Bhrigu Lake Trek

Two to three-day trek to a high-altitude lake at 4,300m above Manali

The Bhrigu Lake trek is one of the best accessible high-altitude walks from Manali, reaching a glacial lake at 4,300 metres in two to three days. The trailhead starts at Gulaba (above Rohtang Pass road), and the route crosses sweeping alpine meadows — the bugyals — that are carpeted with wildflowers in July and August. The lake itself is frozen for much of the year and typically clear of ice only from late June to September.

The trek can be done independently or with a guide, and most trekking agencies in Manali offer organised versions. Camping equipment is needed for the two-night version; some groups do a very long single day but this is strenuous and altitude sickness at the top is a real risk if ascending too fast. The meadows below the lake see few crowds outside peak season and offer outstanding views of the Kullu and Parvati valley ranges.

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A story
Bhrigu Lake is named after the sage Bhrigu, and Hindu tradition holds that it is one of the places where he meditated. The lake itself sits in a natural bowl of alpine grassland just below the snowline, and on clear days reflects a ring of snow peaks. It is one of the most accessible 4,000-metre treks in the Himalayas, achievable without prior high-altitude experience.