Himalayas: Glacial Lakes
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Introduction
Four must-visit Majestic Himalayan Lakes
Anuja Thapliyal, June 27, 2023: The Times of India
All the mountains in the world are high and complex similar to the Himalayan mountain ranges, which are also the abode of snow. These Himalayas have incarnated several sages and are home to beautiful natural wonders, mountains, rivers, valleys and different pieces of architecture. Travelling to any of these wonders will help you reconnect with your soul when you step out and fall into the lap of nature. Once you enter these mountains, you will discover the people have created a distinctive culture that integrates nature and people into one fabric of existence. For you, it will be a long journey but a soulful one.
Say you are an aquaphile and have covered most of the beaches where you find the chaos of people during holidays and vacations. In that case, you can surely think of travelling internationally this time. Simultaneously, these places have extreme levels of fitness, both mentally and physically. If you are already into fitness yoga, then two thumbs up.
There are several offbeat Himalayan lakes where along with taking the dip into nearby spiritual places, you can experience the serenity and pristine nature. One must consider visiting these places once in their lifetime.
1. Kedar Tal
This spectacular glacial mountain lake is about (4,800 m) near one of the highly revered char dhams of the hilly state of Uttarakhand, India. The suitable time to visit here is between May-October. Mostly avoid travelling here in the Monsoon and rest every time between the time as mentioned earlier works. First, you must take a flight from your place to New Delhi. From there, you have three ways to reach this hilly state’s capital, Dehradun. The first option is you can take a flight from Delhi to Dehradun Airport, the second option is to take a bus from Delhi to Dehradun/Rishikesh, and thirdly take a train to Dehradun/Rishikesh. Dehradun is like a preface to your journey towards the raw mountains. Finally, you can take a local bus or book a cab to Uttarkashi, another destination near the base camp of this mountain lake trek. While travelling this way, you see the slow transition from the planes to the bent turns of the mountains, panoramic views of rivers, lush green, and steep mountains. Now when you finally reach Uttarkashi, you can take one night or another day to rest here; you can visit the nearby local market and relish some local food. Next, you can take local taxis/buses or book a cab to Gangotri. “Gangotri” is cuddled in the majestic Garhwal Himalayas, comprising glaciers and dense forests of Deodar. It is one of the pilgrimage sites known as Char Dhams. The Goddess Ganga is embodied and is worshipped in this temple.
When you are new to a place, especially at this altitude, you should give it a day or so to acclimate to the environment. Then, take a walk outside to explore the nearby area, and feed yourself with local mountain cuisine.
Now, it is recommended you should get a good sleep because the next day is going to be a long day. So pack your rucksack, and the trekking guide/agencies will provide the other necessities. So the next day, the trek will begin after sunrise. The brief itinerary of the tour is like this:-
● Gangotri to Bhoj Kharak, approximately at the height of (13,220 ft) is around 7-8 km, depending on your walking speed and how slow and fast you can trek. Generally, you feel pumped with enthusiasm, but with excitement, you may feel drained more quickly if you walk faster. So, why not enjoy the view and take it dreamily? The bhoj forest and the height altitude meadows are worth it. Till here, the trek is relatively tough with few tricky points. You can stay here for the night at the campsite and get the natural water stream. At the same time, at night, you witness the majestic night sky. The next day, try waking up before sunrise and becoming a spectator of the light in the mountains.
● Next is Bhoj Kharak to Kedar Kharak (14,240 ft) (7-8 km). This part is challenging, comprising a steep climb; you must cross the river and the rock fall zone. Here the camping side is broader and nearer to the river stream.
● Kedar Kharak to Kedar Tal (15,500 ft)
● Now you are at an altitude of about 4800 metres. Everything around will be surreal. You might never witness such mesmerising mountains as Mt Thalaysagar, Mt Bhrigupanth, Manda Parvat, Mt Jogin, and Mt Gangotri right before your eyes.
● You can stay overnight here and camp beside the lake if the weather is pleasant. Then, you can lie down and look up at the crystal-clear starry sky.
● The following day, you can take a holy dip in the water of this lake. There is a famous anecdote related to this: Lord Shiva consumed the water of this tal to neutralise the poison he took to avert the calamity of the universe.
● After that, then, back to Kedar Kharak, to Gangotri, there is the descending trail on rocky terrains.
2. Saptarishi Kund
This mountain lake is located at almost 4421m. It is one of the most difficult Himalayas lake treks. It appears dark and bluish. It is located near one of the char dhams in Uttarakhand, Yamunotri. This glacial mountain lake is the source where the river Yamuna originates. Like the river Ganga, the Yamuna is one of the most sacred rivers in India. When you make up your mind to travel this way, you have booked with any of the porters with good reviews; you can opt for the service from Yamunotri.
After taking an international flight to Delhi, you have to reach Dehradun. Then from here, you can book a cab or opt for a shared taxi to Barkot Uttarkashi; once you reach Barkot again, you can get a shared taxi to Jankichatti, the road network to Yamunotri is not well entrenched with the road network, so once you reach Jankichatti it is a mixed trail of 5-6 km towards the Yamunotri temple. While visiting the temple, you can stay on the temple premises and indulge in divinity and devotion. Then the next day, early morning, all the arrangements for the trek will be made by porters.
● The Saptrishi Kund trek is almost 10 km above Yamunotri, typically a summer trek. The trails of this trek are untouched, and rarely do people travel here.
● The entire journey travels through rough mountain terrain and dense forests.
● Try to stay in a little campsite between two rivulets about 5 km up the hill.
● The following day start early for the trek, and when you are about to reach, you become a beholder of the picturesque Bandarpunch Mountain range. Saptarishi Kund is situated in the stunning and alluring backdrop of towering glaciers covered in scattered rocks.
● This lake collects water from the neighbouring glaciers. Slate stones that were formed naturally line the Saptarishi Kund Lake’s shores. You can discover an abundance of Brahma Lotus flourishes near the lake.
3. Vasuki Tal
Vasuki Tal is a glacial mountain lake located about 8 miles from Kedarnath at the height of 4135m. The journey from Kedarnath to Vasuki Tal is a steady elevation over a winding path. It can be challenging for novice trekkers; it is recommended that you have experience with one or two mountain hikes before going here. Most of the time, trekkers start in groups of at least six people. You will need a guide to complete the Vasuki Tal hike.
One can get a magnificent view of the chaukhamba peak around this tranquil lake. The way is full of boulders, and the weather here is unpredictable. One can experience snowy winds here from noon. The anecdote behind this lake is that Lord Vishnu took a bath in this lake on Raksha Bandhan.
It is near Kedarnath, one of the four holy shrines (char dhams). Here lord shiva is worshipped. So, after taking a flight to Delhi, if you want to reach it in one go, you can book a cab or come in a roadways bus of Uttarakhand from Delhi to Guptkashi, which is thirty kilometres away from Gaurikund, which is the last motorable place near Kedarnath. Or the other way, you can come to Dehradun and then book a cab or come in a shared taxi to Guptkashi. When you reach Guptkashi, after resting for a few hours in your hotel, you can roam around the place where you can visit the famous “Khasi Vishwanath Temple.” From here, on the same day, you can go to Gaurikund and stay there to feel rejuvenated.
From Gaurikund, Kedarnath is almost 18 km, and the trail is mixed with steep gradients and regular plane trails. There are lots of eatery shops throughout the way, and you get to see a few fountains on your way. Besides the course is this river Mandakini flowing parallelly with an ethereal thrumming sound, like the constant roll of a drum, glinting brightly.
If you start early, you will reach Kedarnath by evening, depending on your walking speed. Likewise, in the evening, take a dip into the evening aarti and embrace the high resonance of this holy place. The mantra chanting, the lighting of temples, and the mountains everywhere will make you a beholder of once in a lifetime spiritual experience. The next day after attending the morning aarti at the temple, you can start your trek with your guide.
Start early in the morning as we go to Vasuki Tal, a high-altitude lake near Vasuki Peak that Vasuki Glacier feeds. The legend explains the lake’s significance in the religion Lord Vishnu bathed there. In addition, it has a breathtaking emerald beauty with calm surroundings and crystal-pure water.
Along the path, you might see the revered Brahma kamal, the state flower, and a variety of other vibrant blooms. The best time to visit this lake is around May-June and September-October.
● While the initial 3–4 kilometres are pretty simple to walk, the next stretch is more difficult to cross because of an increase in steepness. However, every image is worthwhile due to the stunning views of Chaukhamba Peaks and other Himalayan peaks.
● On crossing the steep trail and boulder for 4 km, you can see a glimpse of the splendid lake from a few metres.
● If you wish to stay here, you can, but before finalising the camping, you must check the weather status in that area. The weather here is unpredictable. Consider the advice of your guide, and if the weather favours, this will be a memorable night.
● You can see the mountain’s reflection in the lake water when the sky is clear.
● The following day- wake up fresh and enjoy tea and coffee besides this lake view.
● Before you return to this lake, try taking some water from here as a memory, as this crystal clear water is full of minerals and will surely make you feel quenched.
Then after coming back to Kedarnath the following day, it will take 5-6 hours to reach Gaurikund and then Guptkashi and commence your journey home.
4. Satopanth Tal
Satopanth Tal is a green-coloured triangle lake engulfed with snow-capped mountains at the height of 4600 metres above sea level. It is located close to the Badrinath Shrine in the Chamoli district of Uttarakhand. In addition to its spiritual importance, Satopanth has become one of Uttarakhand’s most well-known treks. The raw trails of the Satopanth trek offer an unobstructed view of the snow-crested Himalayan ranges. The journey to this 24km trek will fill your mind and soul with euphoria and bliss.
● After taking a flight to Delhi, if you are travelling internationally, you have to reach Rishikesh/Dehradun; in any one of these places, you can book a cab or local transport, any bus/taxi from here to Joshimath.
● Once you reach here, check into the hotel and stay overnight as it is a long and tiresome journey.
● The next day, travel to Badrinath temple and pay obeisance to the deity. You can explore the local market and take a holy dip in the hot spring of tapt kund to buck up for the upcoming journey.
● The next day after breakfast, commence your journey by travelling on a short trek to Vasudhara waterfall, near the last village on the Indo-Tibetan border (Mana).
● From Vasudhara, the walk becomes steep when you listen to the humming sound of the Alkananda river and the breathtaking glimpses of the valley.
● After walking through the forest for a few hours, you reach a place named “Laxmivan”, which will be your campsite for the night.
● The following day, when you start, you pass by the vibrant flowers and witness the steadfast peaks of Kamet, Mana, Deoban and Mandir Parbat from a distance.
● After passing tricky trails, you reach the camping grounds of a “Chakratirtha.”
● The next day when you step out of our camp, it’s time to get drenched in the enchanting view of arduous mountain peaks.
● From here, just a few more tricky turns, and you will be there on the ridge, and from there, you can see the first glimpse of the triangular-shaped emerald-coloured lake.
● After spending some time in the beautiful ambience of this lake, you can descend to Chakratirtha within a few hours.
● You can stay here for the night.
● The following day, when you wake up to the birds’ lively chirping, you can descend to Mana and then to Badrinath after breakfast.
Endnote
After a long year of work, consider planning a trip to the mountains. Whether you go alone or with family, these peaceful locations can help clear your mind and keep you grounded. Take a break from the monotony of everyday life and venture into nature for a rejuvenating escape. Start packing your bags and plan your next adventure today.
Status
As in 2013
June 6, 2013: The Times of India
NEW DELHI: As many as 4,699 lakes in the Indian Himalayan region at an altitude above 3000-m above mean sea level have been found in an ISRO study revealing the wonders of Himalayas.
According to the first Atlas on High Altitude Lakes of the hills, the largest lake is Pangong Tso.
It is a long narrow lake spread over the Indian and Chinese territory in the upper drainage basin of the Indus river, at the east end of the Karakoram Range, says the study.
The study also cracks the belief that Tso Lhamo lake or Chho Lhamo or Cholamu lake --the source of river Teesta--is India's highest lake, located at an altitude of 5,330 m in eastern Himalaya. The new highest lakes altitudinal distribution shows that lakes are detected up to 6000m altitude. Most of these are very small and mapped as point feature. Among the sizable lakes with at least 25 hectares area, the highest one is observed in western Himalaya at 5749 m in Jammu and Kashmir. "A total of 4699 High Altitude lakes have been mapped. This includes 1996 small lakes (2.25 hecatres area). The total area of high altitude lakes is 126125 hectares," it says. In eastern Himalaya, lakes above 5000-m are observed in the state of Sikkim. A cluster of large lakes are nestled at the altitude of 5000 m in the north-eastern side of the Kanchanjangha range (Khangchengyao), next to the Tibetan plateau. One of the lakes in this cluster is Cholamu lake. It is a small lake formed by the melting of the Teesta Khaytse glacier. The reported depth of the lake is around 5.5 m.
