Brief Description
The Chandranahan Lake Winter Trek is one of the most beautiful winter treks near Shimla and in the Himalayas. Being able to trek in winters in Himachal Pradesh is absolute bliss and this trek proves it with its spellbinding winter scenery. Taking you to the source of the Pabbar River, this trail forms the route to Buran Ghati Pass in the summer months, yet few people visit this region in winter. This trail passes through huge meadows covered with snow, the Chandranahan waterfall and seven frozen glacial lakes. Starting from the pretty village of Janglik, the Chandranahan Lake Winter Trek is straight out of a fairytale with its beautiful snow covered trails and crisp white winter landscapes surrounding this beautiful lake. At a height of 13,800 ft the trek to Chandranahan Lake in winter is one of the most scintillating experiences. The snowy landscapes stand out and the campsites are easily approachable thus making this winter journey very exciting. The best months to enjoy this snow-laden trek is from December to March. Stay on this page for more information on the Chandranahan Lake Winter Trek.
Itinerary
Itinerary
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Shimla to Janglik - 150 km Drive
Report in Shimla early morning by 7 AM and board your vehicles for the drive to the roadhead at Janglik. Overnight in hotel/guest house at Janglik.
Janglik to Dayara Thatch
We will start our trek by walking through the Janglik village. We will pass thick forests and wide meadows, all covered with snow to reach Dayara Thatch.
Dayara Thatch to Litham Thatch
Today's walk is through more snow covered meadows to Litham Thatch, with the frozen Chandranahan waterfall nearby. We will camp near the waterfall.
Litham Thatch to Chandranahan Lakes and back to Litham Thatch
This day will be spent exploring seven lakes near our campsite that form the source of the Pabbar River. We will return to Litham Thatch for the night.
Litham Thatch to Simir Thatch
Today, we will retrace our steps back to Simir Thatch, passing through Dayara Thatch on the way.
Simir Thatch to Shimla via Janglik
We will hike back to Janglik today, and board our vehicles for the return journey to Shimla. The trip ends here.
Frequently Asked Questions
Pick your question
Eligibility: Is this trek good for me?
Chandranahan Lake Winter Trek is made for both beginners and experienced trekkers who want to experience a gorgeous snow-clad winter trek with zero foot traffic. However, the challenges faced in the trek should not be underestimated. It is recommended to have some prior trekking experience as this trek takes you to a height of 4200m in Winters with a good amount of snow on the trail. It is imperative that you get acclimatized to high altitudes. Besides you need to have a strong physical endurance to complete this trek. On Bikat Scale Chandranahan Lake difficulty level is 4. For details on trek difficulty level, please read on Bikat Rating Scale
Eligibility: Experience required
Even though beginners can opt for this trek it is recommended that you have trekking experience of at least 5-7 trek days in the Himalayas in your kitty. Chandranahan Winter Lake trek takes you to an altitude of 4200 meters, it is advisable that a person must have prior experience of trekking at altitudes of or more than 3500 meters.
Eligibility: Requisite skills
How to use an Ice Axe
How to use Climbing boots & Crampons
How to rope up & follow queued climbing/descending
How to self-arrest using an ice axe
Knowledge of Basic First aid
Eligibility: Fitness benchmark
Jog/Run for 5 Kms in 25-30 mins Or Walk continuously for 10 kms (with 3-4 small breaks) on plain terrain (slight incline is better) and
Hold your breath for 40 seconds and
3 sets of Climbing 30 – 40 steps in one stretch and
Push Ups – 10 and
Lunges & Squats – 15 X 2 sets
If you are not meeting these benchmarks, please use the preparation schedule to improve your fitness till you achieve the above benchmarks.
About the activity: Why should I go for this trek?
Chandranahan Lake Winter Trek - Himachal
One of the best winter treks in the Himalayas and probably the best in Himachal Pradesh, the Chandranahan Lake Winter Trek takes you from the stunning village of Janglik on the Buran Ghati trail which in winter will be covered with a thick blanket of snow. With snow-clad campsites and whitewashed mountains in the backdrop, the winter journey to Chandranahan Lake is an absolute delight to both beginners and experienced trekkers who wish to explore a less tead path. Be awe-struck by the snowy campsites, frozen waterfalls and 7 glacial lakes.Best Season: What are the best months to visit this trek?
The best months to do the Chandranahan Winter Lakes trek is between December to March.
Packing List: What to pack
Click here for packing list.
Packing List: How should I pack my rucksack?
Packing List: How should I select my trekking shoe?
Connectivity: How to Reach the base of the trek & how to go back from the end point?
The base camp for this trek is Janglik, 152 km from Shimla. Once you reach Shimla, you can either opt for transport to Janglik with us, or hire a private taxi. Alternately, you can take a bus from Shimla to Rohru. From Rohru, Chirgaon is about 15 kms and can be reached by a shared vehicle which takes about 1 hour. Further from Chrigaon, Tangnu is about 22 km and takes another hour to reach. Shared vehicles are available, but less frequently. From Tangnu, walk to Janglik on a jeep-able road. It about an hour's walk.
By Air: Shimla is well connected to Delhi and other cities of India by air. Air India runs a daily 7:45 am flight from Delhi to Shimla. You can also fly to Chandigarh or Delhi and take a taxi or bus to Shimla from there.
By Rail: If you are travelling by railways, then Kalka is your station. From Kalka, drive to Shimla which is an hour and a half journey. Buses and private taxis are easily available on this route.
By Road: There are daily overnight buses for Shimla from Delhi from Kashmere Gate ISBT and take about 11 - 12 hours.
Connectivity: What is the cellular network connectivity for this trek?
Airtel has good connectivity up till Janglik. Vodafone and BSNL also have spotty coverage in Janglik. Once we start the trek, you may get Airtel coverage at a hut 2 kms before Dayara and a large boulder in Lithum. Apart from this, you will not get coverage.
Nearby attraction: What are the nearby attractions that I can explore?
Chanshal: Like the resplendant crown for a noble face the snow cald Chanshal range rises above the Pabbar valley. At 4220 m, the Chanshal pass which opens from May to October is the link to Dodra Kwar. The Chansal area also has some excellent ski slopes.
Hanol Mahasu Temple: Hanol Mahasu temple is situated at an altitude of 1429 m in the village of Hanol, 55 km from Rohru on the eastern bank of the Taons. This temple constructed in Huna style architecture is dedicated to Mahasu. The Hanol temple is said to the originating place of all the deities of the area of Rohru and Jubbal. Tradition recounts that a demon lived here and killed the people, one by one each day. A devotee of Lord Shiva in Mandrath challenged the custom and prayed to Shiva for help. This ardent devotee of the lord- Deolari Devi, a resident of Hanol, was being directed by God. Accordingly, she sent her four sons to Mandrath, where from a field they obtained four Shivlings. The shivlings were given the names of the four young men. Meanwhile the demon was killed by the four sons and the villagers thereafter started worshipping Shiva as Mahasu.
Shikhru Devta Temple: This is a beautiful temple located in the heart of the town, Shikhru Devta is held in high veneration and is the sight of on annual fair which is celebrated during the month of April every year.
Khara Patthar: As the name says Khara Patthar has huge free standing egg shaped boulder. Worn smooth by aeons of erosion this is a wonder of this area. From here the steady descent of the Pabbar valley begins. Khara pathar is a place that gives expression to the phrase of 'time standing still', Kharapathar is a perfect leisure destination in the heart of nature's generous blessings to the area. Lush forests, wide views, excellent walk and hike trails and the charm of apple orchards make this a perfect leisure destination that is easily accessible by a short drive (85 km) from Shimla.
Age limit: What is the minimum & maximum age limit?
The minimum age limit is 13 years. However, minors aged between 13 to 17 should be accompanied by their parents or guardians. If you are above the age of 60, kindly carry a medical certificate from your doctor that deem you fit for adventure activities like trekking.
Accommodation: What will be the accommodation type in this trek?
When you arrive in Janglik, your stay will be made at a homestay. The rooms will be provided on twin or triple sharing basis. You will receive the details of your accommodation through email few days prior the trek. On trekking days, all the trekkers will be accommodated in twin or triple sharing tents. Along with this, there will be also be a toilet tent and a dining tent installed at every campsite as we roll.
Equipment and facilities: What kind of tents and sleeping bags will be provided to us?
We provide 4 seasons tents by Gipfel for higher altitudes which can easily withstand heavy snowfall and storms. They are spacious enough to accomodate 3 people at once with a vestibule to place the backpacks. Our sleeping bags are made up of Heatseeker Pro synthetic insulation that can provide you comfort in -10 degrees celsius. We also use additional fleece liners to have thermal efficiency even in the extreme temperatures of -17 degrees Celsius. If you carry your own sleeping bag, you will get a cashback reward provided that you inform us as soon as you have booked your trek.
Equipment and facilities: Are there any washroom/toilet facilities on the trek?
Toilet tents will be provided to you on the trek.These are portable toilets tents where a deep pit will be dug. A shovel will be provided inside the tent to cover the waste after you have made your business. You can take a toilet roll inside. Make sure you dig used toilet paper along with the waste. Though water is recommended in place of toilet paper. Please refrain from using wet wipes as they are non-biodegradable. There will be no facility for bathing on the trek. Go through our blog section for tips on how to maintain personal hygiene on treks.
Equipment and facilities: If we trek in snow, what equipment will you provide?
You will be provided with good quality of gaiters and microspikes from us depending upon the situation of the snow. Our trek leaders will also be carrying ropes and ice axe.
Equipment and facilities: What kind of food will be provided for the trek?
Vegetarian food will be served throughout the trek. The only non-vegetarian item served on our treks are eggs. Our kitchen staff follows a proper menu for breakfast, lunch and dinner which has been designed in order to fulfil the nutritional requirements of the participants. There will be milk, poha, eggs, muesli/corn flakes, bread and butter served for breakfast. Rice or simple roti sabzi will be packed for lunch. In dinner, you will have dal, egg curry or any other vegetarian dish along with rice, roti, and a dessert item. Packed lunch will be provided to you on the days you are trekking. You are requested to carry your own tiffin box and a mug to consume food. The meals consumed on journey and arrival day are not included in our cost.
Equipment and facilities: What equipment can I rent from you?
You can rent following items from us- Trekking Pole, Trekking Shoes, Fleece Jacket, Rucksack.
Weather conditions: What will the temperatures be like during this trek?
In winters, during the day, the temperature will range from 10-15 degrees Celsius. The nights will get cold dropping the temperature to 0 to -12 degrees Celsius. The higher the altitude you gain, the colder it gets.
Weather conditions: When will there be snow on this trek?
Yes, there will be a good amount of snow on this trek.
Miscellaneous : Is there an option to offload my backpack?
If you want to offload your rucksack, you will have to make a request for offloading a few days prior the trek through an email so that arrangement can be made in advance. You will be charged per day for offloading your rucksack. In case you decide to offload on the spot, you may have to pay a higher price than usual. However offloading your rucksack is not recommended since it is not a safe practice.
Miscellaneous : Who will lead us on the trek?
A team of participant will be led by a course certified trek leader and a local guide. All participants are requested to abide by what their leader says. There will also be a team of kitchen staff and porters on the trek. We maintain 1:8 ratio of trek leader and participants. All our trek leaders and staff have a certified training in first-aid and rescue operation.
Miscellaneous : Is the trekking pole necessary?
The trekking pole is not mandatory but it is more convenient with the pole. If you don’t want to buy one, you can rent it from us on minimal daily basis charges. You can request the renting link from us.
Miscellaneous : Are there any local stores/shops from where I can shop trekking necessities?
Shimla has a sufficiently large market. However, do not leave anything for last minute buying as there will be no time for shopping because of immediate transportation to Janglik. Janglik is a very small village and it would be difficult to find anything major there. Minor toiletries are available.
Miscellaneous : Is it safe for solo woman traveller to trek in Fixed departures?
Yes, it is absolutely safe for solo woman to travel in fix departures. Women on the trek will be sharing tent with each other. In case you are the only woman on the trek, you will be given a separate tent.
Miscellaneous : Will you give certificates on completion of trek?
Yes, e-certificates will be given at the end of each trek provided that you completed it. It will bear your name, the trek, and the maximum altitude you achieved on the trek.
Transport: In case we opt for the transport with you, where will you pick us from and where will you drop?
The pickup will be from Outside ISBT, Shimla at 7:00 AM to Janglik (the base village of the trek) and the drop on the last day will be at the same place in Shimla by/before 08:00 PM.
Transport: What time will we reach the end point on last day of the trek?
Expect to reach Shimla by 8:00 pm.
Mandatory documents: What are the mandatory documents required for the expedition?
ID Proof (Soft Copy to be sent to us in Advance & original to be carried) and Medical Certificate (Soft Copy to be sent to us & original to be carried) are the mandatory documents required for this trek.
Why Bikat
Why Bikat
Learning Experience
- We are an Adventure Learning Organisation first.
- We want you to not just complete a trek safely but also pick up some basic trekking knowledge and skills along the way.
- To achieve this we have integrated learning modules into our itineraries.
- These modules will help you build the necessary skills to progress from trekking to mountaineering over time.
Loyality Programs
Our community is an integral part of us and we take pride in our trekkers and climbers. When you complete at least three days on any trek or expedition with us, you become eligible for our membership and referral programs.
- Currently we have three levels:
- Basic Membership
- Summiteer Membership
- Leader Membership
Personalized Attention
- Our group sizes on treks don’t exceed 15 members in order to maintain a healthy Participants : Leader Ratio of 8:1.
- Over time we have found this number to be optimum when it comes to ensuring personalised attention to every member of our group.
- On mountaineering expeditions this number is even smaller. Our group sizes are capped at 12 members ensuring a Participants : HAP Ratio of 2:1.
Best Expedition Leaders
- Our Expedition leaders are advanced mountaineering course qualified, specially trained in rescue procedures from NIM and certified first-aid responders.
- Even our local guides are certified first-aid responders.
Eco-friendly Practices
- Group sizes are capped at 15 people.
- Batch sizes are capped at 250 people per trail per season.
- We follow a rolling campsite model.
- We are constantly exploring and introducing new trails to reduce the burden on existing ones.
Safety
For us, a successful summit is not about reaching the highest point of a mountain but about making it safely back to base.
- To ensure this:
- Every region of ours is mapped with an emergency evacuation plan.
- The equipment we use is UIAA certified.
- Our trek leaders are AMC certified with specialisation in rescue procedures.
- Our support staffs are trained in first aid as well.
Reviews
What's Included
Whats Included
- Food as per menu on the trek
- Forest Permits/Camping Charges, if any (upto the amount charged for Indian nationals)
- Tents, Sleeping bags, Sleeping mats
- Safety Equipment includes static rescue rope, seat harness, carabiners, pulleys
- Trek guide, cook, helpers, and porters for carrying common supplies
- Mountaineering course certified Trek Leader with Wilderness Emergency Responder & Rescue. course from NIM Uttarkashi
Whats Not Included?
- Portage of personal bags during the trek
- Cost of any kind of Travel Insurance.
- Any Expense of personal nature.
- Any Expense not specified in the inclusions list.
- Meals during road journeys
Cancellation Policy
Cash Refund
Cancellations up to 30 days prior to departure date
5% Deduction
Between 30 days to 15 days prior to departure
50%
deduction
Less than 15 days of departure
No Cash Refund
Voucher Refund
Cancellations up to 5 days prior to departure date
No Deduction
Cancellations less than 5 days prior to departure
No Refund
Please note
- Cash refund is applicable only in case of bookings made without using any promotional offer code or vouchers.
- This is only a brief of cancellation terms. For finer details please refer Detailed Cancellation Policy.
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