Chandranahan Lake Trek
Shimla, Himachal Pradesh
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- Max altitude
- 4,200 m
- Days
- 6 days
- Distance
- 35 km
- Difficulty
- Moderate
Day walks are short (3-5 hours) on meadow and forest trails, but the lake day climbs a steep, rocky shepherd trail to about 4,200 m, with stream crossings and snow patches; in winter the whole route is under snow.
Photos
On the trail
The route
Day by day
Day 1
Shimla → Janglik (drive, about 150 km via Rohru and Chirgaon)
2,200 m → 2,800 m
Day 2
Janglik → Dayara Thach
2,800 m → 3,375 m
Day 3
Dayara Thach → Litham Thach
3,375 m → 3,575 m
Day 4 · highest point
Litham Thach → Litham Thach (via Chandranahan lakes)
3,575 m → 4,200 m → 3,575 m
Day 5
Litham Thach → Dayara Thach
3,575 m → 3,375 m
Day 6
Dayara Thach → Janglik (drive to Shimla)
3,375 m → 2,800 m
Ups and downs
Altitude profile
Where it is
Map
Trailhead and high point only — not a recorded track. Use it with a proper map.
Weather
Next 5 days on the trail
Live forecast for the trailhead and the high point. Mountain weather changes fast — check again on the morning you start.
Trailhead · Janglik (Janglikh)
at 2,800 mLoading forecast…
High point · Chandranahan lakes
at 4,200 mLoading forecast…
Each day: high / low °C · rain mm and chance · snow cm · wind km/h
Weather data: Open-Meteo.comModel forecast, not an official warning. For alerts follow IMD and the local administration.
Plan the trip
How to reach
- Trailhead
- Janglik (Janglikh) (nearest town: Rohru)
- Nearest railway
- Shimla (narrow gauge from Kalka); Kalka is the nearest broad-gauge station
- Nearest airport
- Shimla (Jubbarhatti) Airport; Chandigarh has more flights
- By road
- Shimla (about 150 km via Theog, Kotkhai, Hatkoti, Rohru, Chirgaon and Tangnu to Janglik); Bus Shimla-Rohru, shared jeep Rohru-Chirgaon-Tangnu, then walk or jeep to Janglik
- Drive
- About 8 h from Shimla
Plan the trip
Permits and fees
We could not confirm the current permit rules and fees from an official source. Check with the local forest department or tourism office before you go.
Plan the trip
Cost
Self-guided
₹7,000–12,000
With an operator
₹9,800–15,750
Per person, ex-Shimla. Guided prices seen October 2026: Himalayan Hikers ₹15,000 + 5% GST + ₹240 insurance (Shimla to Janglik package); Clan Stays from ₹9,800 (6 days, listing on TourTravelWorld, undated); Bikat Adventures quotes its winter departure on request. Self-guided is an estimate: bus or shared jeep Shimla-Rohru-Janglik and back, a local guide or porter/mule from Janglik, tent and stove hire, food and any forest camping charges.
Gear
Top picks for this trek
The gear that matters most on this route, chosen from its altitude, season and risks.
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Packing checklist
Matched to this trek: altitude, season, days and the risks on the route.
Packed 0 of 34
Nights near 4,200 m can drop close to freezing even in summer. Pack one more warm layer than you think.
Tick each item as it goes in the bag.
Know before you go
Good to know
- Mobile network
- Airtel works up to Janglik (Vodafone and BSNL patchy); on the trail only odd spots, such as near a hut before Dayara and a boulder at Litham (Bikat).
- Last ATM
- Rohru, on the drive from Shimla to Janglik
- Nearest hospital
- Civil hospital at Rohru for first care; IGMC Shimla for serious cases
- Water
- Plenty of streams at Dayara and Litham and meltwater near the lakes; boil or treat all water.
Highlights
- The Chandranahan lakes: a chain of seven glacial lakes, the source of the Pabbar river; the fourth or fifth is the largest and about five can be reached easily
- Litham Thach campsite below the Chandranahan waterfall
- Dayara Thach meadows with sheep and horses, and pine and oak forest above Janglik
- Janglik, the last village of the Pabbar valley, with wood-and-stone houses
- A sacred lake: local devtas, including Shikru Devta, are taken there for a holy bath, and many pilgrims walk barefoot from Litham
Risks
- The lake day climbs to about 4,200 m; acclimatise and turn back with any sign of altitude sickness.
- July-August monsoon brings heavy rain, slippery trails and landslides on the roads (JustWravel says not recommended).
- Winter (December-March) trips run on deep snow at -10 °C or colder at night; Bikat asks for ice-axe, crampon and rope skills and prior high-altitude experience.
- The Chandranahan stream must be crossed before Litham; cross early in the day when meltwater is low.
- No Shimla-district trekking order was found, but Himachal districts have added registration rules since 2024; check with the Rohru forest range or SDM office before you go.
- Respect local custom near the lakes: shoes off at the first lake, and no meat or alcohol on the path from Litham.
Know before you go
Questions
What is the best time for the Chandranahan Lake trek?
May to June and September to October, when the meadows are open and the lake can be reached on foot (Himalayan Hikers, JustWravel; Himalaya Shelter gives April-June and September-November). Bikat runs a winter version from December to March on full snow. Avoid July-August monsoon rain.
How difficult is the Chandranahan Lake trek?
Easy-to-moderate in summer: short 3-5 hour days, with one steep climb to the lakes at about 4,200 m. Operators rate it from easy-moderate (Himalayan Hikers) to moderate-challenging (JustWravel). In winter it is harder and needs snow skills.
How do I reach Janglik, the base village?
Janglik is about 150 km from Shimla. Take a bus or taxi to Rohru, a shared jeep to Chirgaon and Tangnu, then walk or drive the last stretch to Janglik. Most groups book a cab from Shimla (about 8 hours).
How high is Chandranahan Lake?
Operators put it at about 4,200 m (13,800-13,900 ft); Wikipedia gives 4,260 m and the Himachal ecotourism listing gives the route range as 1,750-4,000 m.
Is Chandranahan Lake sacred? Are there rules at the lake?
Yes. Locals revere the lakes as the abode of Maa Kali, and local devtas such as Shikru Devta are taken there for a holy bath. Many walk barefoot from Litham or from the first lake, and meat and alcohol are not carried on this path.
In an emergency
Save these numbers before you lose signal. Tap to call.
- 112All emergenciesIndia’s single emergency number — works in every state
- 108Ambulance
- 1077District disaster control room
You are in
District: ShimlaHimachal Pradesh
- Nearest hospital
- Civil hospital at Rohru for first care; IGMC Shimla for serious cases
- Last ATM
- Rohru, on the drive from Shimla to Janglik
- Phone network
- Airtel works up to Janglik (Vodafone and BSNL patchy); on the trail only odd spots, such as near a hut before Dayara and a boulder at Litham (Bikat).
Before you set off
- Tell someone your route and when you will be back.
- Carry a charged phone and a power bank.
- Download an offline map of the route.
- Turn back if the weather turns bad — the mountain will wait.
Questions about Chandranahan Lake
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Where this comes from
Sources
Last reviewed:
- Rohru to Chander Nahan (Rohru) - Identified trekking routes — Ecotourism Society of Himachal Pradesh (official)
- Chandranahan Lake Winter Trek — Bikat Adventures
- Chandranahan Lake Trek — Himalayan Hikers
- Chandranahan Lake Trek Guide: How to Reach, Itinerary and Tips — JustWravel
- A Trek to Chandernahan Lake — Himalaya Shelter
- Chander Naun (Chandar Nahan) — Wikipedia
- Chandranahan Lake Trek (Clan Stays Pvt. Ltd.) — Clan Stays
Photos: Bharatkaistha, CC BY-SA 4.0; Bharatkaistha, CC BY-SA 4.0; Bharatkaistha, CC BY-SA 4.0
