Situated at an altitude of 4300 m above sea level,
Chandratal Lake in Himachal Pradesh is a true camper’s paradise. Being
surrounded by mountains and rocky terrains, the mystical lake resembles a lot
to the Pangong Lake in Ladakh.
It is the source of river Chandra that flows in the upper
regions of the state and is 7 km away from the Kunzum Pass in Spiti. This makes
Spiti the nearest checkpoint to reach Chandratal.It is said that the lake was discovered by nomads who were traveling from Ladakh and Tibet to the valleys of Spiti and Kullu. There is also one interesting legend associated with Chandratal. As per Hindu mythology, the lake is the spot from where King Yudhistra, the eldest of the Pandavas was picked up by the chariot of Lord Indra during their quest to the Himalayas.
The high altitude and closeness to the greater Himalayas
gives travelers only a short window to make their visit to Chandratal (only
summers). During that time, the meadows of this immensely blue colored lake
gets completely covered with wildflowers. This flowery carpet along with
panoramic mountains in the backdrop and the blue patch of the lake gives a
picture perfect impression.
How to Reach
The high altitude Chandratal lake is situated in the Spiti
part of Himachal Pradesh. Thus, to reach this paradise, one has to travel first
travel to the Spiti valley, and then trek to the lake, which goes through the
Kunzum La.
Following are the ways to make it to Spiti in Himachal
Pradesh:
By Air: If you want to travel to Spiti,
the maximum you can get close to the valley via air is till Kullu. Kullu’s
Bhuntar airport is 54 kms away from Spiti. Once there, you can make use of the
bus service or hire a cab for your onward journey to the valley.
By Train: Train travelers have to make
the entry from a different location. Closest railway station to Spiti valley is
at Shimla. Shimal railhead connects various parts of Himachal Pradesh and
India. However, tourists can also make use of the Chandigarh railway
station(330 km away) as it has a wider rail network and is well connected from
the metropolitans and major cities of India.
By Road: As there is no direct access to
Spiti valley via train and flights, travelling via road is by far the best mean
to explore Himachal Pradesh. Himachal State Transport runs regular bus services
to Spiti from the various parts of the state. Tourists can also hire taxis or
cabs to make it to their destination.
Book your Chandratal holidays with our affiliate partner Booking.com
Book your Chandratal holidays with our affiliate partner Booking.com
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