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Himachal Pradesh

Chandratal

Crescent glacial lake at 4300 m on the Kunzum side of Spiti

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Best time to visit Chandratal

peak shoulder off-season avoid

  • Go: July to September
  • Shoulder: June and October, quieter, and the weather is less of a sure thing
  • Skip: November to May

Planning a specific month? JulyAugustSeptember

Chandratal season by season

Winter December to February Do not go

November-May Kunzum La is buried in snow and Chandratal is unreachable by any road; there is nothing to attempt here.

Summer March to May Do not go

Mar-May there is no way in: Kunzum La at 4,551 m stays snow-shut until June, the lake is still ice and no camp has opened.

Monsoon June to September Prime time

July-August is the actual season, dry in Lahaul's rain shadow, 5-18C by day and near freezing in a tent at night.

Autumn October to November Shoulder

September is the clearest month for the lake's colour, but the camps start folding in the first week of October.

What Chandratal is actually like

Parachute-tent camps 2 km short of the lake, no signal, no permanent building, mostly Spiti-circuit riders and jeeps

Things to do in Chandratal

The local places worth your time in and around Chandratal, with how far each sits from the centre. Tap a name to open it in Google Maps.

  • Kunzum La

    Viewpoint · 25 km out

    4551 m pass into Spiti with the Kunzum Devi shrine drivers circle once; the road is open roughly June to October

  • Batal

    Food · 14 km out

    Bridge over the Chandra with the dhaba that has fed Spiti drivers for decades; hot food, thin blankets, no signal

  • Chota Dara

    Food · 30 km out

    PWD hut and a tent dhaba on the Chandra between Batal and Chhatru; the only shelter if a nala crossing stops you

  • Losar

    Village · 45 km out

    First Spiti village past Kunzum, barley fields and a checkpost where you sign in; a few homestays and one shop

Getting to Chandratal

No bus. Shared jeep from Kaza 100 km, or from Manali via Atal Tunnel and Batal; camps only, book ahead

Practical ways in: road

Trip facts

How long to stay
2 days
Budget
Mid-range
How busy
Steady at its peak
Solo travel
Doable solo with some planning
Altitude
4280 m
State
Himachal Pradesh
Coordinates
32.4752, 77.6171

Common questions

When is the best time to visit Chandratal?

July to September is peak season in Chandratal. June and October is shoulder season: thinner crowds, a bit more risk in the weather. Avoid November to May. July-August is the actual season, dry in Lahaul's rain shadow, 5-18C by day and near freezing in a tent at night.

How many days do you need in Chandratal?

2 days is the usual stay. Parachute-tent camps 2 km short of the lake, no signal, no permanent building, mostly Spiti-circuit riders and jeeps.

How do you get to Chandratal?

No bus. Shared jeep from Kaza 100 km, or from Manali via Atal Tunnel and Batal; camps only, book ahead. Practical ways in: road.

Is Chandratal expensive, and does it get crowded?

Mid-range by Indian travel standards, and it runs steady at the busiest time of year. Doable solo with some planning.

What are the best things to do in Chandratal?

Kunzum La, Batal, Chota Dara and Losar. 4551 m pass into Spiti with the Kunzum Devi shrine drivers circle once; the road is open roughly June to October.

Nearby, and where to go next

More places to visit in Himachal Pradesh

All 52 destinations in Himachal Pradesh