VANAMCOVE 
Chandratal Lake
Crescent moon lake on the Chandra river
Why this weekend?
The day-by-day plan
- Arrival
- Lake circuit
- Camp setup
- Peak watch
- Star night
Geography & terrain
Chandratal Lake lies at 4,300 metres on the barren highland of Spiti's upper valley in Himachal Pradesh, 30 km from Batal and 90 km from Kunzum Pass — a crescent moon's lake of glacier melt at the road's end.
History & culture
The crescent lake of the Chandra river's headwaters has long been the sacred camping ground of the Spiti-Lahaul herders' routes; its modern story is the road journey from Manali — the Atal Tunnel's crossing, Kunzum Pass and the camping circuit making Chandratal the stunning far point of the high Himalaya's motor routes.
Where to stay
Budget
₹1,000–2,500/nightMid-range
₹2,500–5,000/nightComfort
₹5,000+/nightThings to do
Crescent water
Glacier country
Alpenglow
Camp lines
Night sky
Eat & drink
- Dham thali
- Madra (chickpea curry)
- Chha gosht
- Siddu buns
- Kaanji
Getting there
- Fly
- Kullu–Bhuntar (KUU) / Gaggal (DHM) / Shimla (SLV)
- Train
- Kalka–Shimla toy train (heritage); narrow-gauge to Joginder Nagar
- Road from Delhi
- 300–550 km depending on valley
- Getting around
- Taxis and HRTC buses on hill roads
Budget snapshot
- Total
- ₹3,000–8,000 (1 days)
- Per day · Stay
- ₹1,000–5,000/night
- Per day · Food
- ₹600–1,000
- Per day · Transport
- ₹600–1,000
- Per day · Activities
- ₹700–1,100
Month by month
Practical info
- Language: Hindi / Pahari dialects (English understood in tourist spots)
- Best window: Jun–Oct
- Connectivity: Patchy in deep valleys — offline maps essential
- UPI/cards widely accepted; keep small cash for hill and market stops
Practical tips
- The lake sits at 4,300 m — acclimatise on the way up and pace the walks
- The route closes in winter — the camping season runs Jun–Sep
- Permits and camp bookings run through the circuits' operators — arrange before the drive
Frequently asked questions
The crescent lake of Spiti's high valley at 4,300 metres, fed by the Chandra's glaciers.
By road from Manali over Kunzum Pass — the last 30 km from Batal are rough.
The summer months (Jun–Sep) hold the lake and its camping.
Crescent moon lake on the Chandra river
Take the break. We'll take the planning.
Tell us your dates, budget and travel style — we'll build your Chandratal Lake plan with day-by-day routing, stays, food and bookings.