Bhrigu Lake situated in the upper Kullu valley at an elevation of 14,000 ft is a glacial lake. Bhrigu Lake trek is perfect for all the adventure enthusiasts who want a week-end getaway from the city and in the lap of nature.
Apart from the lake, one can do this trek for its extravaganza beauty of grassland which is one of the prettiest in Himachal Pradesh. The Trekking trail goes in and out of the beautiful forest and onto the meandering meadows. Along your way you will come across the sightings of snow draped mountains and lush green forests.
The blue clear skies in contrast to the green alpine meadows looks something out of a canvas view. You can clearly see the Himalayan ranges of Dhauladhar and Pir Panjal high up with the clouds.
Trek Distance: 25 Km
Trek Altitude: 14,000 ft
Difficulty Level: Easy to Moderate
Best Season: May-June and September-October
Trail Information:
Day 01: Manali to Gulaba
On your first day you will start your journey from Manali to reach Gulaba, a small hill hamlet on Manali Rohtang Pass. After reaching Gulaba village, you need to trek a short distance of 3 km which takes around 1.5 hours to cover. After the trek you will reach Gulaba Meadows where you will make your base. The trek route is easy going and you can navigate easily through the forests. After a forest trail you will eventually make your way through the open meadows of Gulaba.
Day 02: Gulaba to Rola Kholi
On the second day you would need to cover a distance of 6 km in around 4 hours starting from the altitude of 10,300 ft and gaining a height of 12,500 ft. At the start you will encounter oaks, cedar and rustling conifers. After a few minutes the forest section is left behind to give way to another beautiful meadows patch. Here you can see the cattle grazing from the local villages. You will come across the rising Hanuman Tibba peak in the distance and Seven Sisters peak. In between the valleys you can find Beas Kund nestled beautifully. After passing this area you come over the grassland of Rola Kholi. You will come across two water streams known as nallahs which serve as the water source.
Day 03: Rola Kholi to Bhrigu Lake
Third day is the longest one with an overall 10 km of hike from Rola Kholi to Bhrigu lake and back to Rola Kholi for camping. You can complete the hike in approximately 8 hours. Towards the end of the hike to the lake, the trail becomes steeper and steeper for approximately 5 km. The beautiful lake of Bhrigu comes into the picture between the two ridges as you make your way to the top. You can get a glimpse of Solang valley among the mighty peaks of Pir Panjal and Dhauladhar range touching the skyline. You can spend your time walking along the lake and admiring the view of the landscape and mountain. Then head back toward Rola Kholi for pitching a tent and retiring for the day.
Day 04: Back to Gulaba
Fourth day marks the goodbye to the beautiful mountain peaks that contrast the green meadows as you tread back the same path. The descending back is much easier and only takes about 2 to 3 hours to reach Gulaba. From Gulaba you can drive back to Manali and onward to your hometown.
Best Season for Bhrigu Lake trek:
The trek to Bhrigu Lake remains operational from May to October and you can get a permit to have a trip to the beautiful lake. However, the ideal time would be excluding the monsoon months of June, July and August. As there is a higher chance of weather hazards like landslides. The summers have cold nights with temperature ranging from 5 degree Celsius to 7 degrees Celsius. The winters are much colder with daytime temperature of over 10 degree Celsius to night-time temperature falling down to -7 degree Celsius. The lake remains frozen for almost half of the year and in winters the trekkers can also experience fresh snow.
What to Carry:
Essential Gears: Backpack, rain-cover, Hiking pole, Head torch(optional), Hiking shoes and medical first-aid.
Wearables: Fleece Shirt, Poncho, Jacket, Thermal inners, Trek pants, Scarf, socks, gloves and woollen caps.
Personal use: Sunscreen, Sunglasses, sanitizer, lip balm, moisturiser, Towel, Toothbrush and Toothpaste.
Documents: Adhar card, Driver Licence, passport size photos.
Eatables: Snacks, dry fruits, energy bar, ORS/Glucose, Chocolates and water bottles
