Lohali campsite : In the Lap of Beas Kund
Hello all,
How many of you have drawn a picture of a blue sky with fluffy clouds, brown and green mountains and a blue bouncing river flowing from it, a few trees and a small house near the river! Picture perfect! Right? I think all of us have drawn this picture many times. In fact, for most of us, the drawing means this picture-perfect sky, mountain and river view! So, if you want to dwell on that childhood nostalgia and want to revive all your memories, go on this trek. All your drawing sheets and books will come live in front of you! Speaking to you about that small kid, that tiny artist who did not even know the meaning of peace or sukoon because all he/she had was that in his/her mind…without any worries….free mind and free hands…. without any boundaries…without any obligantion…without any expectations…Let’s make your childhood live with this simply amazing and stupefyingly serene trek!
I should have written this months ago, as soon as we returned from this trek. But sometimes, you want to keep memories with you in a tiny little corner of your heart. For the first time, the journey was more exciting for us than the destination. Yes, I am talking about the Beas Kund trek, which we did during Dussehra.
We have a motto: Whenever you are confused, go to the mountains. And it is only sometimes possible. Rest of the time, we would love to talk about our mountain stories, and that is the reason I am writing this blog now. We even met a fellow trekker who was so frustrated with his routine that he suddenly decided to resign from his corporate job. His boss convinced him to take a leave for a few days, and he booked an impromptu trek, hopped on a bus to Manali from Delhi, and started trekking the next morning with us. This is the magic of mountains. They can guide you like a true teacher whenever you need clarity.
Beas Kund is one of the main treks near Manali. It takes you right to the origin of the nurturer of the Manali, River Beas. The trek has all big snowy mountains on either side, with the Pir Panjal range on one side and the Dhauladhar range on the other. Peaks, like seven sisters, are your constant companions. You can also witness peaks like Hanuman Tibba, Friendship Peak, Ladakhi, Deo Tibba, and Shitidhar standing majestically tall and proud in front of you. And what can I say about the trail and grasslands along the river? There are some forest sections with pine, walnut, and birch trees and some sections of steep ascent, but your ally, the mighty river, will motivate you at every turn. The boulder sections are tricky at places with subalpine bushes, but nothing can stop you from reaching the amazing campsite of Lohali.
“The further one goes, the less one knows.” This is a quote from Tao Te Ching by Lao Tzu. Philosophically, it is about the inward journey of a person. About our introspection. But I would say I felt this true during our Beas Kund trek. The Lohali campsite is so amazing that you can go up there, spend some time there, if possible, stay for a night, wake up, see the tall mountains all around your camp, and analyze yourself, your life, your mind, and your heart. Surrender yourself to those mountains and that stream. You will feel magic. Magic within you. This is enough; even if you don’t go further, you won’t be disappointed. And that is the reason I am stressing more about the campsite because it is one of the best we have had so far.
And you may not trust me, but I have seen my 10-year-old doing this at that campsite. He was sitting there on a rock, just beside the stream, for more than 30 minutes, doing nothing, watching the stream and mountains. We usually ask the kids, and we also ask ourselves what the best part of the trip was after all our travels when we came home. Satva’s answer was those 30 minutes when he was sitting quietly on that rock. What more do we need? Shall we go further and climb that peak? Shall we go back to the city and do a party? No, we will sit there with him. Maybe he taught us to slow down on that day. For us, our purpose of introducing them to the Himalayas and to treks was accomplished that day.
The other plus point we noticed during this trek was that Shaurya did it completely independently. He was not with us or with the guide. He was going all alone by himself, a little bit ahead of us. He reached the campsite 20 minutes earlier. No doubt, he slipped while crossing the river just in front of the base camp, but he was at peace, lost in his world, and we were proud of him.
The trek to Lady Lag is steep and has more steep sections. It will definitely test your stamina. Once you reach the top, there are clearings with meadows. From here, you can see the greenish-blue lake with stupefying views of the Himalayan peaks.
Mythological significance of Bead kund:
It is believed that the name Beas comes from Rishi Vyas (who wrote Mahabharat). The sage is said to have taken a bath in this lake between his meditations. Not only sage Vyas but Narad, Vashishth, Vishwamitra, Prashar, and many others meditated on the banks of the river Beas.
Terrain type:
Forest and along the river with boulder sections on the last day
Difficulty level:
Moderate because we are gaining an altitude of 3478 feet (9317 of Dhundi to 12795 of lady lag) in a span of two/three days.
The trail is well-marked and maintained at most places. They run a high-altitude marathon from Solang Valley to Lady Lag, so there are blue arrowheads in every section.
Total distance :
Dhundi to Palachani Thach – 2 km
Dhundi to Lohali / Bakar Thach: 6 km (Bakarthach is the campsite on the left side of the river, while Lohali is the campsite on the right side of the river). The base camp location varies according to the trekking company.
Lohali to Beas Kund (Lady Lag): 6 km
We skipped Palchani Thach and went directly to Lohali, but in hindsight, stopping at Pachani Thach is better, as the altitude gradient will be more gradual, and the third day will be less tiring for you.
Altitude :
Manali – 2,050 meters (6,730 ft)
Dhundi 2,840 meters (9,317 feet)
Bakarthatch – 3300 mtr / 10,826 ft
Lohali – 3368 meters/ 11,050 ft
Beas Kund – 3893 meters / 12,772 ft
Lady Leg – 3900 meters /12,795 ft
Best time to visit:
The only time you can do this trek is mid-June to early October.
Mid-June to early July – This is better as there are fewer chances of extensive rain, and snow is expected at the peak.
July, August, and up to mid-September – this region is known for torrential rain nowadays, so plan your trek accordingly.
Late September to early October: Lush green surroundings, less rain, and comfortable weather. But as it is already the beginning of autumn, the weather will become chilly. During our visit, the night temperature was 2 degrees at the Lohali campsite. So, take your clothes accordingly.
What to pack:
Nights in the Himalayas are always cold, so please pack accordingly. You will need at least two warm layers (thermal and fleece) and a jacket.
A poncho is a must for this trek.
Take proper trekking shoes with a good grip.
Warmmsocks at least 2 pairs per day are a must.
Remember gloves.
Associated treks:
Lady Lag is the base camp for the difficult Friendship Peak expedition.
Can it be done solo or without a guide?
We would not recommend it as this is a high-altitude trek, so unless you are an extremely experienced trekker, please always take a guide with you who is well-versed in the region. They will also help you with formalities like permits from forest sections.
Points to consider:
- Local authorities require certain documents, including the original and photocopy of government photo identity cards—IDs like Aadhaar, voter ID, etc.
- It is optional but good to carry a medical certificate.
- There is no water source during the trek, so carry enough water. At the campsite it won’t be an sissue.
- You have to cross the river before reaching the Lohali campsite, so take waterproof shoes.
- Layers and a poncho are a must!
- Train properly, as it is a high-altitude trek with a moderate gradient. Though the trek is suitable for beginners, you should train yourself. As our guide once said, 1 kilometer in the mountains is equal to 3 kilometers in the plain. Calculate the distance yourself!
