Chandra Taal

---

title: "Chandra Taal" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["lakes-of-himachal-pradesh", "cirques", "hiking-trails-in-himachal-pradesh", "glacial-lakes-of-india", "geography-of-lahaul-and-spiti-district", "ramsar-sites-in-india", "protected-areas-established-in-2005"] description: "Lake in Himachal Pradesh, India" topic_path: "geography" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chandra_Taal" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary Lake in Himachal Pradesh, India ::

::data[format=table title="Infobox lake"]

Field	Value
name	Chandra Taal
image	Chandratal 1.JPG
alt	View of Chandra Taal lake
pushpin_map	India Himachal Pradesh
pushpin_map_alt	Location of Chandra Taal lake within Himachal Pradesh
location	Western Himalaya, Lahaul Valley, Himachal Pradesh
coords
type	Sweet Water Lake
basin_countries	India
length	1.76 km
width	0.41 km
area	0.488 km2
depth	23.9 ft
max-depth	139.4 ft
volume	886.85 acre
elevation	4250 m
frozen	December-March
islands	1
extra	{{Designation list
embed	yes
designation1	Ramsar
designation1_offname	Chandertal Wetland
designation1_date	8 November 2005
designation1_number	1569}}
::

| name = Chandra Taal | image = Chandratal 1.JPG | alt = View of Chandra Taal lake | caption = | pushpin_map = India Himachal Pradesh | pushpin_map_alt = Location of Chandra Taal lake within Himachal Pradesh | image_bathymetry = | caption_bathymetry = | location = Western Himalaya, Lahaul Valley, Himachal Pradesh | coords = | type = Sweet Water Lake | inflow = | outflow = | catchment = | basin_countries = India | length = 1.76 km | width = 0.41 km | area = 0.488 km2 | depth = 23.9 ft | max-depth = 139.4 ft | volume = 886.85 acre | residence_time = | shore = | elevation = 4250 m | frozen = December-March | islands = 1 | cities = | extra = {{Designation list | embed = yes | designation1 = Ramsar | designation1_offname = Chandertal Wetland | designation1_date = 8 November 2005 | designation1_number = 1569}}

Chandra Taal () is a lake in the upper Chandra valley of the Lahul and Spiti district of Himachal Pradesh, India. Chandra Taal is near the source of the Chandra River. Despite the rugged and inhospitable surroundings, it is in a protected niche with some flowers and wildlife in summer. It is a favourite spot for tourists and high-altitude trekkers. It is usually associated with Spiti, although geographically it lies in the watershed of the Chandra River of Lahaul. Kunzum La separates Lahaul and Spiti valleys. It's surrounded by the Chandratal Wildlife Sanctuary.

Description

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/be/Chander_Tal,_Spiti.jpg" caption="A view of the lake, Jul 2024"] ::

Chandra Taal Lake is on the Samudra Tapu plateau, which overlooks the Chandra River (a source river of the Chenab). The name of the lake originates from its crescent shape. It is at an altitude of about 4300 m in the Himalayas. Mountains of scree overlook the lake on one side, and a cirque encloses it on the other.

Access

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f5/Approaching_Chandrataal.jpg" caption="Foot path to Chandra Taal, Aug 2016"] ::

Chandra Taal is a tourist destination for trekkers and campers. The lake is accessible by road from Batal and by road as well as on foot from Kunzum Pass from late May to early October. The road to Chandra Taal branches off from NH-505 about 2.9 km from Batal and 8 km from Kunzum Pass. This 12 km motor road runs as far as a parking lot 1 km from the lake. One has to travel on foot for the final 1 km. It takes approximately two hours from Kunzum Pass to Chandra Taal. Chandra Taal is also accessible from Suraj Tal, 30 km away.

Fauna and flora

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d0/Beauty_of_Chandratal_Lake_03.jpg" caption="Herd of sheep passing the lake, Jul 2016"] ::

There are vast meadows on the banks of the lake. During springtime, these meadows are carpeted with hundreds of varieties of wild flowers. In 1871, Harcourt, Assistant Commissioner of Kullu, reported that there was a plain of good grass to the north of Chadra Taal, where shepherds brought large herds for grazing from Kullu and Kangra. Due to overgrazing, the grasslands are now degraded.

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/58/Ruddy_Shelduck_Chandratal_Spiti_Himachal_Jun18_D72_7911.jpg" caption="Ruddy (Brahminy) shelduck, Jun 2018"] ::

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b3/Chander_Tal,_Spiti,_Himachal_Pradesh.jpg" caption="Vegetation around the lake, Jul 2024"] ::

Chandra Taal is home to a few species such as the Snow Leopard, Snow Cock, Chukor, Black Ring Stilt, Kestrel, Golden Eagle, Chough, Red Fox, Himalayan Ibex, and Blue Sheep. Over time, these species have adapted to the cold arid climate, intense radiation, and oxygen deficiency by developing special physiological features. Migratory species such as the Ruddy shelduck are found in summer.

Other details

The lake is one of two high-altitude wetlands of India which have been designated as Ramsar sites. Tourism seems to be having its effect on this pristine hidden paradise.

Gallery

File:Chander Taal Wildlife Sanctuary sign. Lahul & Spiti.jpg|Chander Taal Wildlife Sanctuary sign. Lahaul & Spiti. File:Chandratal.JPG|View of Chandra Taal, 2008 File:Chandrataal-splendour.jpg|Chandra Taal File:Chandrtaal Sunset.JPG|Chandra Taal reflecting evening sun File:Chandratal July 2017.jpg|Footpath around the lake, Jul 2017 File:ChandraTaal Ruddy Shelduck Wildflowers Jun18 D72 7932.jpg|Ruddy shelduck & wildflowers, Jun 2018 File:ChandraTaal Wildflowers Jun18 D72 7961.jpg|Wildflowers, Jun 2018 File:ChandraTaal Grass Flowers Jun18 D72 7973.jpg|Grass flowers by the lake, Jun 2018

References

References

1. "Chandertal Wetland".
2. Rout, Sonam. "LAKE BATHYMETRY SURVEY AND MORPHOMETRIC CHARACTERISTICS OF HIGH ALTITUDE LAKE THE CHANDRATAL IN WESTERN HIMALAYA". Journal of Critical Reviews.
3. "Official Website of Lahaul & Spiti District, Himachal Pradesh, India". Deputy Commissioner, Lahaul and Spiti.
4. "Route from NH-505 to Chandra Taal".
5. (2014-06-20). "Photographs of Chandratal Lake, Lahaul & Spiti Himalayas".
6. Harcourt, A.F.P.. (1871). "The Himalayan Districts of Kooloo, Lahoul and Spiti". W.H. Allen & Sons.
7. Ali, Salim. (2012). "The Book of Indian Birds". Oxford University Press.

::callout[type=info title="Wikipedia Source"] This article was imported from Wikipedia and is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Content has been adapted to SurfDoc format. Original contributors can be found on the article history page. ::