Prashar Lake is the hidden gem of Himachal Pradesh, which is nestled in Mandi district, this magnificent lake is surrounded by Dhauladhar ranges. Prashar lake trek is 2 days trek, which makes it a perfect weekend getaway. The idea of spending the weekend in tranquil mountains, in front of a divine blue lake, and witnessing the beautiful vistas sounds quite attractive. We all are so busy in our lives that we do not get enough time to plan a trip but this short trek gives us an opportunity to discover the magnificent beauty of our mother nature away from the crowd and noise of the cities. This short trek is worth your time and money.

About Parashar Lake Trek

Prashar lake is situated at an altitude of 8,900ft this trek offers the 180-degrees view of Dhauldhar, Pir Panjaland, Kinnaur mountain ranges. One of the best things about Prashar lake trek is that it can be done throughout the year, there is no particular season or month in which you should go or should not go. An awe-inspiring landscape surrounded by snow-peaked mountains and a lake with deep blue water, which is like huge sapphire lying in the middle of the valley and a floating island on the surface of the lake, which has no fixed place, as it keeps changing its position. The night sky of this trek will make your journey much more meaningful. There is a pagoda-like temple near the lake, which is dedicated to the sage Prashar. It is said that the temple was built in the thirteenth century and has many mythical stories related to it.

Prashar Lake is a sacred lake according to Hindu mythology because sage Prashar meditated on the bank of this lake. Bhima the strongest among the Pandavas created this lake. The legend says when the Pandavas were returning from the Mahabharat war with Lord Kamrunag, when they arrived Lord Kamrung loved the view and tranquility of this place and decided to live here for the rest of his life. Therefore, Bheema rammed his elbow creating a huge dent, which became the lake. The interesting fact about the lake is that no one knows how deep the lake is.

You should not miss the sunrise, as it will be absolutely picturesque scenery, which will never fade away from your memory. The Prashar Lake trek trail goes through the village, which gives us the chance to enjoy the local culture of the place. The trail of this trek is rated from easy to moderate. It is suitable for beginners; this is a perfect camping destination for families with children. The trek starts from Panarsa and ends in Panarsa. The total trekking distance is almost 15km.

Quick facts about Parasar Lake Trek

• Maximum altitude- 8,956ft
• Trek distance- 15km
• Trek duration- 2 days
• Temperature min/max- 13° to 18°C / 0°C to 7°C
• Starting point- Panarsa
• Ending point- Panarsa
• State- Himachal Pradesh
• Difficulty level- Easy to moderate
• Last ATM- Mandi

Prashar lake weather

Prashar Lake is located on high altitude, and because of this, the weather remains cold throughout the year, but sometimes weather can be unpredictable. With the change in season, the weather also changes drastically. During winter, the area is covered with a white sheet of snow. In summers from April to June, the weather remains pleasant and in monsoon from July to August, there is moderate to heavy rainfall. Since this trek can be done throughout, the year you can choose the weather accordingly.

Best time to visit Prashar lake

This trek can be done throughout the year; it depends on which season or weather you prefer. From April to mid-June the weather is quite pleasant, everything is clear and green. The temperature stays almost 16-25 degrees Celsius.

But if you are someone who loves snow then December and January would be the best time as the lake remains partial freeze and the trek is covered with snow, the temperature sometimes drops below zero degrees Celsius. In January, you can also witness snowfall.

How to reach Prashar lake

We can visit the Parashar lake in two ways, we can either head directly towards the lake or trek from Jwalapur village to Prashar Lake. However, in the former one, you will miss the opportunity to explore the mountains. Besides, from the lake, there are many things to admire on the trek, the beautiful landscapes, small villages, and their distinct culture. Rather than heading directly towards the lake, it is advisable to trek towards the lake.

Panarsa - Jwalapur – Prashar lake (59km)

This route is perfect for trekking and the condition of roads remains good throughout the year. There are many direct buses from Delhi to Panarsa. Through this route, you do not need to change buses frequently.

How to reach Panarsa

There are three ways to reach Panarsa.

By air

The nearest airport to Panarsa is Bhuntar. From the Airport, you can take a cab/taxi or bus to reach Panarsa.

By train

Well, there is no direct train to Panarsa from Delhi. However, there are three nearest railway stations Kalka, Pathankot, and Ropar.

• Kalka to panarsa: 223km
• Pathankot to panarsa: 253km
• Ropar to panarsa: 204km

There are plenty of trains from Delhi to Kalka such as Shatabdi.

By bus

Reaching Panarsa by bus is more simple and advisable. You can find direct buses from Delhi to Bhuntar, and the same bus will go through Panarsa, which is 10km before Bhuntar. There are multiple types of buses available like AC and semi-sleeper. You can take a private or government bus. Government buses like HRTC or HPTDC are safer than private buses.

On the bus from Delhi to Bhuntar, you must inform the conductor to drop you off at Panarsa bus stop, because buses usually don’t halt at Panarsa.

You can also reach Panarsa through the Mandi district. Take HRTC from Delhi to Mandi. From Mandi bus stop, take a bus to Panarsa.