111
between 32° 45′ N and 77° 24′ E, is an HA lake
situated in CB Range of Lahaul Valley in
Himachal Pradesh. The primary infl ows are
glacier and snowmelt, while the primary outfl ows is the Bhaga River. The lake has a shore
length of 4 km and is, generally, frozen during
winter. The principal settlements are the Patseo
and Darcha (mountain hamlets). It is a sacred
body of water which literally means the Lake
of the Sun God and lies just below the Baralacha la pass (4,890 m MSL) in the Lahaul and
Spiti valleys of Himachal Pradesh state in
India. It is the third highest lake in India, and
the 21st highest in the world. Suraj Tal Lake is
the source of Bhaga River which joins the
Chandra River downstream at Tandi to form
the Chandrabhaga River in HP. As it enters
Jammu and Kashmir, it is re-named as the
Chenab River. The Bhaga River (a tributary of
the Chandrabhaga or Chenab) originates from
Surya Taal. The other major tributary of the
Chandrabhaga, the Chandra, originates from
the glacier close to the Chandra Taal Lake in
the Spiti District.
Dashair or Sarkund Lake
It is an HA lake lying at about 4,270 m MSL and
is located near the Rohtang Pass which connects
district Kullu with Lahaul.
Dhankar Lake
This is an HA lake, which lies above the monastery of Dhankar in Spiti. This lake is approached
by a trek from the monastery.
Brighu Lake
Brighu Lake (Plate 6.30 ), lying at 4,235 m MSL,
is an HA lake located in the district Kullu in HP.
It lies east of the Rohtang Pass and is about 6 km
from the village of Gulaba. This lake is the holy
place after the name of Saint Brighu Rishi, who
was a great hermit of India.
Manimahesh Lake
Manimahesh Lake (also known as Dal Lake,
Manimahesh), lying at 4.080 m MSL, is an HA
lake situated close to the Manimahesh Kailash
Peak in the Pir Panjal Range of the Himalayas,
in the Bharmour subdivision of Chamba
District of HP. Etymology of ‘Manimahesh’
signifi es a ‘jewel (Mani) on Lord Shiva’s
(Mahesh’s) crown’. Gaddis, the tribes of this
region, is said to have adopted Lord Shiva as
their deity. Gaddis are the people who reside in
the Gaddi Valley which is the name of the
upper regions of Ravi River where the Mount
Chamba Kailash lies. This lake (Plate 6.31 ) has
a high religious signifi cance like that of the
Lake Manasarovar in Tibet.
Ghadhasaru Lake
It is an HA lake, lying at 3,470 m MSL located
in the Churah tehsil of Chamba (24 km from
Tissa) District in HP. This lake has a circumference of about 1 km and a shore length of
about 1,000 m.
Plate 6.29 Suraj Tal or Surya Tal
Plate 6.30 Brighu Lake
6.9 High Altitude (HA) Lentic Bodies
between 32° 45′ N and 77° 24′ E, is an HA lake
situated in CB Range of Lahaul Valley in
Himachal Pradesh. The primary infl ows are
glacier and snowmelt, while the primary outfl ows is the Bhaga River. The lake has a shore
length of 4 km and is, generally, frozen during
winter. The principal settlements are the Patseo
and Darcha (mountain hamlets). It is a sacred
body of water which literally means the Lake
of the Sun God and lies just below the Baralacha la pass (4,890 m MSL) in the Lahaul and
Spiti valleys of Himachal Pradesh state in
India. It is the third highest lake in India, and
the 21st highest in the world. Suraj Tal Lake is
the source of Bhaga River which joins the
Chandra River downstream at Tandi to form
the Chandrabhaga River in HP. As it enters
Jammu and Kashmir, it is re-named as the
Chenab River. The Bhaga River (a tributary of
the Chandrabhaga or Chenab) originates from
Surya Taal. The other major tributary of the
Chandrabhaga, the Chandra, originates from
the glacier close to the Chandra Taal Lake in
the Spiti District.
Dashair or Sarkund Lake
It is an HA lake lying at about 4,270 m MSL and
is located near the Rohtang Pass which connects
district Kullu with Lahaul.
Dhankar Lake
This is an HA lake, which lies above the monastery of Dhankar in Spiti. This lake is approached
by a trek from the monastery.
Brighu Lake
Brighu Lake (Plate 6.30 ), lying at 4,235 m MSL,
is an HA lake located in the district Kullu in HP.
It lies east of the Rohtang Pass and is about 6 km
from the village of Gulaba. This lake is the holy
place after the name of Saint Brighu Rishi, who
was a great hermit of India.
Manimahesh Lake
Manimahesh Lake (also known as Dal Lake,
Manimahesh), lying at 4.080 m MSL, is an HA
lake situated close to the Manimahesh Kailash
Peak in the Pir Panjal Range of the Himalayas,
in the Bharmour subdivision of Chamba
District of HP. Etymology of ‘Manimahesh’
signifi es a ‘jewel (Mani) on Lord Shiva’s
(Mahesh’s) crown’. Gaddis, the tribes of this
region, is said to have adopted Lord Shiva as
their deity. Gaddis are the people who reside in
the Gaddi Valley which is the name of the
upper regions of Ravi River where the Mount
Chamba Kailash lies. This lake (Plate 6.31 ) has
a high religious signifi cance like that of the
Lake Manasarovar in Tibet.
Ghadhasaru Lake
It is an HA lake, lying at 3,470 m MSL located
in the Churah tehsil of Chamba (24 km from
Tissa) District in HP. This lake has a circumference of about 1 km and a shore length of
about 1,000 m.
Plate 6.29 Suraj Tal or Surya Tal
Plate 6.30 Brighu Lake
6.9 High Altitude (HA) Lentic Bodies