Chandratal Lake Trek

Start your Chandratal Lake trek from Manali in the morning, and follow the Beas River upstream towards the village of Pirni. After walking for about 3 hours from the hill station, reach the Hampta village, followed by the village of Sethan. Keep walking through forests of Pindrow firs and deodars for approximately 45 minutes to reach a place, called Pandu Ropa.

The trail from here leads uphill through a meadow covered with wild flowers. Keep on the path for around an hour to finally reach the campsite of Chika. It is a scenic high altitude valley, totally bereft of trees and covered entirely by velvety grass. On reaching Chika, transfer to the camps and rest.

Restart the Chandratal trek at dawn and head towards Jwara. Commence hiking uphill along the left bank of the Hampta rivulet, and negotiate a rather rocky and rough landscape. The path now meanders through a pristine forest of silver birches and rhododendron flowers. Come out of the rhododendron and birch forest by following this trail, and then move further towards a waterfall.

Later, cross a hissing mountain river by walking on it, and then reach the mesmerising valley of Jwara. Look at gently sloping mountains contrast the almost-vertical cliffs; and at lush grasses, grazing sheep, boulders and snow. Continue the expedition by walking along another stream on a flower-covered track. Cross the tree line, and hike up a mountain slope to reach Bhalu ka Gera, your camping ground for the night.

It is an almost-flat expanse of lush grasslands, surrounded by unassailable mountains on all sides. Its name comes from the belief that in winters, brown bears come here from higher elevations to hibernate. A stream flows through this valley, the sound of which will surely keep you refreshed. Transfer to the camps after arriving here for an overnight stay.

This is a rather long stretch of the trek to Chandratal Lake as it will make you walk for about 7 hours. The initial section of this phase of the tour is easy as the path will be flat for a while. Walk upstream along a river for about an hour to reach the base of a mountain, and then prepare for the actual ascent. Post climbing for around one hour, reach a high plateau, and then atop another. Keep ascending to arrive atop a long and flat ridge, after which a climb has to be accomplished to reach yet another such landform.

Now begins the toughest ascent yet that will finally take you to the summit of the enchanting Hampta Pass. It is a vast and flat valley, surrounded by high mountains on all sides and covered with grass in summers. Rocks and numerous river streams are scattered across the valley floor.

The following leg of this excursion may be easy or tough, depending upon your hiking expertise. Negotiate a descent through almost-straight slopes on the way to Shea Goru. Post the downhill walk, reach a picturesque valley, and tread on its flat floor to reach Shea Goru, where a river flows. On reaching here, head straight to the camps to stay overnight.

On recommencing the Chandratal Lake trekking tour from Shea Goru walk for about 5 hours towards Chatru. Descend the slopes to reach the valley of the Chandra River. Keep heading forward along the stream to reach a motorable road. Cross this highway to reach the mountains on the other side, and following an on-foot journey of around 17 km, reach Chota Dara to camp at night.

Keep treading along the right bank of the Chandra River, and after sometime, feast your eyes with the sight of the Bara Shigri Glacier. Post looking at this river of ice, the largest in Himachal Pradesh, move on towards Batal. On arriving in Batal, transfer to the campsite to rest.

Another long leg of the Chandratal Lake trek begins in the morning that will involve walking for about 7 hours. Cross a river via a bridge a little further from Batal, and then begin the treacherous climb to the summit of Kunzum La mountain pass. From atop the pass, look far and wide into the barren, yet bewitching Spiti Valley. Cross numerous meadows and glaciers on the way to Chandratal, which is approximately 8 km from the pass. On reaching the lake, take a look around, explore the area more, click photos and then set up camps to stay overnight.

Begin yet another phase of this Chandratal trek that will involve making regular ascents and descents. Post this alternating series of hiking uphill and downhill, make a final descent to reach the floor of a rivulet. Cross the stream, and find the campsite on the other side for an overnight stay.

This phase of the trek to Chandratal Lake is again long as it too requires hiking for approximately 7 hours. Walk on a narrow valley, surrounded by snow-bound mountains. Further ahead, cross a river to reach a grassy area to set up camps, and then stay overnight here.

Begin the last section of this Chadratal Lake trekking expedition by walking for about 4-5 hours to reach Baralacha La mountain pass. Look at the views from atop here, and then continue towards Darcha. From Darcha, ascend the mountain slopes to reach the famous Rohtang Pass. Post appreciating the scenery here, board the vehicles and travel to the hill station of Manali by road.