About Darwa Pass
Darwa Pass, also known as Darwa Top, is a high Himalayan mountain pass at about 4,150 metres above Dodital Lake in Uttarkashi district, Uttarakhand. Located in the Garhwal Himalayas, it connects the Dodital valley to the Yamunotri valley via Hanuman Chatti. Notable for alpine meadows, snow-covered ridges and panoramic views of Bandarpoonch and Swargarohini peaks, it is a key point on the Dodital-Darwa-Yamunotri trek route.
Visitors guide
Visitors reaching Darwa Pass after a steep 5 km trek from Dodital Lake can expect an open, windswept high-altitude pass surrounded by alpine meadows, boulders and seasonal snowfields. On clear days the pass offers panoramic views of snow-capped Garhwal peaks including Bandarpoonch, Swargarohini and Draupadi Ka Danda. There are no structures at the pass itself; the experience is a natural Himalayan landscape with forested valleys below and rugged ridges above, typically visited as a day excursion from Dodital.
Key highlights
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High-altitude pass at approximately 4,150 metres above sea level
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Panoramic views of Bandarpoonch, Swargarohini and Draupadi Ka Danda peaks on clear days
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Alpine meadows, boulders and seasonal snowfields above Dodital Lake
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Key point on the Dodital to Yamunotri trek via Hanuman Chatti
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Surrounding forests of oak, rhododendron and deodar on the approach from Agoda and Manjhi
History of Darwa Pass
Traditional high-altitude crossing used by shepherds and pilgrims to link the Bhagirathi (Dodital) and Yamuna (Yamunotri) valleys in Garhwal, forming part of the historic Dodital-Darwa-Hanuman Chatti route between Uttarkashi and Yamunotri.
Culture & Context
Located above Dodital Lake, which is traditionally associated as the birthplace of Lord Ganesha, the pass lies in a culturally significant Himalayan region revered by pilgrims and trekkers travelling toward Yamunotri.
Route
| By air | Nearest airport is Jolly Grant Airport, Dehradun, then road to Uttarkashi and onward trek |
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