How to REACH - Dal Lake Manimahesh

The yatra begins every year during the month of August / September. Thousands of people visit the lake to bathe in its sacred water, on Radha asthami , the 15 th day following the festival of Janmashtami every year. It is a colourful procession that starts from the Laxmi-Narayan temple in Chamba town and goes right upto the lake. It takes about 6 days to reach the lake. Pilgrims carry a sacred 'Chhari' on their shoulders. On reaching the lake, a night long ceremony is held and on the next day the devotees take a holy dip in the lake.After bathing in the holy waters, the pilgrims go around the lake three times

The route to Manimahesh is via Chamba, Himachal Pradesh and Bharmour. Motorable road ends at Hadsar, about 12 km from Bharmour. The rest of the path is to be covered on foot, about 13 km of steep climb by the banks of Manimahesh Ganga, which originates from the Manimahesh Kailash peak. During the annual pilgrimage in August - September, numerous night-shelters and eateries spring up by the trekking route. Night-shelter is also available at village Dhancho, about 6 km from Hadsar on the way to Manimahesh, round the year. Another less frequented trekking route originates from Holi, which is connected to Chamba.

From ISBT you can take a bus to Chamba. From Chamba you have to go to Hadsar village via Bharmour. Hadsar is around 81 km away from Chamba. From Chamba to Bharmour you take a bus, and from Bharmour to Hadsar you will get small vehicles like jeep or taxi.

From Delhi you can take a train upto pathankot(the nearest railway station), Punjab. From pathankot you can take a bus to Chamba and then follow the same route described above. From pathakot, it is an estimated 6 hour drive to Bharmour via Chamba. Bharmour is the town nearest to Manimahesh where you can find proper accommodation for the night.

Nearest airport is at Gaggal in Kangra which is around 170 kms from Chamba. From there you can take bus/taxi to Chamba and follow the route described above