Chandar Tal – The Moon Lake, Lahaul Spiti :

 Chandra Taal, literally meaning the 'Lake of the Moon', is an enchanting lake presenting a breathtaking beauty of nature at an altitude of about 4300 metres in the majestic Himalayas. The crescent shape of the lake makes it a spectacular spot, also rendering the name Chandra Taal to it.

The lake is situated in the Spiti region of Lahaul and Spiti district in Himachal Pradeshwith mountains of scree dotting on one side of the lake and a magnificent cirque (steep walled basin) on the other side. It is a popular destination for trekkers and campers. Vast meadows carpet the banks of the lake forming wondrous camping sites. During the spring season, these meadows get ornamented with vivid wild blooms. The pristine white Chandra Bhaga mountain range creates a mesmerising backdrop of Chandra Taal. The place is bestowed with unmatched scenic charm. 

Chandra Taal lake is on the Samudra Tapu plateau, which overlooks the Chandra River. The name of the lake originates from its crescent shape. It is at an altitude of about 4,300 metres (14,100 ft) in the Himalayas. Mountains of scree overlook the lake on one side, and a cirque encloses it on the other.

History :

 Chandra Taal is believed to have discovered by traders who arrived from Tibet or Ladakh to this region. The traders used to take rest after a tiring journey at the lake side before resuming their journey to Spiti or Kullu. Indian mythology states that the King of Gods, Indra, descended on his chariot at Chandra Taal for transporting Yudhisthir, eldest of the five Pandavas, to heaven in his mortal form. According to the local beliefs the lake is visited by fairies at night. 

Features :

The most amazing feature of the lake is the lack of any visible source. However an outlet of the lake can be seen. This signifies that the lake possibly gets water from underground. The colour of the lake appears Prussian blue during the day and greenish during the evening. It often changes its hue with the changing colour of the sky. The lake is situated on a plateau named Samudra Tapu overlooking the Chandra River which originates from a glacier near Bara-lacha-la. The beautiful lake forms one of the two high-altitude wetlands of the country that has been enlisted amongst the Ramsar sites. Chandra Taal is a sweet water lake having a width of about 2.5 kilometres.  The lake is one of two high-altitude wetlands of India which have been designated as Ramsar sites.

Access :

Chandra Taal is a tourist destination for trekkers and campers. The lake is accessible on foot from Batal as well as from Kunzum Pass from late May to early October. There is also a motor road accessible as far as a parking lot 2 kilometres (1.2 mi) from the lake. The route from Kunzum Pass was accessible only on foot before, but now motorcycles and 4x4 cars do travel this distance where you take a right cut from a T-point, the road to left leads to Bataal. It takes approximately two hours from Kunzum Pass to Chandra Taal. Chandra Taal is also accessible from Suraj Tal, 30 km (19 mi) away.

               Chandertal lake alias the moon lake is a crescent-shaped basin, surrounded by the gigantic Himalayan Mountains on all the sides. The lake is located in Spiti district of Himachal Pradesh at an elevation of 14100 ft. Earlier, the lake was the resting point for the traders and voyagers who used to come from Tibet or Ladakh.

The Chandertal Lake is accessible only during the summer months i.e. June, July, August and September, and for the rest of the year the lake remains frozen. One will get awestruck when they will see that the color of the lake keeps on changing with the color of the sky. The shimmering lake is flanked by the green-carpeted Chandra Baga mountain range.

As per the legends, it is the spot from where Lord Indra took the eldest Pandava brother, Yudhishtra in his human form to Swarga, in his chariot. People of the neighbouring villages believe that the lake is often visited by fairies at midnight.

Chandertal Lake is a treat for all the trekkers and adventure enthusiast as it is the starting line of the famous, Batal - Chandratal Lake-Baralacha Pass trek (the moon trek) which takes them to the cool forest, valleys, undiscovered monasteries, etc. Chandertal lake is one the famous and the least explored lake of Himachal Pradesh, without any doubt. The lake is flanked by gigantic mountains which turn into a bed of wildflowers during winters.