The divinely beautiful lake reflects myriad hues ranging from reddish-orange to turquoise blue to shiny emerald as the day progresses. The changing colors add an element of mystery to the magical ambiance of the lake. These contrasting colors and stark landscapes sprinkle the entire panorama with shades of rainbow that the lake is so famous for.
At night, the moon casts a silver shimmer on its pristine waters and soaks the entire surroundings in a silvery spell. The mammoth hills encompassing the lake stand tall as if trying to delve deeper into the mystery of the elusive lake.
Believed to be the abode of Moon God, the luminous Chandra Taal lake leaves little for imagination! It never fails your expectations rather floors you with an ambiance so divine that you become a fan for a lifetime!
Chandratal Lake Location
Beautifully nestled between the mountains of Spiti Valley on Samudra Tal plateau, Chandratal is a 2.5 km wide freshwater lake that beckons tourists from all across the world.At an astounding altitude of 14,100 feet, the Chandra Taal lake is strategically located at a distance of 9 km from Kunzum Pass in the Spiti Valley. It is surrounded by the expansive grassy land which was a glacier once. It was also a popular trading spot for traders from Tibet and Ladakh.
With a rambling landscape characteristic of the hermetical Spiti Valley, the lake is a popular trekking location because of its moderate trekking gradient.
It’s proximity from Manali, the picturesque tourist locale, makes it a hotspot for trekkers and travellers alike.
The history behind Chandratal Lake Touted as one of the sacred lakes of the Hindus, the lake attracts hordes of Hindu devotees to its holy waters. It is the origin of the Himalayan river Chandra, one of the tributaries of river Chenab.As eerie as it may sound but the mythical Chandra Taal lake has not one but three legends attached to it.
The most famous folklore revolves around the two lovebirds by the name of Chandra, the loving daughter of Moon God and Bhaga, the bright son of Sun God. Both madly in love but as destiny would have it, their parents did not approve of their alliance. They decided to elope from Baralacha La, the Pass where they met for the first time. Somehow, they could not meet there but met someplace else where they performed a celestial wedding. You can see the effervescent Chandrabhaga River at that spot which stands testimony to their heavenly alliance. The lakes Suraj Tal and Chandratal individually created by them still reverberate with the mystery of their romance.
The celebrated lake of Chandra Taal also finds its mention in Hindu mythology. It is widely believed that the chariot of Lord Indra (the revered God of Rain) took Yudhishthir to his heavenly abode at this very location.
History has it that a shepherd from Hansa Village in Spiti valley fell in love with a mermaid residing in the glacial lake. Their love blossomed under the icy waters of the angelic lake. Mythology believes that even today shepherds halt here to look for their long-lost friend.
