The name Chandra Tal, or Moon Lake, is mysteriously enchanting! It conjures up images of a tranquil body of water nestled among distant mountains. Your imaginations are beautifully jolted into reality as you transcend upon this enigmatic jewel of Himachal Pradesh.

The surreal beauty of the Chandra Taal lake hits you square in the face; it appears as if the heavens meticulously hand-painted this Kohinoor of nature with their palette.

The lake’s name derives from the exquisitely crafted crescent shape that flamboyantly nestles beneath the azure blue skies. Against the cold, barren mountains of Spiti Valley, the lake sparkles like a turquoise pendant. It is surrounded by expansive grassy land, which was once a glacier.

As the day progresses, the divinely beautiful lake reflects a rainbow of colours ranging from reddish-orange to turquoise blue to gleaming emerald. The changing colours add a mysterious element to the lake’s magical ambience. These contrasting colours and stark landscapes sprinkle the entire panorama with the lake’s famous rainbow shades.

The moon casts a silver shimmer on its pristine waters at night, enveloping the entire environment in a silvery spell. The massive hills that surround the lake stand tall, as if trying to delve deeper into the mystery of the enigmatic lake.

The luminous Chandra Taal lake, thought to be the abode of Moon God, leaves little room for imagination! It never disappoints, but rather astounds you with an ambience so divine that you become a lifelong fan!

Location of Chandratal Lake

Chandratal, a 2.5 km wide freshwater lake nestled between the mountains of Spiti Valley on the Samudra Tal plateau, attracts visitors worldwide.

The Chandra Taal lake is located 9 kilometres from Kunzum Pass in the Spiti Valley at a great altitude of 14,100 feet. It is surrounded by vast grassy land that was once a glacier. It was also a popular trading location for Tibetan and Ladakhi traders.

The lake, with its rambling landscape typical of the hermetic Spiti Valley, is a popular trekking location due to its moderate trekking gradient.

Its proximity to Manali, a picturesque tourist destination, makes it a popular destination for trekkers and travellers alike.

The Story of Chandratal Lake

The lake billed as one of Hinduism’s sacred lakes, draws hordes of Hindu devotees to its holy waters. It is the source of the Himalayan river Chandra, one of the Chenab’s tributaries.

As strange as it may sound, the mythical Chandra Taal lake is associated with three legends.

The most famous folklore revolves around two lovebirds named Chandra, the loving daughter of the Moon God, and Bhaga, the bright son of the Sun God. Both were madly in love, but as fate would have it, their parents did not approve of their relationship. They decided to elope from the Baralacha La Pass, where they first met. They couldn’t meet there, but they did meet somewhere else, where they performed a celestial wedding. At that location, the effervescent Chandrabhaga River bears witness to their heavenly alliance. The lakes they created, Suraj Tal and Chandratal, still reverberate with the mystery of their romance.

The celebrated lake of Chandra Taal is mentioned in Hindu mythology as well. It is widely assumed that Lord Indra’s (the revered God of Rain) chariot brought Yudhishthir to his heavenly abode at this very location.

According to legend, a shepherd from Hansa Village in Spiti Valley fell in love with a mermaid who lived in the glacial lake. Under the icy waters of the angelic lake, their love blossomed. According to legend, shepherds still stop here to look for a long-lost friend.