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Prashar Lake Trek

Mandi, Himachal Pradesh

Easy2 daysBest Apr–Jun, Sep–NovSnow trek

Prashar Lake with its round floating island and the temple buildings beside it, seen from a slope of white wildflowers under drifting cloud2,730 mhighest point3 Photos
Max altitude
2,730 m
Satellite terrain suggests about 2,595 m
Days
2 days
Distance
16 km
Difficulty
Easy

Best months Apr–Jun, Sep–Nov

  1. Jan
  2. Feb
  3. Mar
  4. Apr
  5. May
  6. Jun
  7. Jul
  8. Aug
  9. Sep
  10. Oct
  11. Nov
  12. Dec

A short weekend trek of about 7-9 km each way with a gain of roughly 900 m, mostly gradual through forest with a few short steep pitches; no technical sections, but snow and ice in winter and slippery mud in the monsoon make it harder.

Photos

On the trail

Prashar Lake with its round floating island and the temple buildings beside it, seen from a slope of white wildflowers under drifting cloud
Prashar Lake with its round floating island and the temple buildings beside it, seen from a slope of white wildflowers under drifting cloudPhoto: Phototraveller1 · CC BY-SA 4.0

1 / 3

The route

Day by day

  1. Day 1 · highest point

    Baggi (drive from Mandi, about 27-30 km) → Prashar Lake

    8 km · 5 h · Camp

    1,844 m → 2,730 m

  2. Day 2

    Prashar Lake → Baggi (drive back to Mandi)

    8 km · 3.5 h · No overnight

    2,730 m → 1,844 m

Ups and downs

Altitude profile

1,5002,0002,5003,000Baggi (drive from Mandi, about 27-30 km): 1,844 m, 0 kmPrashar Lake: 2,730 m, 8 kmBaggi (drive back to Mandi): 1,844 m, 16 km
Metres above sea level · distance 16 km

Where it is

Map

Download GPX waypoints

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.

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
Baggi (nearest town: Mandi)
Nearest railway
Chandigarh (broad gauge); Mandi itself has no broad-gauge station
Nearest airport
Bhuntar (Kullu-Manali) Airport
By road
Mandi (about 27-30 km to Baggi, 1-2 hours by taxi); Delhi to Mandi by overnight Volvo bus (about 430 km, 10-12 hours); Chandigarh to Mandi by bus (6-7 hours)
Drive
About 8 h from Chandigarh

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

₹1,500–3,500

With an operator

₹2,500–3,500

Per person, ex-Mandi. Guided prices published October 2026, all Mandi to Mandi: Himtrek ₹2,499 + 5% GST; Trekkers of India ₹2,999 + 5% GST (travel charges extra); Himalayan Hikers ₹3,000 + 5% GST + ₹80 insurance. Self-guided is an estimate: shared taxi or local bus Mandi-Baggi and back, one night in a dormitory, rest house or own tent at the lake, and simple meals.

Gear

Top picks for this trek

The gear that matters most on this route, chosen from its altitude, season and risks.

See the full packing checklist

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Packing checklist

Matched to this trek: altitude, season, days and the risks on the route.

Packed 0 of 27

Monsoon months (Jun, Sep): pack everything in plastic or a dry bag and wear shoes with good grip.

Tick each item as it goes in the bag.

What to wear
Pack and gear
Sleeping

Many trek operators provide tents and sleeping bags. Ask before you buy.

Safety
Water and food
Documents and money
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Know before you go

Good to know

Mobile network
Only intermittent BSNL signal beyond Mandi, per Indiahikes; no charging points on the trail.
Last ATM
Mandi
Nearest hospital
Mandi (district hospital) for first care and serious cases
Water
One source at Til, about 2.6 km into the climb, and a small pump house on the return route; water is available at the lake campsite. Carry 2 litres and treat all water.

Highlights

  • Prashar Lake at about 2,730 m, with its floating island of turf that drifts across the water
  • The three-tiered pagoda-style wooden temple of Maharishi Parashar beside the lake, which tradition credits to Raja Ban Sen of Mandi and dates to the 13th-14th century
  • Wide views of the Dhauladhar, Pir Panjal and Kinnaur ranges from the ridge above the lake
  • Rhododendron, oak and pine forest and apple orchards on the climb from Baggi
  • Snow around the lake from December to March, making it a popular short winter trek

Risks

  • Winter snowstorms: the Mandi administration names Prashar Lake among high areas that get sudden heavy snowfall, and tourists have been stranded there in past winters. Check the forecast and local advisories from December to March.
  • July-August monsoon rain makes the trail muddy and slippery, with a risk of landslides on the roads; operators advise caution and say heavy-rain days are not for beginners.
  • A motorable road now reaches the lake and the trail crosses it several times; watch for vehicles on the road sections.
  • Night temperatures fall to around 0 °C and below in winter; carry warm layers, gloves and a cap.

Know before you go

Questions

How long is the Prashar Lake trek and how hard is it?

Operators quote about 7-9 km each way from Baggi, roughly 15-18 km in total over two days: 4-5 hours up and 3-4 hours down. It is rated easy to easy-moderate and suits beginners and families; Indiahikes sets a minimum age of 8.

Can you drive to Prashar Lake instead of trekking?

Yes, a motorable road now reaches the lake. The trek is the older walking route from Baggi through forest, meadows and orchards, crossing the road at a few points, and it is what trek operators sell as a weekend trek.

When is the best time for the Prashar Lake trek?

It can be done all year. April to June and September to November give dry trails and clear views; December to March brings snow, with very cold nights and slippery sections. July and August are monsoon months when the trail gets muddy.

Where do you stay at Prashar Lake?

Groups stay in tents at the lakeside campsite or in the dormitories and forest rest house near the lake. The lake itself is fenced off, so you cannot walk into it.

Do I need a permit for the Prashar Lake trek?

We found no official permit or fee for this trek. Guided groups include any forest charges in the package; self-guided trekkers should check locally in Mandi, especially for camping near the lake.

Your 8-week plan for this trekEasy grade. Start about 8 weeks before you travel.
SOS

In an emergency

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You are in

District: MandiHimachal Pradesh

Nearest hospital
Mandi (district hospital) for first care and serious cases
Last ATM
Mandi
Phone network
Only intermittent BSNL signal beyond Mandi, per Indiahikes; no charging points on the trail.

Before you set off

  1. Tell someone your route and when you will be back.
  2. Carry a charged phone and a power bank.
  3. Download an offline map of the route.
  4. Turn back if the weather turns bad — the mountain will wait.
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Where this comes from

Sources

Last reviewed:

  1. Prashar Lake Trek — Indiahikes
  2. Prashar Lake Trek – Beginner-Friendly Himalayan Trek in Himachal Pradesh — Himalayan Hikers
  3. Prashar Lake Trek: Breathtaking 2-Day Snow Adventure — Himtrek
  4. Prashar Lake - A weekend trip from Delhi — Bikat Adventures
  5. Parashar Lake Trek | Treks and Trails India — Treks and Trails India (treksandtrails.org)
  6. Prashar Lake Trek — Trekkers of India
  7. Parashar Lake — Wikipedia
  8. Tourists, locals urged to avoid going to high-altitude areas — The Tribune

Photos: Phototraveller1, CC BY-SA 4.0; Numerounovedant, CC BY-SA 4.0; Timothy A. Gonsalves, CC BY-SA 4.0

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