Mesmerized at the hidden wonder of nature at 14000ft, for the love of mountains!!
The coronavirus has changed all our lives, professionally and personally. Life, as we know it, had come to a complete standstill. Bloggers like us who recovered from COVID made the most of this time to look at newer aspects of traveling. As things start getting back to the so-called new normal, travel, especially domestic travel, will look very different. From reworking our content strategy to acquiring new skills, we have been gradually adapting to the changing times and working on fitness levels, so as to start with a bang!!!
As the roads opened, all we wanted was to be back on them and feel the sense of freedom that we had been missing for so long. Road trips are all about that adrenaline rush, and when we are behind the wheel, we feel free. We feel liberated. We feel alive!
Trekking is perhaps the only activity in the world that is as good for the soul as it is for the body. And yet, people fail to pen down their thoughts on it. The technicalities and descriptions may be elaborated upon, but the emotions felt on a trek can never truly be justified with ink and paper. It can only be experienced and relived time and again via memories and photographs. The less you say about the trekking, the more you reveal. We will try to enlighten you on the absolute thrill, adventure, and beauty that await you on the Buran Ghati Chandranahan Lake trek, but we will most definitely fall short in explaining the magic and mystery that are to engulf you in your expedition. The lake is one of the major attractions that lure trekkers and explorers to take up the Buran Ghati trek in Himachal Pradesh. The lake’s beauty is so appealing that there is a separate trek where the main destination is the lake itself.
This is a trek for thrill-seekers to test their adrenaline rush and for photographers who want to capture the splendid nature.The trek starts from the heritage village of Janglikh, and then comes Simbar Thach, Dayara Thach, and Litham Thach, and then seven glacial lakes at the top. The word “Thach” means a large flat area in hilly areas where goats and other animals use it for grazing. Our guide Vikas was calm and composed and had so many hiking stories to share. Indeed, a joy to be with.
On the first day, the trail begins from Janglik and takes you into deep forests of deodar, oak, and pine before exposing you to the majestic panorama that is the Dayara thach. While going through the thick jungle, a quick peek at the luscious apple orchards can be found. These fields that greet you could easily become one of the single-greatest scenic views you have laid your eyes on. Acres of bright green grass carpet the meadow, and the snowy-white peak mountains of the Greater Himalayas border it, almost as if protecting it from the evil eye. A trek to this place is no less than a walk into paradise, going through endless meadows, alpine forests, gurgling streams, glaciers, and a huge waterfall. There are no resorts, no tourist dhabas on the road, and no maddening crowds of tourists……. just me and me around!!
On the second day, the trek will start from Dayara campsites to Litham campsite. This day, you are going to be in meadows, pine and oak forests, cross a water stream, and see the Dhauladhar Range and Gunas Pass. The sunshine, breathing into the clouds, and a walk into the green forest—your eyes will continue to brighten. This trail passes through huge meadows with spellbinding scenery. To walk in nature is to witness a thousand miracles. After crossing the forest, you will get a crystal-clear view of Litham and will also see Chandranahan stream, after crossing this stream, you will reach the Litham campsite, which is similar to Kashmir. The serenity of the place and the spiritual aroma of the environment are tremendous. Words can’t adequately describe the view of the waterfall, around 30 metres up. Watching this amazing and scenic view of crystal-clear water, it feels like we are standing in heaven somewhere. The grand night with stars and mountains made us feel special.
On the third day, early morning from Litham, a half-hour’s walk via a carefully marked trail leads you to the waterfall.From the waterfall to the lake is another hour away but the journey can prove to be quite perilous owing to the muddy terrain. Although the trek to the lake can often get physically taxing, the beauty and bounties of nature keep you well mesmerised throughout your voyage, urging you to make it to the gorgeous lake. Upon reaching the lake, you can while your time away by sitting on the surrounding meadow as you lose yourself in the mystifying beauty of Chandranahan Lake, further accentuated by the bordering snow-cloaked mountains. The lakes are smaller bodies of crystal clear greenish-blue water. However, the last in the series is of greater density and is truly attractive.
Chandranahan, constituting 7 glacial ponds, is the point of origin of the Pabbar River and is located on the south-eastern slopes of the main Himalayas, which lie to the northwest of Rohru in the Shimla district of Himachal Pradesh. Although this is not a popular trek and may only be known to a handful of people, don’t make the mistake of thinking that it is any less adventurous, fun, or appealing in comparison to other treks. Depending on the month you have organized your trek, the weather and temperature at Chandranahan Lake will vary greatly. During the April and May months, the emerald water of the lake remains placid and still. The lake, however, remains frozen for the majority of the year, so the temperature surrounding the area often falls into the negatives. A sharp drop in temperature around the lake is noted after sunset, which is why trekkers are urged to return to the Litham campsite before lunch. But whether you found it in a free-flowing or frozen state, the Chandranahan Lake’s beauty is a vision like no other.
Chandranahan Lake is not just like any other lake; it has historical, mythological, and geographical significance as well. It is believed that the lake’s location is the exact place where Goddess used to stay, back in the day. The lake is also known as a holy abode, and Goddess is believed to visit the lake for a ritual bath once every eight years or so. This is why the place is called Chandra-Nahan, meaning “bath of Chandra.” The devotees consider the lake a sacred abode of the goddess, who in turn is considered the caretaker of all the people living in the Rohru valley. It is a highly revered lake for the inhabitants of the valley. The lake weather is something you would never be able to forget, with the serene scent of pure air and the mesmerising surroundings. The cold weather adds to the aesthetics of the place and makes for a trip filled with unforgettable memories.
Surrounded by the snow-capped mountains, Pabbar river, purple flourish meadows, and the most amazing fresh air with the spiritual environment, it seems that the adventurous trek comes worth every single problem and that pain which we have gone through throughout our journey to Chandernahan trek just vanished away. It feels like nature itself heals us from all the pain, negativity, and problems and fills us with positivity, also gives us the satisfaction of experiencing true adventure that no one can imagine.
Traveling frees your soul and teaches you things that no classroom does. Traveling transforms you into the person you are, but your daily routine does not allow you to be. Now, this is just enough for anyone to get their bags and leave for Chandranahan Lake. Don’t you also want to get hitched for a ride to Chandranahan Lake? You do, right? Go ahead and feel the experience.
