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A Tent Near Chandratal Lake, Spiti, Himalayas

The Mesmerizing Chandratal

Posted on July 24, 2014April 20, 2021

After walking for 14 kilometers or so, I was happy to crawl into my tent which others had kindly pitched. Dilip and I were sharing the tent. What I didn’t like though, was the rain. It had been falling incessantly since we started trekking. Only rain in  Spiti means light tip tip drops. You will not get really wet but it can be mighty annoying. It is also annoying because the clouds cover all the view. I mean here I was so close to Chandratal Lake and yet I was not running down to it because of the weather! I told Vishal, “Chandratal is a myth!”

After walking for such a long time, I didn’t take much time to doze off. I was snug in my sleeping bag, I was out of the rain and wind and I was so tired. Thankfully my ankle and knee were not giving any major trouble after the fall. I woke up only when Ramakant ji gave us some tea in the tent! I was even more annoyed that the rain was still falling without a break. After the tea, I managed to doze off once again.

This time I woke up when it was trying to get dark. Vishal gave us soup and pop corns to eat. They were the best pop corns I ever had. Dilip and I were on a cribbing spree about the weather. I mean here I was after walking 14 kilometers, only to get cooped in my tent and listen to rain, rain and some more rain! I was telling Dilip that I spent more time looking at the roof of the tent that I did at the Chandratal Lake!

Before the pop corns arrived I was also telling Dilip that the only thing that remained now was to spill over the small quantity of tea left at the bottom of the glasses inside the tent. He offered to take the glasses out, stumbled near the outer flap of the tent but thankfully spilled the leftover tea on the grass. He is 6 foot plus and then it was his turn to cribb out the height of the tent. I agreed it felt like murgi ka darba (hen’s coop) with nowhere to run and the only place to hide from the rains.

Darkness fell and the weather was such that no one went to the lake. Sometime later we had dinner and turned in for the night. I was hoping for better weather in the morning.

The Chandratal Lake, Spiti
The Chandratal Lake, Spiti #Canon550D

The next morning was not too great weather wise. It was a short walk to the lake after I finished drinking a cup of tea. But even in that cloudy grey weather Chandratal looked majestic. I really truly want to go back the next year later in the season, I would be praying for clear skies! As I said, I spent more time inside the tent than by the lake but even then it was worth walking all those kilometers. I would do it again without thinking twice, if the road is closed.

At the Chandratal Lake, Spiti
Me at the Chandratal Lake, Spiti #Sony

I feel truly blessed to be able to walk up to the lake and a glimpse of it. I visited Spiti in 2007 but I could not go to the Chandratal Lake then. I went back to the region after 7 long years. It would be 10 years since I have not been to Ladakh. I have to set the other count right and soon! And I hope I would never wait for another 7 years to go back to Spiti. Being back in the plains gives me low altitude sickness.

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37 thoughts on “The Mesmerizing Chandratal”

  1. Tushar says:
    July 24, 2014 at 5:36 pm

    Tea and Soup was from Dhaba or you guys cooked it?

    Reply
    1. Mridula says:
      August 2, 2014 at 12:03 pm

      It was from our own kitchen Tushar!

      Reply
  2. sindhoooo says:
    July 24, 2014 at 6:32 pm

    The snowy clouds, the green water and the colourful hills surrounding are just awesome! Heavenly views Mridula! Are those white patches are waterfalls?

    Reply
    1. Mridula says:
      August 2, 2014 at 12:01 pm

      Those white patches are snow Sindhu. 😀

      Reply
  3. Lata Saun says:
    July 24, 2014 at 7:32 pm

    awesome pic and lovely place

    Reply
    1. Mridula says:
      August 2, 2014 at 11:58 am

      Thank you Lata.

      Reply
  4. deepa says:
    July 24, 2014 at 11:11 pm

    Heavenly place and beautiful photos 🙂

    Reply
    1. Mridula says:
      August 2, 2014 at 11:57 am

      Thank you Deepa.

      Reply
  5. Meghana says:
    July 25, 2014 at 8:48 am

    Wow, such an amazing experience. And I wished it had not poured so much, n we had got more to see frm the lake.

    Reply
    1. Mridula says:
      August 2, 2014 at 11:55 am

      Meghana so I will go back next year!

      Reply
  6. Rahmath says:
    July 25, 2014 at 9:30 am

    How did you start traveling Mridula? I just cannot conquer whatever it is that keeps me back. Which was your first trip?

    Reply
    1. Mridula says:
      August 2, 2014 at 11:53 am

      Rahmath that would be in childhood with parents! 😀 But it is really with my husband I started trekking and then due to the blog took off to many places!

      Reply
  7. Vivek says:
    July 25, 2014 at 11:35 am

    Going there next weekend..so excited 🙂 🙂 🙂

    Reply
    1. Mridula says:
      August 2, 2014 at 11:52 am

      Have a great time.

      Reply
  8. Chaitalibhattacharjee says:
    July 25, 2014 at 12:13 pm

    Mridula i so much envy you now…

    Reply
    1. Mridula says:
      August 2, 2014 at 11:51 am

      Chaitali 😀 😀 😀

      Reply
  9. Niranjan says:
    July 25, 2014 at 1:36 pm

    Chandratal looks so surreal!

    Reply
    1. Mridula says:
      August 2, 2014 at 11:49 am

      It is indeed surreal!

      Reply
  10. Abhijit says:
    July 25, 2014 at 3:41 pm

    Majestic lake and mountain.

    Reply
    1. Mridula says:
      August 2, 2014 at 11:46 am

      Thank you Abhijit.

      Reply
  11. Seeta says:
    July 25, 2014 at 4:39 pm

    loved that tiny brook gurgling in the meadow… 🙂

    Reply
    1. Mridula says:
      August 2, 2014 at 11:45 am

      Thank you Seeta.

      Reply
  12. Bikram says:
    July 25, 2014 at 8:22 pm

    wowow that is such a majestic place.. beautiful pictures

    Bikram’s

    Reply
    1. Mridula says:
      August 2, 2014 at 11:44 am

      Thank you Bikram.

      Reply
  13. myunfinishedlife says:
    July 26, 2014 at 9:31 pm

    amazing shots!!!…ita been 7 years too since I trekked (which is basically since i got married as the husband prefers relaxed slow travel!!)……

    http://www.myunfinishedlife.com

    Reply
    1. Mridula says:
      August 2, 2014 at 11:43 am

      Sushmita trekking takes you to some of the remote areas but I understand the lure of relaxed travel! 😀

      Reply
  14. Megha says:
    July 28, 2014 at 2:31 pm

    This lake does look like a myth.. A beautiful dream..

    Reply
    1. Mridula says:
      August 2, 2014 at 11:42 am

      Megha I am going back again!

      Reply
  15. Mridula says:
    August 2, 2014 at 11:48 am

    Yes Kalpana, normally you don’t need to trek as there is a jeep road but when we went the road was not open! It is a stunning place.

    Reply
  16. mitali desai says:
    August 11, 2014 at 2:18 pm

    Wooww…….this word just came out of my mouth looking at your pictures…
    It’s been so long that I couldn’t go out with my family due to some professional reasons and I know I m gonna regret this at the age of 40….
    But seriously You have captured awesome clicks….

    Reply
    1. Mridula says:
      August 11, 2014 at 2:42 pm

      Thank you Mitali. And I am on the other side of 40 😀

      Reply
      1. Mitali Desai says:
        August 11, 2014 at 3:07 pm

        hahaahaha…..then you won’t regret at the age of 80….

        Reply
        1. Mridula says:
          August 20, 2014 at 11:58 am

          Very true 😀

          Reply
  17. Greg says:
    August 20, 2014 at 11:41 am

    Hi,

    May I know do you book the tent at Chandratal in advance?

    Greg

    Reply
    1. Mridula says:
      August 20, 2014 at 11:56 am

      Hi Greg,

      One way is to go to Batal and inquire there about the tents. They are usually available. Another way is to leave a message to Ramakant ji who was my guide https://www.facebook.com/manalitreks he is a local and would know some phone numbers of people organizing the tents. Hope this helps a bit.

      Reply
      1. Greg says:
        August 20, 2014 at 12:09 pm

        Thank you! Will contact Ramakant ji to find out more 🙂

        Reply
        1. Mridula says:
          August 20, 2014 at 12:14 pm

          If you drop me a line at mridulablog at gmail dot com I can give you his number.

          Reply

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About Me

I am Mridula Dwivedi and I started this blog in 2005. It has been an amazing ride. I have visited 33 countries till date! I have worked with many tourism boards and prominent travel companies. My blog was featured on the BBC and the Guardian.

I did my Ph.D. from IIT Kanpur. I worked full time in academics till 2015! I quit my job as a professor, thinking I will take a break for one year, which turned into five.

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