Chandratal Lake offers an escape from civilization and provides the perfect setting for spiritual reflection and personal discovery. A must-visit destination for anyone interested in trekking, camping or admiring gorgeous landscapes.
For budget travelers planning a summer trip to Chandratal, it’s crucial to plan ahead. Aim for a trip in June or July when the roads open up and campsites start operating. This way, you can ensure a smooth journey and a comfortable stay, all while sticking to your budget.
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What to Expect
The trek to Chandratal Lake is not just a walk; it’s an adventure that will take your breath away. Tucked away amidst the towering peaks of Himachal Pradesh, this picturesque lake beckons with its crystal clear waters, inviting you to explore. It’s a sanctuary away from the hustle and bustle of city life, a place for soul-searching, camping, and capturing stunning photographs in the serenity of nature!
If you are planning a day trip from Manali to Chandratal, start early so that you arrive by daylight. Please don’t rely solely on Google Maps for distance and timing calculations, as roads tend to be rough, and your speed will likely differ considerably from that shown on its app.
At Chandratal Lake, you can witness many species of Himalayan migratory birds, and during certain times of the year, see Chandrashekhar Peak – which towers high over its valley – offering stunning panoramic views from Chandratal Lake’s uppermost end. Furthermore, Chandratal Lake holds great mythological significance, being where Lord Indra picked up Yudhishthira when Lord Indra went looking for him on one occasion.
Chandratal Lake remains closed during the winter months of November through May due to snow pile-up beyond Losar; however, it reopens, and campsites become operational by June.
If you prefer solitude over crowds, Chandratal can be visited any time from May or October when no camps will be operating; alternatively you could make the trek during a full moon night to see millions of stars glitter over its crystal clear waters! For an exhilarating experience visit on either full or new moon night; they’ll show their bright radiance across its sparkling surface!
How to Reach
The bus is by far the easiest and best way to visit Chandratal Lake without using a 4×4. Daily AC buses run between Manali and Kaza from the Government Bus Stand (ISBT or ISTC), costing roughly 10,000 INR for an overnight return ticket to Chandratal. Beware of altitude sickness; departure times range between 4.45 AM and 5.30 AM, with Kaza reaching within 1.15 hours after this departure point from Manali.
To reduce altitude sickness risks when going directly from Manali to Chandratal, travel through Kaza first as this will give time for adjustments between high elevation changes between 2000m to over 4000m – otherwise, travel directly from Kaza as this will allow time to adjust and make for quicker journeys to Chandratal once you’ve settled into higher elevation before making this your stopover point!
Once on board the bus at Kaza, ask for the Chandratal Lake diversion stop and then walk or hitch-hike 14 km to Chandratal. There are numerous campsites set up nearby by various travel agencies and travel companies for camping near Chandratal; camping itself may no longer be permitted due to its delicate environment; nevertheless, it’s pristine water and breathtaking mountain scenery will leave an unforgettable impression.
Chandratal roads are open from the first week of June until early October. Monsoon rains can make this area vulnerable to landslides, and it will be cold at night; therefore, it is best avoided during this season. If you wish to experience all that Manali-Spiti has to offer, then June 2nd week to September is the ideal time – please view our detailed Itinerary & Budget Trip for further details.
How to Save Money
Chandratal does not feature hotels, only a PWD guest house and some camps nearby that charge anything from Rs 1500-plus (depending on which campsite) per person, including meals; these charges could add up quite quickly for anyone on a tight budget; it would therefore be wise to try staying at one of these campsites instead; you might spend slightly more in total, but in the end, it may prove worthwhile!
Chandratal Lake should be visited between June and September when its Manali-Kaza road has been cleared; temperatures are warm, the weather pleasant, and flowers and colours abound around Chandratal. Photography opportunities abound here, too, with the mountains surrounding Chandratal in full bloom with flowers. Unfortunately, monsoon season can block roads and cause heavy rainfall, which could potentially result in landslides; therefore, visiting Chandratal during monsoon is not advised due to heavy rain causing potential landslides and flooding.
As spring arrives in the Himalayas and snow melts away, Chandratal Lake begins waking from its winter sleep and slowly transforms into its vibrant blue hue. Camping here during spring can be ideal as temperatures remain comfortable, providing numerous places for accommodation nearby.
Summertime at Chandratal Lake can also be ideal, with temperatures remaining pleasant and most of its ice having thawed out by this point. The water stays crystal clear while lush green surroundings add a beautiful backdrop. Unfortunately, weather fluctuations may make things less relaxing than during spring.
The easiest way to reach Chandratal from Manali is via bus; I would advise starting early to ensure you reach the lake before sunset. Beware that Google Maps won’t always provide accurate representations of high-altitude terrain; for a cheaper trip, get off at Batal and walk/hitchhike uphill before hitchhiking to Chandratal from there.
What to Do
Chandratal Lake is a serene oasis nestled in a valley surrounded by snow-capped mountains. It’s a place of peace, far from the noise of markets and restaurants. There’s not much happening at Chandratal, and that’s the beauty of it. Simply bask in its natural splendour, spend a night under the stars, and capture the essence of this tranquil place before heading back.
Chandratal Lake should be visited between June and September as it is during this season that both its road access and campsites open up, thereby helping avoid delays caused by monsoon season in Manali, which could otherwise cause roadblocks and landslides.
At this time of year, Kaza provides an alternate route to Chandratal. Although slightly longer than its counterpart, Kaza’s higher altitude allows your body to acclimatize itself before arriving at Chandratal’s 14000ft altitude – potentially risking Acute Mountain Sickness symptoms if left unacclimatized for too long! If this concerns you then staying one night in Kaza is preferable before making your way back down again to Chandratal for another adventure day trip!
While there are various methods of reaching Chandratal, one of the quickest and easiest is taking a bus from Manali to Kaza. Morning departures run all the way up until evening arrivals at Kaza, where you have multiple options for reaching Chandratal: either taking another bus, walking/hitchhiking routes or hitchhiking can get you there.
If budget travel is in your sights, taking the bus would be recommended as this will be less costly than booking a taxi from Manali to Kaza and then another car from Kaza to Chandratal. Plus, it gives you an incredible glimpse of Spiti and its astonishing landscape! Additionally, road trips themselves can be rewarding experiences.
One option available to visitors in Manali is booking a shared taxi service, which will cost about Rs 250 per person and should only be done so when available; so make sure it is available before booking it.