Parashar Lake Trek

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In order to find real peace you have to go far away from your daily routine and that is how this wonderful weekend hike starts.

Friday we depart Delhi and head on to Baggi, the hub of our excursion hidden in the picturesque Mandi region of Himachal Pradesh. The city lights behind fade, as we go through the familiar detours to make those last-minute purchases, some quick money to sort out, or a choice of answers to those nagging mails once more.

As this is a goodbye to the Dunzo order and the supermarket walk. Even your cellular network will have a break time. Your phone will now only have one job. To capture the unspoiled beauty of the mountains.

Details

We started our journey at Baggi, located a short ride from Mandi and the access point to the mystical Parashar Lake.

The initial kilometre greets you with a rather uninclined route with massive boulders on its sides. In no time you are passed under the delicate arc of a hillock, which leads you into serried ranks of rhododendrons threaded with the shrill notes of the unseen birds. Always be on the lookout, you can come across rare species of Himalayan birds, or unearth silent villages whose rhythms are more unknown to Himachali life.

The trail taunts with varying terrains as you carry on with the hiking. There is a scenic meadow which opens in front of you and then there are the apple orchards under the wide open sky. Coupled with the fact that it is here that the hike will require a little more out of you, but the pay will be worth the hike. Slowly the splendour of Dhauladhar range unfolds itself with every turn. Spot mountains such as Manali Peak, Friendship Peak and Ali Ratni Tibba standing stark in the distance.

When you are trekking in the pre-summer season you will find these little rivulets of snow waters sprinkling their way along by your side, and the sound of them is very pretty and small. So keep walking along beautiful forests, flowing rivers and a few shepherd cottages- and you will reach the majestic Parashar Lake.

It is a mountain lake, hidden, treasures-like, in the mountains, with a floating island that slowly drifts about its middle with no apparently audible sound. Even though that movement is minimal, barely observable, it gives the location a tone of quiet mystery. The lake is surrounded with green meadows in summer and provides blue-green colors. During winter it becomes a frozen paradise, snow-covered. When the monsoons come the water floods and paints on the whole scenery a fresh canvas.

The Pagoda-type temple erected on the edge of the lake is dedicated to a sage Parashar who is supposed to have meditated here.

Absorb the magic in the evening- going around with other trekkers, finding a secret place to contend with, or being on a bonfire gazing at the evening sky filled with stars. Digest your dinner with a comfortable sleep in your tents amidst the elegance of the Himalayas.

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Get up to the comforting embrace of the morning sun, the calming chorus of birds and the gentle murmur of winds against the mountains on your last day at the Parashar Lake. Chill out-walk by the tranquil water, breath in the clean air and listen to the solitude.

Once again having partaken of a welcoming hot breakfast, we start down our descent. The 3-hours downhill hike to Baggi gives you an alternative view of the landscape you had just passed over the day before-this time more familiar, more personal.

We leave Baggi at 3pm, back to Delhi, with the silence of the lake and the laughter of bonfires and memories of a good weekend. Late at night expect to arrive in Delhi, physically exhausted, but soulfully revived.