This guide is about the Dodital - Darwa Pass Trek — dates, price, day-by-day itinerary and booking are on the trek page.
Quick answer: Dodital lake is a freshwater lake in Uttarkashi district, Uttarakhand, at about 3,050 m (10,006 ft). On Trekkaro's trek you walk 11 km over two days from Agoda (6 km, then 5 km), camp two nights at Dodital lake, and climb to Darwa Top at 4,150 m. The trek runs from October to June.
Where is Dodital lake, and how high is it?
Dodital sits in the Assi Ganga valley of Uttarkashi district, in the Garhwal Himalaya of Uttarakhand. The Uttarkashi district administration describes it in one line: "Dodital is a freshwater lake in uttarkashi district." The same Uttarkashi district places of interest page adds that the Assi Ganga rises from Dodital and joins the Bhagirathi. Both that page and Trekkaro's trek page put the confluence at Gangori.
The district page gives no altitude for the lake. Trekkaro's trek page puts Dodital at about 3,050 m (10,006 ft), and that is the height of the lakeside tent camp. For comparison, the road head village of Agoda is at 2,250 m (7,382 ft), so the lake is 800 m higher than the last village you drive to.
Why is Dodital linked to Lord Ganesha?
Trekkaro's trek page says "Dodital is believed to be the place where Lord Ganesha was born," and gives the lake two local names, Dhundi-tal and Ganesha-ka-tal. In the trek page's words, "On the bank stands a small Ganesh temple, and trekkers pause there for blessings." The walk up to the lake climbs through a forest of oak, deodar and rhododendron, which the trek page also names.
How far is the walk from the road to Dodital?
That depends on which road head you start from, and the two sources you will find describe two different starting points.
The district page describes the approach from Sangamchatti: a jeep ride of 19 km from Uttarkashi town to Sangamchatti, "from where the 24 km trek to Dodital begins." It splits this into two legs, with the second leg reaching Dodital "via the small summer settlement of Manjhi."
Trekkaro's cab goes further up, to Agoda, 185 km from Dehradun (8–9 hours). From Agoda the trek page lists two walking days to the lake:
- Agoda to Manjhi, 6 km in 3–4 hours, climbing from 2,250 m to 2,700 m (8,860 ft).
- Manjhi to Dodital, 5 km in 4–5 hours, climbing from 2,700 m to 3,050 m (10,006 ft).
That is 11 km of walking from Agoda to the lake, with a night at Manjhi in between. Nobody on this trek reaches Dodital in a single day from the road. The trek page calls the walk up to the lake easy to moderate, with gradual ascents, and suitable for beginners and families.
What does the lake look like through the season?
The trek page runs this trek from October to June and divides the season in three. December to March is the snow window: the page says that in these months the trek "is under snow and Dodital Lake is partly frozen."
April to June is described as the time for spring forests, and October to November for clear post-monsoon skies; the trek page names October to November for the clearest views from Darwa Top. July to September is outside the trek's season.
The trek page gives these temperature ranges for the trek:
| Months (as labelled on the trek page) | Daytime | Night |
|---|---|---|
| December to January | -2°C to 5°C | -12°C to -5°C |
| April to June | 8°C to 15°C | 0°C to 7°C |
The page gives no separate figures for October, November, February or March. The coldest night range on the page is -12°C to -5°C in December and January, so winter trekkers need warm layers for the two nights at the lake camp.
What is Darwa Top, and how does it relate to the lake?
Dodital is not the highest point of the trek. Above the lake rises the ridge the trek is named after. Trekkaro's trek page gives the highest point as "Darwa Top at 4,150 m (13,615 ft), reached via Darwa Pass."
From the lake camp at 3,050 m to Darwa Top is a gain of 1,100 m, and the trek page calls it "a steep climb of about 1,100 metres from the lake to Darwa Top and back." The day is listed at 10 km and 6–7 hours, there and back to the same lake camp. From the top, the page names Bandarpunch (6,316 m), Swargarohini (6,252 m), Kala Nag and Draupadi ka Danda.
The district page shows that Darwa is also a crossing point between valleys. It says visitors can trek from Dodital "further up to Darwa Top and can cross the pass to descend towards Hanumanchatti in the Yamuna valley," or turn towards the Chaka Gujjer hut area to cross the Bingad and go on to Bamsaru tal, Gidara and Dayara Bugyals. Trekkaro's trek does not go that way. It turns back at Darwa Top and returns to the lake.
How does the Trekkaro trek fit around the lake?
The Dodital Darwa Pass trek is a 6-day, 36 km trek graded Moderate. It starts and ends at Agoda and is planned around two nights at the lake. Here is where Dodital falls in the plan, with the trek page's own figures:
| Day | Route | Distance and time | Night |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Drive Dehradun to Agoda | 185 km, 8–9 hrs | Guesthouse or homestay, Agoda (2,250 m) |
| 2 | Agoda to Manjhi | 6 km, 3–4 hrs | Tents, Manjhi (2,700 m) |
| 3 | Manjhi to Dodital | 5 km, 4–5 hrs | Tents by Dodital lake (3,050 m) |
| 4 | Dodital to Darwa Top (4,150 m) and back | 10 km, 6–7 hrs | Tents by Dodital lake (3,050 m) |
| 5 | Dodital to Agoda | 15 km, 6–7 hrs | Guesthouse or homestay, Agoda |
| 6 | Drive Agoda to Dehradun | 185 km, 8–9 hrs | None |
The walking days add up to the page's 36 km: 6 + 5 + 10 + 15. Day 3 ends at the lake and Day 4 starts and ends there, so you spend two nights beside Dodital. Day 5 is the longest walking day of the trek.
The trek page says the cab for Day 1 leaves Dehradun Railway Station at 7:30 AM, so plan to arrive in Dehradun by an overnight train or the day before.
What does a guided trip to the lake cost?
The trek fee on the trek page is ₹10,500 per person plus 5% GST. 5% of ₹10,500 is ₹525, so the fee comes to ₹11,025.
The fee covers pure vegetarian meals from Day 1 dinner to Day 5 dinner, tents, -20°C sleeping bags, and the permits and forest camping fees for the lake. Free Trekking Gear is included on this trek: Decathlon trekking shoes, a -10°C jacket, trekking poles, gaiters and microspikes, against a ₹3,000 refundable deposit and a ₹200 washing charge. Microspikes matter here because the snow lies on the trail from December to March; the article on microspikes on winter treks explains how they work.
Transport between Dehradun and Agoda is not in the fee. We help the group book shared cabs, paid directly to the driver and split among trekkers, at about ₹6,500 per 5–6 seat vehicle each way. Travel insurance is also not included, and the trek page makes it compulsory, so buy your own policy before you go.
What should you sort out before leaving for the lake?
Cash and signal run out before the trail starts. The trek page says Uttarkashi has the last reliable ATM and Agoda is the last place with a stable signal, where only Jio works consistently. There is no ATM or reliable network at Dodital.
Each trekker brings a medical certificate signed by a doctor; the form is in My Bookings. The minimum age is 10, and trekkers under 18 come with a parent or guardian. Because the trek returns to Agoda, you can leave luggage you will not need on the trail in Trekkaro's store at the base camp free of charge; keep valuables such as cash, documents and laptops with you. Booking closes at 5 PM India time on the day before departure.
The lake camp at 3,050 m and Darwa Top at 4,150 m are high enough for altitude sickness, which the trek page says is possible on this trek; it also notes that you sleep no higher than 3,050 m, at the lake. Read the guide to altitude sickness on Himalayan treks before you go.
See Dodital Darwa Pass trek dates and book | Highest treks in Uttarakhand | Best winter treks for beginners
Frequently asked questions
Can I stay at Dodital without a trekking company?
The Uttarkashi district page says there is a forest rest house at Dodital. A stay there is booked by taking a permit at the forest office in Uttarkashi.
Which river starts at Dodital lake?
The Assi Ganga rises from Dodital, according to the Uttarkashi district page. It flows down the valley and joins the Bhagirathi at Gangori.
Does Dodital lake freeze completely in winter?
Trekkaro's trek page describes the lake as partly frozen from December to March. It does not say the lake freezes over completely.
Are there fish in Dodital lake?
Yes. Trekkaro's trek page describes the lake with meadows on its banks and trout in its clear water. It does not name the trout species.
Do I need trekking experience to reach Dodital lake?
No. Trekkaro's trek page calls the walk up to the lake easy to moderate and suitable for beginners and families. For the climb to Darwa Top it recommends good fitness and, ideally, some prior high-altitude experience.
