Chandratal

mridula

Travel joy, in fact it is that route that we have in mind. Can you give me more details and also after the trek if we have a few days to spare, can we enter Spiti again easily?

Bhaswaran

A good guide is required for this trek, I think it is 4 days. Ist it? and this is pretty hard, but definitely rewarding.

Bhaswaran

If you end at Suraj Tal, it is near Barlacha La pass, you have to travel to Keylong and the next day again to Gramphoo , then Batal , and then to Spiti over Kunzum Pass.

But if you start at Suraj Tal after exploring Lahaul, you can enter Spiti easily by ending you trek at Batal after Chandratal.

travel joy

I haven't been to this trek route but heard about it from friend, so can't give you first hand info.I think you can get a good idea about it from Manali.Starting from Chandratal you can arrive in Barlacha La on the third day.Lots of scree zones on the first day to reach Tokpo Yongma.The trail gets easier on the second day if there is no snow.You should take a good guide. Since the entire trail is above 4200mts you should also get your self well acclimatized. Surely spend one night at Chandratal.

It will be easier if you book a car for the required no. of days.Then you can end your trek near Barlacha La and drive back to spend the night at Keylong. The next day u can enter the Lahaul /Spiti region driving backwards from Keylong via Kunjum Pass.
The beauty of that region is simply fascinating even when travelling by a car.Have a great journey.

landoormama

Quote:
Originally Posted by jyotipg
Hi,

The route to Chandratal is now jeepable all the way till the lake. Though its a awfully bad and narrow road and requires a expert driver to maneuver it.

A bad news for the lake. pristine lakes such as Chandratal should be accessed - totally agree ....After a Couple of Years the Lake is going to get ....DIRTY >>FULL OF LITTER ..ITS On the Decline ..the surrounding areas

tri_anand

Hello all

i am new to this forum and also new to the trekking world. So far the only trek i have done is sankri to Jaundhar Glacier via Har-ki-dun.

This year i am planning to go to Chandartal via Manali-Sethan-Hampta Pass- Chhatru-Chandratal-Tokpoyongma-baralacha la. I need help from the esteemed members of this forum on fixing the date. I have thought of visiting Chadetal on Purnima night of 26th Sept. Just advice me about the "weather conditions". Will it be rainy all along?

Thanks in advance.

Bhaswaran

26 Sept in Chandratal....I think will be clean and dry and very good views....best of luck to you for enjoying moonlit landscapes....I think it is the most unparalleled beauty on earth.

mridula

I also now have better formed questions about this trek. We are planning to do this from Baralacha-La side up to Batal after June 15. Is mid June a reasonable time to start the trek?

How many river crossings are involved and are they really difficult?

After Batal, is it possible to take a bus to Kaza?

Can one get accomodation without pre-booking in Kaza?

If one has four to five days after reaching Kaza what should one do?

__________________
mridula

http://www.gonomad.com/traveltalesfromindia/

dhananjay

Hi ...

There are three river crossings Topko yngma and gngma and another one near the baralacha pass ... Gongma and Yongma are slightly hard and need to be done in the morning .. later it can be a problem .. the one near Baralacha is alright .. If you end at Batal then it is highly unlikely that you would find a bus to Kaza as the bus to Kaza from Manali leaves around 5am in the morn .. maybe you could hitch a truck or a jeep ride ... I would still suggest going into Kaza frist and hiking it the other way round frm Batal to Baralacha and then taking a jeep/bus back to Manali ...

Cheers

mridula

Thanks Dhananjay for your advise. I am going to talk to Ishita today. Let us see what she has to say. And thanks a lot for putting us in touch.

Bhaswaran

Mridula....and do not forget to get good pics with you new Canon 350D and post them here. Buy a polarizer and a skylight filter and attach them to the lens for better results in these areas

mridula

Bhaswaran, I am still quite green with the new camera. And it has spent such a long time in repair. Some problem with the card slot. After lot of more money it is functional once again. So, no accessories for the camera in this year

Bhaswaran

Oh...the camera got problem so soon? It is ill luck and nothing else. Otherwise, it is a widely acclaimed camera.

But, I will advise you to buy these two filters, they may cost you Rs. 1500-2000 and is needed in these areas. Trust me. People do not go back to do the same treks quite a while. So, do not miss the oppurtunities.

mridula

Bhaswaran, help me first with understanding the SLR. Are there any good online tutorial available? I am plodding through the camera manual but I have been only so much successful

dhananjay

Hi,

Filters do help you to get crisp pics .. however shooting in the mornings one can do without them .. and cmon .. they are not really necessary .. I have the same camera and the results are stunning ...

Cheers