Overview

Bhrigu Lake Trek:

Bhrigu lake group departure starting on 21st May 2023 @ Manali.

Bhrigu lake is an alpine lake lying east of the famous Rohtang pass. While on the trail, you will come to see almost all possible varieties a mid altitude trail has to offer. The lake itself derived its name from the adjacent peak called Bhrigu. The legend is that, Maharishi (Saint) Bhrigu of Saptarishi fame had meditated on bank of this secluded and pristine lake lying at ~4160 m/13645 ft above sea level. The shallow lake remains frozen for more than half of the year. Even in summer (as late as late June) the approach is filled with the fun of walking on snow.

The trail starts 12 Km ahead of Manali from a  place called Kulhan, on  Rohtang road. Initially it goes though pristine forest of cedar, maple, oak and conifers till Moridugh. From here we climb to cross the treeline and continue on lush green alpine meadows. Meadows change colours from spring to summer and autumn. You will get rolling meadow stretch on both side of the Bhrigu lake. You can’t miss the “Bird’s-eye” views of the surrounding valleys like Manali, Solang and Gulaba area.

Once we reach the meadows, views of the snow clad peaks and ranges of Dhauladhar and Pir Panjal are captivating. From Panduropa side you can isolate the peaks of Hampta valley like Deo Tibba, Indrasan. On the other side Hanuman Tibba, Ladakhi, Shetidhar, Friendship, Gyapancho, Makar Bay, Shakhar Bay and Chandrabhaga (CB) range, all you can see in one stretch surrounding the Rohtang area.

Campsites of this round Bhrigu trek are wonderful to spend the day after the walk. Resting in these for the night provide overwhelming feeling of wonder and admiration.  You will camp inside or fringe of the forest, on meadows and possibly on snow during early summer.

This round trek’s start and end point, the village of Vashisht ( Another Rishi of Saptarishi fame extolled here ) has surprises in many folds. A Neatly carved wooden temple, hot spring, surrounding Jogini waterfalls, village home-stays, availability of world cuisines make it a compelling destination for newbie as well as experienced hikers.

Brief Itinerary:

Our Bhrigu lake trek is round trip starting from Manali/Vashisht and after crossing Bhrigu lake, descend to Kothi/Gulaba road head. There are lovely camping ground  with open views on both side of the lake. We choose suitable for the group as per season. Here is the most frequent one:

Day 1: Reach Manali by morning/noon – Lodge/Guest house accommodation at Vashisht. In the late afternoon you may visit Jogini falls, 1 and half/2 hours round trip (well defined road, but consider getting a local guide).
Day 2: Drive to Kulang village –30 min – Trek to Moridugh – 7 Km – 4/5 hours
Day 3: Trek to Tenta via Panduropa – 6 Km – 4/5 hours
Day 4: Trek to Bhrigu Lake and decent to camping ground above Gulaba – 12 Km – 7/8 hours
Day 5: Trek down to Kothi – 8 Km – 4 hours – drive to Manali – 1 hour

Reaching Vashisht, Manali (The trek base):

Our trek base is Vashisht, 3 Km uphill from Manali. Either you can take an auto rickshaw or walk around an hour to reach Vashisht, where the famous temple in the same name is situated.

Manali is well connected by road from Delhi and Chandigarh. There are a handful of buses, ranging from regular, luxury and Volvo operated by both Govt. and private agencies from New Delhi and Chandigarh to Manali.

1) From Delhi (Kashmiri Gate ISBT) the Volvo and regular buses start in the afternoon and evening. It takes up to 15 hours to cover the distance of 560 Km. HP Government transport operated HRTC (http://hrtchp.com) and Tourism Department HPTDC operated busses are reliable and runs on time. There are privately operated bus services also having different pick up points in Delhi.

2) From Chandigarh (ISBT Sector 43) there are regular bus services for Manali, starting early morning till 6 am. It may take around 10/12 hrs depending upon the road conditions. Distance around 320 Km.

3) While returning one can take overnight bus from Manali which again reaches Delhi in 13/14 hours. Normally the last Volvo service (both Govt. and Private) is around 6:30 pm. The last regular bus by  Himachal Road Transport Corporation (HRTC) starts from Manali at 9:30 p.m.