Dehnasar Lake (also called Danasar or Daina Sar by many) is an elevated freshwater lake in the Barot Valley of Himachal Pradesh. It is located at an altitude of about 14000 feet above MSL. Although the lake is located in Kangra district, it can be reached from Barot, near Joginder Nagar in Mandi district. The lake can be reached after a strenuous trek of at least 12 hours. The lake is surrounded by rocky cliffs on all sides. Snow can be seen around these rocks. The water of the lake comes from the snow that melts down from these rocks. The size of the lake is small, the total circumference is about 800 meters. In winter, the lake remains frozen under a thick layer of ice.
Religious Significance
According to mythology, the lake is the abode of Goddess Parvati, who visits the lake in the month of Bhadrapada of the Hindu calendar, which generally falls in August or September. During this time, in August and September, a pilgrimage takes place in which thousands of people from near and far come to this sacred lake and take a dip in the icy waters. During this time, temporary shelters and tents are set up near the lake to provide shelter for the people.
Some Important Notes
Besides the numerous pilgrims, there are also some hikers who want to visit the holy lake. They should keep a few things in mind. The temperatures here are very low and often fall below freezing. In the mountains, the weather changes suddenly and abruptly, especially in the afternoon. Therefore, it is important to bring warm clothes and jackets.The second important point is that intoxicants, tobacco and items made of leather such as leather shoes, belts and purses are not allowed. The local people will strongly object to these things.
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How to go to Dehnasar Lake
To come to Dehnasar Lake, one has to first go to Barot. Barot, a beautiful small tourist town famous for anglers, is only 12 km away, while Joginder Nagar is the nearest major town at 20 km away. From Barot, one has to first reach Lohardi, which is the last road head and which is 6 km further north. The actual trek to Dehnasar Lake starts from Polling village, which is 9 km away from Barot. The difficulty level of the trek is moderate to difficult. The total distance of the trek is 14 km uphill. In winter, the lake is inaccessible and is opened only from June to the end of September.
Dehnasar lake Trek Routes
There are two alternative routes to the Dehnasar lake in the Barot Valley, as follows :-
Ø Jogindernagar-Barot-Lohardi-Polling-Dehnasar Lake.
Ø Jogindernagar-Thaltukhod-Dehnasar Lake.
The hike via Lohardi is the most commonly used and the shortest because of the steep climb. The Thaltukhod trek is longer and more time consuming because of the gentle incline. There is another route that leads from the opposite side of the lake, i.e. from Lug Valley in Kullu District. It is a bit more difficult and may take more than 3 days to complete the hike on this route. The route is as follows; Kullu-Lag Valley-Sari Pass-Dehnasar Lake.
Dont forget to check out other Lakes and Temples in Kangra District.
Dehnasar Lake Trek
Many companies offer guided treks to Lake Dehnasar. Locals usually complete the trek in two days, with one day for the outward journey to the lake and the next day for the return journey. However, one can do this trek leisurely without much of hassles by following the given itinerary way. :-
Day One
Mandi, Himachal Pradesh is the nearest major town to reach for this trek. From Mandi, the next small town is Barot, located at a total distance is 65 km. If you decide to come from Dharamsala side, the distance is 109 km. After reaching Barot on the first day, there is not much to do except explore the place. Barot is a popular place for fishing. The river that flows in Barot is called Uhl River. There are few guest houses where one can have dinner and overnight stay.
Day Two
After breakfast, take a shared taxi or bus to reach Lohardi, the starting point of the trek. The distance from Barot to Lohardi is about 8 km. Lohardi is a small shabby settlement with some stores and even guest houses. There is a local bus service for Lohardi village. The trek starts from Lohardi and goes to Polling Village and then to Morad Valley. Morad is a beautiful valley with lovely wildflowers in the meadows. The place is also called Phool Ghati (valley of flowers). The trek is easy with forests, mountains and lots of greenery all around. Night stop near a place called Lahesh cave.
Day 3
On the third day one can reach Dehnasar Lake easily. First you have to do a moderate hike and cross the Sari Pass (3760 m). Sari Pass is a beautiful place with green meadows and some shepherds with their flocks of sheep and goats. The shepherds spend the whole summer months here grazing their sheep and goats. After crossing the Sari Pass, you reach Danasaur Lake. Spend the night near the lake under the blue sky. You can see the stars and the experience will be amazing.
Day 4
After breakfast, you can explore Lake Dehnasar and its surroundings. Afterwards start the return trek to Lohardi and Barot. Depending on the weather, you can either spend the night in the jungle camp or go directly to Lohardi. From Dehnasar you can even trek over to Kullu valley. To go to Kullu, one has to trek towards Teun village, which is located at 2700 meters. An interesting fact about Teun village is that it is a primitive village of Rajput families. One can camp in the vicinity.
Day 5
If one reaches Lohardi from Dehnasar Lake, from there, take a bus, or taxi, to Barot and from there travel back to Mandi. If you are on your way to Kullu, after camping in the village of Teun, one can start the hike to the Lug Valley. The path is well signposted and passes through many villages. The first village you reach is Samalang, which is 7 km away from Teun. From there, one walks to the village of Salang in the Lug Valley. From here you can take a bus to Kullu.
Conclusion
Dehnasar Lake is definitely a must do trek. It is not only important from the point of view of religious sentiments, but a place of immense natural beauty. Another interesting fact about the lake is that it can be reached both from Barot and Lug Valley in Kullu. Alternatively, one can start the trek from Barot and reach the beautiful lake, spend time there, enjoy the beauty and trek towards Lug valley and end the trek in Kullu.