- The Darwa Pass day is a steep 1,100 m climb with little water above the lake; start early, around 5 am, and turn back if weather closes in.
- In winter (December-March) deep snow covers the trail and nights at the lake fall to about -15 °C; Darwa Pass is not recommended in January and February because of avalanche risk and extreme cold.
- Heavy July-August rain brings leeches and slippery trails, and the road above Uttarkashi can be blocked by landslides.
Know before you go
Questions
Why is Dodital sacred?
Dodital is revered as the birthplace of Lord Ganesha, and the lake is also known as Dhundi Tal. A small temple to Shri Ganesh stands on the shore and is looked after by a pujari. Fishing is not permitted because the fish are considered sacred, so treat the lake and temple with respect and carry all waste back down.
Is the Dodital trek suitable for beginners?
The walk to the lake is an easy-to-moderate forest trail that fit beginners can manage. Adding Darwa Pass makes it moderate: Bikat Adventures asks for some prior high-altitude trekking because the pass day climbs about 1,100 m to 4,150 m and back.
What is the best time for Dodital?
April to June (rhododendrons in April) and September to November. December to March is snowbound and only for experienced winter trekkers. Avoid July and August, when monsoon rain makes the trail slippery and brings leeches.
Where does the Dodital trek start?
The road now reaches Agoda village (about 2,250 m), about 20 km from Uttarkashi and 160-165 km from Dehradun, so most groups start walking there. Older itineraries, including the Uttarkashi district site, start at Sangamchatti lower down the valley, which adds a few hours of walking.
How long is the Dodital Darwa Pass trek?
About 40 km of walking over four trekking days from Agoda, usually sold as a 6-day trip from Dehradun. The lake alone is roughly 13-16 km one way from Agoda.
Do I need a permit for Dodital?
Forest entry and camping charges apply, and guided groups include them in the price. Carry a government photo ID. We could not confirm the current official fee, so self-guided trekkers should check with the Uttarkashi Forest Division before setting out.
In an emergency
Save these numbers before you lose signal. Tap to call.
- 112All emergenciesIndia’s single emergency number — works in every state
- 108Ambulance
- 1077District disaster control room
You are in
District: UttarkashiUttarakhand
- Nearest hospital
- Uttarkashi (district headquarters) for medical care; AIIMS Rishikesh for serious cases
- Last ATM
- Uttarkashi; there is no ATM at Agoda or on the trail
- Phone network
- All major networks work in Uttarkashi; there is no dependable signal at Agoda or on the trail, and coverage returns about an hour's drive from Agoda towards Uttarkashi.
Before you set off
- Tell someone your route and when you will be back.
- Carry a charged phone and a power bank.
- Download an offline map of the route.
- Turn back if the weather turns bad — the mountain will wait.
Questions about Dodital
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Where this comes from
Sources
Last reviewed:
- Dodital Darwa Pass Trek — Bikat Adventures
- Dodital Trek — Explurger
- Dodital Darwa Top Yamunotri Trek — Himalaya Shelter
- Dodital Trek - 2026 | Best Time, Lake, Temple & All — Himalayan Dream Treks
- Dodital Darwa Pass Trek — Trek The Himalayas
- Dodital Lake | Uttarkashi — District Administration Uttarkashi (official)
Photos: Sumita Roy Dutta, CC BY-SA 4.0; Sumita Roy Dutta, CC BY-SA 4.0; Sumita Roy Dutta, CC BY-SA 4.0
