As we have been sharing trekking experiences of Manimahesh Yatra, here is the final destination which is reached after joyful journey on hills through clouds ....
Here we are sharing some of the photographs of Manimahesh Lake which is also known as Dal Lake, Manimahesh...
Manimahesh Lake is a high altitude lake (elevation 4100 metres) situated close to the Manimahesh Kailash Peak in the Pir Panjal Range of the Himalayas....It's in the Bharmour subdivision of Chamba district of the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh.... The religious significance of this lake is next to that of the Lake Manasarovar in Tibet...
The lake is the venue of a highly revered pilgrimage trek undertaken during the month of August/September corresponding to the month of Bhadon according to Hindu calendar... on the eighth day of the New Moon period.... It is known as the ‘Manimahesh Yatra’.... The Government of Himachal Pradesh has declared it as a state-level pilgrimage...
The lake, of glacial origin, is in the upper reaches of the Budhil River which is a tributary of the Ravi River in Himachal Pradesh....Its also known as ‘Manimahesh Ganga’... The stream originates from the lake in the form of a fall at Dhancho...The mountain peak is a snow clad tribal glen of Brahamur in the Chamba district originating as an off-shoot spur of the Pir Panjal Range...The highest peak is the Mani Mahesh Kailas which is also called ‘Chamba Kailash' (5650 m)) overlooking the lake... (The one covered with clouds in this photograph..) The lake is considered as a glacial depression which is sourced by snow-melt waters from the surrounding hill slopes...
Trekking in the last stretch is through the glacier fields of the lake... but on the way, the walk is through the valley of flowers and wild medicinal herbs up to the lake..... Its is situated at the centre of a snowy field touching the sacred peak.... Manimahesh lake is called Shiv Chaugan (play ground of Lord Shiva)... On a clear day the reflection of the abode of Shiva, the Kailash Mountain can be seen on the lake surface... During most of the time of an year this lake remains desolate, without any inhabitants, because this region gets snofall in most of the duration... The air is fresh but icy cold...
In the periphery of the lake, now there is a marble image of Lord Shiva, which is worshipped by pilgrims. The image is called the Chaumukha. Manimahesh lake and its surroundings present an impressive view. The still, clear and unpolluted waters of the lake reflect the snow-capped peaks that overlook the valley..
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