Have you heard about the scintillating Chandra Tal, a high alpine lake nestled somewhere in the mountains of Spiti? Travelers and explorers travel all the way to this corner in Spiti to lay their eyes on one of the most beautiful lakes in the world. Located on the height of 4,300 meters, the lake offers astounding views of the bare Lahaul ranges and majestic blue waters.
The crescent shaped moon lake, as the name suggests, has numerous interesting legends and folklores associated with it that pique the curiosity in the adventurists. Ask anyone who has been if there is anything like camping beside the crystal blue lake?
They’ll tell you, “Absolutely not.”
The blissful experience of camping beneath the sky lit with gazillions of stars in the middle of nowhere is one of a kind.
Now if reading so much about Chandra Tal has managed to arouse even a little bit of curiosity, then you must be wondering how to reach this mystical place.
Well, there are two ways to go about it. Either you hit the road and travel all the way to the lake via Manali crossing Kunzum Pass on the way. Sure, you get to cover significant milestones on your road journey, but it is backbreaking.
Or you take the road (read: trail) less travelled; Hampta Pass, rewarding you with nature’s best kept secrets on every turn.
Check here for Hampta Pass trek complete itinerary.
You start your 5-day journey from Manali on foot with a rucksack on your back and head into the wilderness. As soon as the salubrious mountain air hits your lungs, you get an instant high, the right kind too. You walk through lush green meadows where you see shepherds grazing their herd of sheep and goats in the pastures. Thousands of flowers of variegated colors bloom in the valley and lay down a welcome carpet for you. Every direction you look into, you are bombarded with overwhelming views of nature. Beware, for it might feel like too much to take in for the city dwellers who are not accustomed to such places.
One of the easy mountain treks in the Himalayas, Hampta Pass is known as a crossover between two different landscapes. You start in the verdant greenery of Pir Panjal Ranges, trek for a few days, and arrive in the desert landscape of Lahaul region where you are greeted with the sheer beauty of naked mountains and, of course, Chandra Tal.
The beautiful campsites of Hampta Pass trek are just one of the rewards. You come across Chika, your campsite for day 1, beside Rani Nallah. Spend the rest of the day watching wild horses grazing in the field or spending some moments of introspection by the water.
The best is yet to come.
Day 2 is full of exciting adventures. Do you have any prior experience crossing water streams with water as deep as your knee? If not, you are going to have quite a few opportunities. The water might literally be bone-chilling, but it will get adrenaline pumping through your veins. You reach Balu ka Gera which is your campsite for the day. Take some good rest because from this point onwards, you are only going to climb up to Hampta Pass.
Third day is the day you have been waiting for. You successfully achieve the steep climb to Hampta Pass and reach to the height of 13,000 ft. The views from this vantage point are ginormous and jaw-dropping. At one side you, you can see the green pasturelands, on the other is the brown, arid desert of Lahaul. The stark difference between the two worlds puts you in a trance. Would you get to explore such moments on the road? I doubt it.
Reach Shea Gory, another picturesque campsite on Hampta Pass trek. Now, this is one great thing about the Himalayan trek, no two days will ever feel the same. It is like checking into a new hotel every day, where the owner is humble nature. Shea Goru, which literally translates to ‘cold street’, is cold and windy. Hope you have brought enough woolens to keep you warm. There is mountain tea and soup to provide warmth to your soul.
The last stop and the showstopper of this trek is the ride to Chandra Tal. If the beautiful campsites, lush green pastures, gigantic mountains, and verdant meadows were not enough reward for you, Chandra Tal will make up for all of it.
What is interesting about this lake is that you will find no visible source of water for it. So, it has to be underground. But that in itself is a mystery. What is also mystifying about this lake is that two lovers met at this point and merged into each other, a union forbidden by their parents. Chandra, who was the daughter of Moon God, fell in love at first sight with Bhaga, the son of Sun God. Since their parents were not in support of their union, they eloped to meet at the point where the lake is situated in the modern day. The lake may be small in size but its beauty is as giant as the universe.
On your Hampta Pass trek, take frequent moments to reflect and absorb everything around you, for you are lucky to be here. You will not find such views back in the city or on the road drive to Chandra Tal. All that effort and patience builds up to something and that Nature has its ways of teaching us lessons about humbleness and gratitude. You are going to get many of these teachings on Hampta Pass Trek, going back home a lot wiser and more humble than you came.
Once you are back in the city from Hampta Pass trek, you are going to have a major vacation hangover. Consider this as a statutory warning. Such is the charm of Hampta Pass and the scintillating Chandra Tal. The magic will not wear out soon and you would not want it to either.
Author: Dhaarna Kukreja
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