Prashar Lake Trek

Prashar Lake Trek is a beautiful and scenic trek in Mandi district. This is a quite popular weekend trek. The trek difficulty level is easy to moderate and has a good accessibility. The trail passes through dense forests. These dense forests of pine and oak trek take you to the vast meadows. These green meadows have appealing views of snow-capped mountains. The trail leads to the beautiful high-altitude Prashar Lake. This lake lies at 2730 m. The Prashar Lake is famous for its floating island. This small floating island changes its position with the seasons.

The trail to Prashar Lake is truly rewarding. Your trail passes through dense forests and then clears to big meadows. You will see the peaks of the mighty Dhauladar and Pir Panjal ranges throughout the trek. There is an ancient Prashar Rishi Temple next to the lake. This beautiful temple adds spirituality to your trek. The Prashar Lake Trek is a short trek and offers some of the best views of Himachal Pradesh. 

History Of Prashar Lake Trek

The Prashar Lake has roots in spirituality and local traditions of Himachal Pradesh. According to the locals, this lake is named after holy sage Rishi Prashar. It is believed that he meditated near the lake thousands of years ago. This story is related to Mahabharata. After the Kurukshetra war, the Pandavas returned with their spiritual guru Kamrunag. When they reached there, Rishi Prashar got captivated with the beauty of the location and he decided to meditate there. Due to this, the lake is considered sacred and now locals visit it and seek blessings.

Some stories say that Bhim has created the Prashar lake by thrusting his elbow in the ground. The temple next to the lake was built by Rajan Ban Sen in the 13th century. This beautiful temple is constructed in traditional Himachali pagoda-style. The Prashar Rishi Temple is a symbol of spirituality and culture. 

Highlights Of Prashar Lake Trek

• Beautiful Prashar Lake: The Prashar Lake is the main attraction of the trek. The is a high-altitude lake and has an elevation of 2730 m. There is also a small floating island in the middle of the lake that changes its position with seasons. 
• Weekend Trek: Prahsar Lake is one of the best weekend treks in Himachal Pradesh. The lake is near Mandi and takes only 1-2 days. This is a very beginner-friendly trek and you can plan it with your family and friends. The Prashar Lake Trek can be a good pathway for first-time trekkers. 
• All Seasons Trek: Prashar Lake Trek is a unique trek as you can plan it anytime of the year. The spring and summer comes with greenery and wildflowers. The autumn makes the trail golden. While in Winter, the lake and the meadows are covered with snow. The scenes of every season are mesmerizing.
• Enchanting Trails: The trails of Prashar Lake Trek are easy and alluring. You will start the trek through dense forests of Pine and Oak. The trail in the forest is very peaceful. After some ascent, the trail leads to big open meadows. These meadows are covered with greenery and wildflowers.

Difficulty Level Of Prashar Lake Trek

• Altitude: The altitude of the Prashar Lake is just 2730 m. This is a very average altitude for any Himalayan Trek. The trek is only 15 km long and the ascents are very gradual. You can trek to Prashar Lake without any difficulty. The chances of AMS are very low. 
• Trail Conditions: The trail to Prashar Lake is very easy. It is a well-marked trek and most sections are simple. The trail passes through beautiful forests and meadows. The final ascent to the lake is slightly difficult. You can cross this section at a gradual pace.
• Weather Conditions: The trek is easy in spring and summer. The trails remain dry and the views are good. But the monsoon can be difficult. The trail became muddy and slippery due to heavy rains. You can also trek in winter but walking on snow can be challenging.
• Trek Length: The Prashar Lake Trek is only 15 km long. It is a 2-day trek and has beautiful landscapes. You can trek to Prashar Lake in just one day. But walking for hours is not easy. It requires good physical strength to walk without breaks.

Best Time To Visit The Prashar Lake Trek

• Prashar Lake Trek from March to June

The summer and spring is the best time to plan your Prashar Lake Trek. The weather remains pleasant and the day temperature ranges around 15℃ to 20 ℃. The forests and meadows turn green with colorful flowers.

• Prashar Lake Trek from July to September

You can trek to Prashar Lake in the monsoon also. The trails in the forest area become slippery and a bit difficult. But the landscape looks fresh. The visibility remains low due to fog but misty weather has its own charm. The difficulty level increases in the monsoon as you can face landslides or roadblocks.

• Prashar Lake Trek from October to November

Autumn is also a great time to plan Prashar Lake Trek. The skies become clear and offer beautiful views. The trails remain dry and the landscape starts turning golden. The temperature starts falling and can be chilly at night. Autumn is a good season for photography.

• Prashar Lake Trek from December to February

Winters are special in the Prashar Lake Trek. The lake partially freezes and the surrounding area is covered with snow. The landscape looks like a fairy-late setting. Winter trek to Prashar is suitable for snow lovers. 

How To Reach The Prashar Lake Trek?

Your trek to Prashar Lake starts from Kantlu village. This small village is located in Mandi town.

• Delhi to Mandi: Mandi has good connectivity to Mandi. You can look for direct buses from Delhi. Take an overnight bus from Delhi to Mandi. 
• Chandigarh to Mandi: Many buses and shared taxi services are available from Chandigarh bus station to Mandi. 
• Mandi to Kantlu: You can take a shared cab or local bus to Kantlu. This is the base village for Prashar Lake Trek.