About Chandratal Trek
One of the crescent shaped lakes that is located in the middle of the
Spiti Valley on the Samudra Tapu plateau, the Chandra Tal, which means
'Lake of the Moon', is a popular destination for trekkers and climbers.
It is confined in between the mountains at a lofty height of 4,250
meters and is one of two high-altitude wetlands of India which have been
designated as Ramsar sites. The Chandra Tal Trek grabs the imagination
of the travellers with its rambling landscape at different altitude. The
lake encircles a vast meadow that is carpeted with different kinds of
wildflowers. One of the easy to moderate treks in Himachal Pradesh and
also a short trek from Manali, which is a popular hill station at an
altitude of 2,050 meters, the Chandra Tal Trek solicits the mind of
travellers with the abundant beauty of nature and wildlife.
Area : Himachal Pradesh
Duration : 13 Days (4 days travel/9 days trekking)
Best Season : Mind June to Mid October
Grade :Moderate
Altitude : 4551mts/14930ft
Total Trekking : 80 K.M
The Chandra Tal Trek commences from Manali and leads to Chikka, which
is at an altitude of 3,100 meters, via Sethan at 2,900 meters. The
trail then winds up at Balu Ka Gera at 3,600 meters before further
continuing to Shira Gorh after a steep ascend towards Hampta Pass, which
is at an elevation of 4,268 meters. From Shira Gorh the trail snakes
through the deserted track to Batal via Chatru wherefrom the track
splits to Kunzum at an altitude of 4,551 meters, which is the gateway to
Chandra Tal. The trail continues to Tokpo Gongma and snakes up to
Baralacha La, which is at an altitude of 4,890 meters. From there the
trail leads to Manali en route to Keylong, which is approximately a 4 - 5
hours drive.
The Chandra Tal Lake Trek is an absolute bliss for amateur trekkers
and the best time to hit the tracks is from Mid June to Mid October.
From Manali the trail is approximately of 7-8 days.
Chandratal Lake Trekking Tour Highlights
- Mesmerizing Chandertal Lake
- Brilliant landscape
- Trek via Hampta Pass
- Amazing sites for camping
- Verdant valleys and forests
Best Time to Visit Chandratal Trek
Best season to visit Chandratal Trek is from mid-June till
mid-October. In the beginning of the season, there are more chances of
seeing lots of snow. Snow cover reduces considerably as August
approaches. As the season advances, we are more likely to witness rain
in the Kullu Manali Valley and bask in the sun at the Spiti Valley.
The days are warm and sunny with temperatures ranging from 12 to
20°C, and nights at the highest campsite fall in between -2 to 6°C. In
the last phase of the season (Sept to mid-Oct), the amount of snow in
the path will dwindle. General weather conditions will be good and
sunny, but with October approaching there is a chance of snowfall. The
day temperatures float between 12 to 18°C; while the night's hover
around -6 to 4°C.
Where is the Chandratal Trek
Chandra Tal ('the Lake of Moon) is located at the height of 4,270
metres in the Himalayas. It comes under the Spiti area of Lahaul and
Spiti district of Himachal Pradesh. Chandra Tal is a popular trekking
and camping destination, attracting a number of travellers every year.
It can be reached on foot from Batal as well as from Kunzum La Pass. The
best season to embark on the Chandratal Trek is from mid-June to
mid-October. There is a 16 km motorable road from Batal which can be
accessed after mid-July, as the condition of the road can be dangerous
before this period. Even after taking this road, one needs to walk for 2
km from the road head.
Trail which begins from Kunzum is truly picturesque and displays
panoramic views of Samudra Tapu Glacier, CB Peaks and Chandra River. It
is 8 km long and takes only 4 hours to complete. Chandratal Lake is just
at a walking distance from Kunzum. The source which feeds the lake is
probably under the ground, as there is nothing visible on the surface.
Wild flowers fill up the banks of the lake in summer. The vast green
meadows around the lake are a favourite among the Gaddi Shepherds, who
come here to graze their flocks. The shepherds of Gaddi tribe enjoy
their traditional and long held grazing rights in the area. Chandratal
Lake is one of the two high altitude wetlands of India.
How to Reach Chandratal Trek?
Nearest Airport: The Kullu Manali airport at Bhuntar
Town (about 50 km south of Manali and 10 km south of Kullu town) is the
nearest airport. Indian Airlines and some private airlines have regular
flights to the airport (But due to bad visibility most of the time
flight cancelled). Chandigarh airport is the nearest international
airport.
Nearest Railway Station: Jogindar Nagar is the
nearest railway station (lies 166 km from Manali). The other convenient
rail heads are at Chandigarh and Pathankot.
By Road: Manali is well connected by road with
Delhi, Ambala, Chandigarh, Dehradun, Haridwar, Shimla, Dharamsala and
Chamba/Dalhousie. Regular buses ply between these stations. It is
connected with Leh during July to October.
There are Lots of Buses that operate between Both Delhi and Manali.
You can book private buses on htttp://www.redbus.in or Himachal Pradesh
Tourism operates buses those starts from Delhi in between 16:30 hrs –
1800 hrs in the evening and reach Manali the next morning.
