Prashar Lake, also known as Parashar Lake, is a small lake located about 50 kilometers from Mandi in Himachal Pradesh. It is a popular destination among both travel enthusiasts and locals as well. With a three stories pagoda-like temple, dedicated to sage Prashar, on its banks, it is considered a holy lake, and locals from nearby areas continue to visit here all year long. It is located at a height of 2,730 meters and as per the legend, the true depth of the lake is still unknown.
This place is open for visitors throughout the year, including the winter months. While the majority of the tourism here happens in summer, a lot of people also come to the lake while it is covered completely under a thick sheet of snow. How a trip can be planned to this beautiful lake is what I will discuss in this article.
Image: Wiki
This deep blue and enchanting lake likes in a saucer-shaped valley, at an astounding height of 8,960 ft, and is surrounded by thick forests and snow-capped peaks. During the monsoon, the lake and its nearby areas are all lush green. Come winters and it all gets buried under a thick sheet of white in months of January and February. The primary source of inflow for this sweet water lake is rainwater and glacier runoff/melt-water, but there is no outflow of water from the lake.
Quick Navigation
Prashar Lake
There is also a tiny Phumdi island in the lake. I am talking about the small green patch inside the lake in the pic above. Take a look at THIS link to know more about what a Phumdi island is. This floating mass of vegetation keeps changing its location but at a very slow pace.
During summer, it touches one part of the lake and then slowly floats away towards the other by winter. The temple next to the lake was built by Raja Ban Sen of Mandi in the 14th century. It is a very beautiful temple capped with a roof of slate tiles and beautiful wood carvings.
Also read: Delhi to Prashar Lake – A Journey Memorable
The tiny lake, dense forests, beautiful temple, cold weather, chirping of birds, snow-capped mountains at a distance offer great scenic natural beauty. It is a perfect place if you want to get away or a few days from the rushed city life; and spend some time in the serenity and tranquility of the hills.
This entire area is an awesome place to relax and connect with nature. You get an amazing panoramic view of snowy mountain ranges from this location and is quite a view. Pollution-free, clean, calm, less populated, untouched by the modern amenities are some of the key features of this entire region. In nutshell, it is a must-visit place for anyone with even the slightest interest in traveling.
How to Plan a Trip to Prashar Lake
There is a road that goes all the way to the lake; until right next to it. So you will easily be able to get here either by car or motorcycle. If you were living in a place like Chandigarh or Delhi, you can even make this trip over a weekend. If you are looking for a bit of trekking fun, then you can leave your vehicle at any of the villages en route and trek to the lake.
Also read: How to Plan a Trip to Chandratal Lake
I will start by first explaining the route to the lake and then will mention other details like accommodation, safety tips, and availability of basic amenities. For the sake of this article, while suggesting an itinerary, I will assume that you are starting your journey from Delhi.
How to reach Prashar Lake
The most common way to reach Prashar Lake is to first get to the small town of Mandi, which is located at a distance of about 415 kilometers from Delhi and 170 kilometers from Chandigarh. Once you reach Mandi, you will take the narrow 50 kilometers long road which will take you all the way to the top of the hill that the lake is located on. A detailed explanation of the route is as below.
Delhi to Chandigarh
Not much to mention about this part of the journey except that it will be a long and monotonous one. An early start from Delhi is highly recommended as the total journey until Prashar can even take up to 10-11 hours. The only good part about this journey will be that the road is super smooth all the way to Chandigarh.
Chandigarh to Mandi
From Chandigarh, the route is Roopnagar – Ghanauli – Kiratpur Sahib – Bilaspur – Barmana – Sundernagar – Mandi. The journey till Chandigarh would have remained on a fast track but this is where it starts to get slow. The first hurdle is Chandigarh. It doesn’t matter if you took a bypass or entered the city; you are bound to waste some time in the traffic here.
After Chandigarh, the road will get smooth again until Kiratpur Sahib after which you will get your first sight of the hills. From here on, initially, the roads will be terrible and then will remain a mix of bad and average until Mandi. This part of the journey will easily take about 4—5 hours.
Mandi to Prashar Lake
Prashar Lake is located at a distance of about 55 kilometers from Mandi. The route will be Mandi – Bijani – Kamand – Baggi – Prashar Lake. The condition of this road will heavily depend on your time of travel but it will be just about average at its best.
If you were visiting here during monsoon, then even this stretch will have several bad sections full of slush. It is a narrow winding road and the entire drive is really steep climb all the way to the top. I will strongly advise going slow and carefully as the traffic here is two ways.
Since not many vehicles travel on this route often, locals tend to speed up especially while going downhill. Even though the distance is only 50 odd kilometers, getting to Prashar Lake from Mandi will easily take you about 2.5 to 3 hours.
Kullu to Prashar Lake via Bajaura
70-80% of the people coming to the lake follow the above-mentioned route via Mandi. There is however another road from Kullu which also can be used to reach Prashar Lake if you were coming from the Manali side.
The route then will be as below.
Kullu – Bhuntar – Bajaura – Shayari – Bagi – Prashar Lake
In terms of distance, this route is slightly longer than Mandi, about 65 kilometers in total. Total travel time from Kullu to Prashar Lake will be about 3 hours; of which, about an hour will be spent on Kullu to Bajaura stretch and then another 1.5 to 2 hours to get from Bajaura to Prashar Lake.
Also read: Lakes of Ladakh
This is in fact the best way to include Prashar Lake in your trip to Manali. You can take the diversion from Mandi and reach Prashar Lake to spend the night there. The next day, you can take the other road via Bajaura to reach Kullu and then continue to Manali.
Where to Stay at Prashar Lake
Accommodation at Prashar Lake is available in form of two government-run guest houses, a temple-run Dharamshala and a couple of campsites. Details on all three choices are as mentioned below.
Guest House at Prashar Lake
The best place to stay at Prashar Lake would be either of the HPPWD or Forest Department Guesthouse. The only problem is that you need to book your stay here in advance or will not be allowed in.
The caretakers here are a little fussy and no matter how much you try to talk them into letting you stay, they just won’t budge. The biggest advantage with the guesthouses is of washrooms which becomes a challenge with the other two options.
Of the two guest houses available one belongs to Himachal Pradesh Public Works Department and another one to Forest Department. Both of them are within walking distance of about 10 minutes from the lake. They are the best deal in terms of location and views as well.
- To book the PWD guest house, contact 01905-222151 or email at [email protected]
- To book the forest guest house, contact DFO office Mandi at 01905 – 235360 or RFO Kataula at Tel: 01905 – 269469. Or you can also contact the caretaker, Mr. Roop Singh at 94184 11746. There is no cell phone reception at the lake so you may not actually get him on the phone at all.
If either of the two options did not work, then take a look at the article below where I have explained an alternate way of booking PWD guest houses in Himachal.
The above two guest houses are equipped with cooking facilities but it is very rare that the caretaker will cook for you. A better option to eat however would be at the small dhabas / shops near the lake.
Dharamshala
Dharamshala is the cheapest form of accommodation at the lake. These are dormitory-type rooms offered by the temple at a very nominal price. You can talk to the people at the temple about it and for a few hundred, they will give you a couple of blankets and open one room.
What is the catch? The room is dirty. You do not know the last time the blankets were washed and you also do not get the room all to yourself. So if more people came looking for accommodation, there is a high chance that you will be sleeping with two more strangers in the same room.
Washrooms are a problem here as well. The locals at the temple won’t let you use their toilets and you will be walking around in the nearby jungle looking for a suitable spot.
Camping at Prashar Lake
Camp Sites are a great choice and a lot of people come to Prashar looking to camp. The entire location too is perfect for camping. There are a couple of campsites here that charge about Rs. 1000 per person for one day, including meals.
They are not super comfortable but will keep you warm and you will be able to sleep through the night, a little uncomfortably though. Washrooms with campsites too are a problem and you will have to do your business in the jungle.
There is one campsite however that has its own washroom set up, two cabin-sized ones. The only problem is that this particular campsite is about 2 kilometers walk from the lake. The name and number of this site are in the picture below.
Hotels at Prashar Lake
There are a few hotels as well on the way as you climb up from Mandi to Prashar Lake, but none however near the lake. All of these are at least 1 hour of drive away. Mentioned below are details of three hotels just before the Baggi Village, about 28 kilometers away from Prashar Lake.
- Prashar Guest House: 9816669256
- Sri Prashar Home Stay: 9805371061
- Hill View Home Stay: 9418044003, 9816244003
These are all very basic guesthouses that belong to the local villagers.
Food Arrangement
There are a few shops near the temple premises that offer tea, snacks, and lunch (mostly rice, daal, rajma, kadi combination) at very reasonable rates. This is the place where you will have to eat at even if you were staying at the guest house; because the caretaker will refuse to cook and ask you to eat here. Apart from this, the campsites also serve their own food which is included in their per person charge for the day.
Also read: How to go to Chandratal Lake from Delhi
Trekking to Prashar Lake
One of the most popular parts of a trip to Prashar Lake is to trek your way on the final ascent. The full length of the trek is about 5-8 kilometers; which makes it perfect for people who do not have much experience in trekking. It is a trek meant for beginners and even for family outings (not with kids and elders though).
Trek actually starts from different points; of which nearest and recommended one is the Baggi Village, about 7 -8 kilometers. The trek route is well defined through the dense forest and you can actually just walk through on your own.
I will however recommend that you ask a local to accompany you from the village; a guide who of course you will pay to navigate you through. The forest around the trek is quite dense and there is a chance of getting lost.
It is strongly recommended that you start early from the Baggi village for the trek. It will take you approximately 5 hours to reach the top; depending on earlier trekking experience, climate, and if there is any snow on the way.
Prashar Lake Trek Route
- Baggi – Prashar :
- 8 KmsTrek Time: 5 Hours
- Level: Beginner, Intermediate
Things To Carry for the Trek
- ID Proof
- Comfortable trekking shoes
- Sunscreen
- Sunglasses
- Warm clothes, Jacket, and Gloves if trekking in winter
- Water Bottle (Preferably not disposable)
- Some snacks
- Juice
- Instead of trekking wearing Denim Jeans, wear trek pants
- Do not dispose of plastic water bottles, biscuits/chocolate wrappers/chips packets irresponsibly. Respect the greenery, Eco-system, and cleanliness of the area. Keep all these things with you and dispose of off them when you come across a dustbin.
Prashar Lake in Winters
A trip to Prashar is definitely doable and is actually gaining popularity these days. Details will pretty much remain the same as I mentioned above. The only thing that will differ is the amount of snow. The road in all probability remains open until the Baggi village even if it has snowed heavily.
Image: Wiki
After Baggi, you now have two options. You can drive or ride on the road as far as possible, then leave your vehicle parked on the road, and walk the rest of the distance to the lake. This is how I went. I drove my car about 3 kilometers before the lake after which the road was covered in snow. I left my car parked right there and walked the rest of the distance. The next morning we walked back to where my car was and drove home.
A lot of people do this. As a matter of fact, the majority of the people traveling in winter do it. Just make sure your car is well locked and it will be safe parked in the jungle. No one is going to steal it there.
Prashar Lake Trek in Winter
This is another good way to travel actually if you are into trekking. You can drive to the Baggi village and walk through the trek for the rest of the way. In winters, however, I will strongly recommend that you do not attempt it without a local guide. If there is snow all around, the trek is bound to get slippery and it is also steep at a few points.
How to reach Prashar Lake by Bus
Every bus going towards Manali passes through Mandi so getting to Mandi will not be a problem. Once you reach Mandi, you will have two choices. One is to catch a bus or to rent a taxi. A taxi will be a better choice here but that is just my opinion.
Mandi to Prashar Lake Bus
An HRTC bus starts from Mandi at 7 AM every day and reaches Prashar Lake at about 11 AM. The same bus then starts on its way back from the lake at 1 PM and reaches Mandi at approximately 5 PM.
There is however no bus in the months of winter. So if there is snow on the road, then the bus from Mandi will only ply till the Baggi Village; after which you will have to trek to the lake.
Mandi to Prashar Lake Taxi
Another great way for this journey is to rent a private taxi from Mandi. It will cost you between Rs. 600 – Rs. 800 till Baggi Village and Rs. 1,000 to Rs. 1,200 till Prashar Lake (depending upon your negotiation skills).
Shared taxis are also available on the route which locals use. Some locals also drive their Tempo Travelers to the lake. Depending on the amount of snow, these shared taxis are available all the way to the lake even in winters.
If the snow is too much, then they will provide a pick and drop to the last point where a car can go. Ask around about these local taxis in Baggi Village. If you reached here by Bus in winters and do not want to go trekking; then catching a shared taxi for the last lapse of the journey will be a great choice.
Prashar Lake Weather
Prashar has its own charm in every season of the year. The temperature varies from -5 degrees C to 23 degrees C in the year. The weather here is unpredictable, rain and snow may wet you any time due to the dense forest area.
In Summer, days are pleasantly warm but nights do get cold. It snows at the lake and night temperature drops below zero during the winter season. In January and February, due to heavy snowfall, the lake freezes and is a delight to watch. If things turn extreme then this area gets completely cut off until the weather subsides.
Prashar Lake Itinerary
It will depend on how you are traveling actually but if traveling by road, you can reach Prashar Lake via Mandi and return via Kullu, covering both routes. if you are trekking then you can reach Mandi first and then Baggi. From Baggi you can trek up to the lake and stay here for the night. The next day you can climb down to Baggi again, then drive back home via Mandi.
If you are traveling by your own vehicle then the trip can be easily done over a weekend. If however trekking is on your mind then you will need at least 3 days for the journey.
Things to do at Prashar Lake
Absolutely nothing and this is why you should come here. Spend some time just walking around leisurely in the lap of the Himalayas and absolute silence. There is only one thing to do here; enjoy the natural beauty and peace around you.
Recent Updates
Below are some recent updates provided by Biswa who recently visited Prashar Lake solo.
Mandi to Prashar Lake Bus Timing & Fare
The HRTC bus from Mandi to Prashar Lake departs from the Mandi ISBT bus stand between 7.45 and 8 am these days. The exact spot where this bus comes for boarding is in front of the public restrooms/toilets near bus bay 1 and 2.
The journey to and from Prashar took 3 hrs (total distance 49 kilometers) which includes a rest stop of 15 minutes. It goes via IIT Mandi, Bagi village, and the town of Kataula. The bus ticket is Rs.88 one way. It is not necessary to do any advance booking on this bus neither is it allowed. Safe to say you’ll always get a seat. On the way back, this bus will depart from 1.15 pm sharp.
Accommodation
I stayed at the Forest Rest House which can be booked in advance. The room price is Rs.1000 plus tax. The room was decent but a little dusty. You don’t expect anything better at this remote place. Link: https://himachalecotourism.org/service/frh-prashar/?checkin_d=18&checkin_m=1&checkin_y=2019&checkout_d=19&checkout_m=1&checkout_y=2019
Mandi to Prashar Lake Taxi Fare
There are private cabs which can be taken if you miss the bus from Mandi. They are available outside the ISBT. The rate is 2500 for a roundtrip journey. Interestingly the rate is the same if you’re coming from Kullu to Prashar Lake.
Other Tips
There has been an incredible surge in the popularity of this place in the last few years, which has both good and bad side effects. The waste from plastic packets and other food items is slowly but surely accumulating and the locals don’t have a solution in place to dispose and clean the area.
So please make sure not to throw your waste anywhere near this sacred place – keep it with you and safely dispose of them in your home city.
Another aspect of the popularity of this place on social media platforms is this – the pictures you see on FB and IG are invariably taken from a high vantage point near the lake. There are no proper trails to the viewpoints at the top of the hills surrounding the lake.
There are tracks that have been made by thrill-seeking tourists and wild dogs/horses and cows. They are narrow and steep. So please be cautious in climbing to one of the top points to take a picture or selfie. If you see the ground is wet or slippery due to morning ice, don’t climb further.
Prashar Lake Trek
Deepak Kumar Parida recently completed his trek to Prashar Lake and was kind enough to share his experience to help others. Below are some useful details.
I completed the Prashar lake trek from 26-29 October. Following is a brief — I hope it can be of help.
- Delhi to Panarsa: This is a stop in between Mandi & Kullu, about 1 hour after Mandi. We reached here by Bus overnight followed by a 2-hour refreshment stop in a hotel (Sanor Valley Hotel).
- Panarsa to Jwalapur trek point via Taxi
- Jwalapur to Prashar Lake via trekking for 9 kilometers. It took us 4 – 5 hours to trek up and then 2 – 2.5 hours to walk back down.
- Camping at Fogg Hill camp overnight
- Return trek next morning
- Panarsa to Delhi bus overnight
As compared to Baggi–>Prashar Lake route,
- Not very steep
- You follow a river along a valley, so there are mountains on both sides. As a result, there is always shade and it’s way cooler.
- You will find vast open plains at 2-3 places along the route which are ideal rest points.
- The Baggi route is steeper but yes, U get great views of snow-capped peaks during the trek. But anyway you can see them when you reach the top. So it’s a trade-off I took.
We camped at Fogg Hill camp. It’s adjacent to Krishna Camps you mentioned here. It’s new (just 6 months old) and relatively cheap. The guys are young and friendly. They have a toilet & use Quechua equipment which is fantastic I think.
It is a paradise for people who like astrophotography. I clicked some of the best shots of the Milkyway of my life here.
Prashar Lake Trek Cost
Panarsa–>Prashar–>Panarsa including taxi, refreshment, stay, food, guide cost me INR 1800/- per head since it was “off-season”. The guy I contacted was Raj and his number is 9459402215.
It was a package @1800 per head. No extra charge for the taxi.
Conclusion
I think that pretty much covers all there is to know about going on a trip to Prashar Lake. If you have any questions, please feel free to ask in the comments section below and I will be happy to answer. You can also follow me on Instagram and chat with me live there or subscribe to my YouTube channel and ask a question there.
108 comments
Hello Travller
Sharing some important information about Parashar lake
Newly road connected by Panarsa . It just 38 km from Panarsa (National highway kullu manali ) near Aut tunnel.Panarsa is small town near Aut or Bhuntar .it’s well maintained road as compared to Bjaura Parashar or Mandi Parashar road . You can reach in 1:20 minutes in Parashar lake .
Hotel near Parashar lake
Fogg hill cottage / camp/hotel just 2 km from lake or on the way to Parashar lake by Panarsa Parashar lake road . Its budget free hotel stay starting from 500 for one person .you can book camp/room/cottage .
For more information please call 9459402215
Hi Vargis, thanx for providing such detailed walkthrough about the lake.
I am planning to visit the place in April on a solo trip. My concern is about placing my own camp near the lake. is it possible to do so or do I have to take any permission for forest authority and is it safe to do so there?
I do not think they will let you place your camp right next to the lake. It is considered a holy lake, and the temple folks may raise an objection. You will have to camp at a distance from the water. This is just my opinion though. I have never done self-camping there so I cannot confirm. Will be best to talk to the pujari at the temple first.
Thanks for sharing the details. I think even if I will camp little far from temple, forest officers may levy fine or will at least try to bargain an amount. Self-camping is not such good idea I guess.
Cheers to your good work man. Really appreciate what you are doing.
Thank you Jalaj Bhai. I appreciate your kind words. Camp fire will definitely be a problem but you do not have to do that. There are a few dhabas near the lake where you can eat.
Hi,
I visited Parashar and placed my own camp. Its was amazing you can place your own camp outside temple boundaries. Temple authorities were also very helpful. Its windy and cold up there so better to carry warm sleeping bag.
Thank you for adding that information Bhai !!!
Hello Vargis, excellent blog. thank you very much. One question – how would be the weather there in last week of Jul? I am from Pune and not sure when is it summer/rainy/winter season there. thanks in advance.
It will be the monsoon season Ravi. Do find out about the weather conditions ahead before you start. Landslides are pretty common in this region
very good detail information…it was very helpfull….thanks
Thank you for taking the time to drop a note Gurjeet Bhai
Wonderful blog Mr.Vargis .Thank you very much for the details informations you have shared.
Thank you so much Mr. Bhattacharya for your kind words.
Thank you so much for such a well articulated and very important details! Really impressed with your blog! Keep writing like this!
Thank you for your kind words !!!
Hi Vargis,
Firstly thanks a lot for this wonderful article, Im planning to visit parashar lake during the time of Jan 4th week, is it a suitable time to visit the place and how can i reach there and how to reach delhi from there..
Vargis – thank you once again for this very informative article on Prashar Lake. It fueled my interest in this place which eventually led to my solo journey to this lake over the past weekend. I’m so happy I went! This is truly an unique place and I was left mesmerized by the natural beauty. I also wanted to pass on some things that may be of benefit to fellow travelers:
1. The HRTC bus to Prashar departs from Mandi ISBT bus stand between 7.45 and 8 am these days. The exact spot where this bus comes for boarding is in front of the public restrooms/toilets near the bus bay 1 and 2. The journey to and from Prashar took 3 hrs (total distance 49 kms) which includes a rest stop of 15 mins. It goes via IIT Mandi, Bagi village and town of Kataula. Bus ticket is Rs.88 one way. It is not necessary to do any advance booking on this bus neither is it allowed. Safe to say you’ll always get a seat. On the way back, this bus will depart from 1.15pm sharp.
2. I stayed at the Forest Rest House which can be booked in advance. Room price is Rs.1000 plus tax. The room was decent but a little dusty. You don’t expect anything better at this remote place. Link: https://himachalecotourism.org/service/frh-prashar/?checkin_d=18&checkin_m=1&checkin_y=2019&checkout_d=19&checkout_m=1&checkout_y=2019
3. There are private cabs which can be taken if you miss the bus from Mandi. They are available outside the ISBT. Rate is 2500 for roundtrip journey. Interestingly the rate is same if you’re coming from Kullu to Prashar.
4. There has been an incredible surge in the popularity of this place in the last few years, which has both good and bad side effects. The waste from plastic packets and other food items is slowly but surely accumulating and the locals don’t have a solution in place to dispose and clean the area. So please make sure not to throw your waste anywhere near to this sacred place – keep it with you and safely dispose them at your home city.
5. Another aspect of the popularity of this place on social media platforms is this – the pics you see on FB and IG are invariably taken from a high vantage point near the lake. There are no proper trails to the viewpoints at the top of the hills surrounding the lake. There are tracks which have been made by thrillseeking tourists and wild dogs/horses and cows. They are narrow and steep. So please be cautious in climbing to one of the top points to take a pic or selfie. If you see the ground is wet or slippery due to morning ice, don’t climb further.
Finally, a question for you Vargis – there are some snowcapped mountains that are visible from the lake and from surrounding areas. Do you know the name of this range? Is it the Kinner Kailash range?
Hello Biswa Bhai – Thank you so much for providing these extremely valuable details. I updated the article based on the information you provided. To answer your question, from the top you get a view of Dhauladhar, Pir Panjal and Kinnaur mountain ranges, depending on which direction you were looking in.
I am looking in this direction (see the snowcapped peaks in the background) – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prashar_Lake. Can you confirm the name of this range?
I am not 100% on this Biswa Bhai but in that direction, it should be the Kinnaur range.
Excellent article Vargis.
Just confirming – does the PWD guest house remain open even in peak winters?
Hi Siddharth – Yes they do.
Hi Vargis. Ur blog was of real help to me for planning Prashar as well as Sach Pass.
I took Prashar Trek from 26-29 Oct.
Following is a brief — i hope it might help.
Delhi –> Panarsa (this is a stop in between Mandi & Kullu, around 1 hour after Mandi) by Bus overnight
2 hour refreshment stop in a hotel (Sanor Valley Hotel)
Panarsa –> Jwalapur trek point via Taxi
Jwalapur –> Prashar Lake via trekking 9 kms (4-5 hours up, 2-2.5 hours down)
Camping at Fogg Hill camp overnight
Return trek next morning
Panarsa –> Delhi bus overnight
As compared to Baggi–>Prashar Lake route,
Good points:
>Not very steep
>You follow a river along a valley, so there are mountains on both sides. As a result there is always shade and its way cooler.
>U will find vast open plains at 2-3 places along the route which are ideal rest points.
The Baggi route is steeper but yes, U get great views of snow capped peaks during the trek. But anyways U can see them when U reach the top, so its a trade off I took.
Camping at Fogg Hill camp (its adjacent to Krishna Camps U mentioned here). Its new (just 6 months) and relatively cheap. The guys are young and friendly. They have a toilet & use Quechua equipment which is fantastic i think.
Its a paradise for people who like astro-photography. I clicked some of the best shots of milkyway of my life here.
Panarsa–>Prashar–>Panarsa including taxi, refreshment, stay, food, guide cost me INR 1800/- per head since it was “off-season”. Guy is Raj 9459402215.
Thank you so much for sharing these details Deepak Bhai. How much did the taxi cost?
It was a package @1800 per head. No extra charge for the taxi
Thanks for sharing Deepak Bhai. Really very helpful.
I’m looking to book a room at the PWD Rest House near Prashar Lake for November. I called up the PWD booking office. I was told that they don’t take bookings so early. Bookings can only be done 1-2 days in advance.
Trouble is, for such a popular spot like Prashar Lake where the PWD Rest House only has 5 suites – chances are very less I would get a room at 1-2 days notice. And without a confirmed room it will be difficult for me to arrange a stay.
My question is, is it true that PWD Rest House don’t take advance bookings? Also, is there any other place near Prashar Lake who can confirm my booking atleast a month in advance?
I was at prashar lake on 10 and 11 th of this month. All guest house were empty. You do not need booking. Just go there and talk with care taker. He will arrange rooms in half price. There are 3 guest houses, 1. Pwd 2. Forest, 3. Trekker hut (forest department). Trekker hut’s location is best. Dont panic .. you will get rooms.
Thanks for adding the details Sukesh.
Thank you for taking the time and responding, Sukesh and Vargis. I found it very helpful. Just a quick question – can you tell me if there is any mobile phone reception near the Prashar Lake or at any of the rest houses? If yes, does Airtel postpaid work there? I know we shouldn’t think about it in places like this, but since my family is having some medical issues I need to keep in touch with them daily.
You will get full cellular conectivity if using Jio. Even you can enjoy video calls. I can not comment on other networks. All guest house has electerciy connection even You will get geyser for hot water supply.
Airtel and Vodafone won’t work. Mine didn’t.
Sir thanks for well explained trip of prashar lake. I really enjoyed your writing skills. Sir, howz this trek in middle of August?
It will be raining a lot so not really a good time. Better wait for a couple of weeks visit in September.
An HRTC bus starts from Mandi at 7 AM everyday and reaches Prashar Lake at about 11 AM. The same bus then starts on its way back from the lake at 1 PM and reaches Mandi at approximately 5 PM
first of all,there is no option for editing/deleting the comment.secondly, i want to know that the above mentioned bus timings.Are these feasible since you have mentioned delhi to prashar is a 11 hr journey n the bus timings you have mentioned says a different story.
Different story how?
Very good information is shared in this article. Hopefully this will help me during my visit tomorrow. Appreciate you.
Let me know how your trip goes Ajay
Are there taxis and any kind of transportation to reach back mandi during the evening when one comes back from the trek to the village or dirctly from the lake
It will be very difficult to find a mode of commute on the spot, specially in the evening.
An excellent blog.
Thanks for the wonderful information presented in a systematic manner.
Thank you Ajay
hi, how is the weather in June, i am planning to travel from Palampur, Kangra.
where we can get comfortable stay nearby, i am with my wife & 2 small kids as well
Weather in June will be pleasant, a bit hot during day actually.
Hi Vargis,
We are planning to have this trek with our 6 years child. Will it be feasible, or we should plan for some other beginner trek in himachal.
Hi Vargis, that’s fantastic information about the place. Thanks for sharing.
Am planing to do drive from Shoja in first week of June 2019. Wanted to know if its doable by i10 Grand or I need a SUV for this:
Day 1: Shoja to Parashar, overnight Parashar.
Day 2: Parashar to Kasol
Also how much is the walk from the last motorable point at Parashar upto the Lake and PWD Rest House. I have some problem in my legs.
Hi Swati – Yes you can do it in i10. In the month of June, the road will actually bring you right to the lake itself.
hi Vargis Very informative article. Thank you.
I will visiting Parasar around 31st May/1st June. Tried booking the FRH but no availability. You can add this link to your article for online booking.
https://himachalecotourism.org/service/frh-prashar/
I heard there are some homestays near lake. Any idea on how they are (inclusive of wash room etc). I will travelling with wife and kid of 3 year.
regards
Surya
Thanks for adding this information Surya. I am sorry but I am not sure about the homestays, never stayed at one.
Hello, Your Article is so impressive and very informative. Thanks for sharing great Information. I am now a regular visitor to your website and commenting it. Great Job Keep It Up!
Thank you
Hey ,
Thanks for writing. Really very helpful artical
Thank you for taking the time to drop a note
We are planning to go to manali in march end 2019. Will there be snow? Also till where road is drivable in snow in extreme cases and how much trek has to be done if snow doesnt allow car to go ahead. Is it possible that we come from manali and visit prashar lake and return to mandi and stay in mandi?? Or
Snow – Very little
Road – About 2 kilometers if there was any snow
Returnn to Mandi – Yes it is doable
Can u also tell about condition of road from mandi to prashar lake and time required to reach prashar lake from mandi. Thanks in advance
Road is mostly good, smooth. Will take about 2.5 to 3 hours to reach from Mandi to Prashar
Hey Vargis,
Thank you for such a detailed article. I just wanted to ask you about the charges the local guides take for the trek to Prashar from Baggi village and what are the details such as the timings for the bus services from Mandi to Baggi Village.
Bro, bus timing is 7.30 in the morning. Guide will take 1200 per person including food and stay. I would suggest trek by ur own instead of hiring a guide. Trek is easy. U will find stay very easily. Charges are 200 for stay and 80 for dinner. Here is the number – 9816528537 Name is Pappi Bhai . Very humble person Awesome food
Thanks sir ji
You are welcome Kishna Bhai. How are you?
Aapka number de do sir …..
How to communicate wotw the guest house. They aren’t picking the phone
Hi Vargis, first of all a great writeup ! …i am planning overnight bus from Delhi to Mandi followed by morning bus to prashar and return by the same bus (1pm) to mandi is it doable ? i mean does the bus go directly to prashar ? also going to mcleodganj after that so are buses from mandi available for dharamshala ?
Hey thanks a lot for writing a very lovely and helpful article.
I’m planning to trek to Prashar on Jan 19th-20th with a couple of friends. Just wanted to confirm:is it feasible to do the snow trek without a guide and whether we’ll be able to get tents and food on spot at the lake during this winter time (so we don’t have to carry our own tents or food beyond snacks)?
Thanks again!
I would recommend taking a local guide in winter because if there was snow on the ground, it would be better to have someone who knows the place. And yes, you will definitely get accommodation on arrival.
Can you please tell me the total budget of this trek from chandigarh
Thnx for ur quick reply…
you are welcome !!!
Hi Vargis,
First of all, great details, u hv covered almost everything.
I just wnted to ask, is it possible to pitch in own tent in prashar lake?
Look forward to hearing from you.
Best, Deep
Hi Deep – Yes you can pitch your own tent as well.
i am planning to visit Prashar lake on 9th December. I need to know 2 things.
1. Exact time for bus from mandi to bagi.
2. Exactt time for Bus from bagi to mandi back.(is there taxi’s available for back journey around 4pm?)
I have mentioned the timings in the article above.
I really appreciate your guidance and commitment towards it. This post has made me want to go there even more. I had a serious concern though. I was planning to go in December end this year, spend the new year with a friend. However I believe the nights will be cold. I’ve been on various treks before and in many, we had bonfires. Is there anyway that I can arrange for a bonfire somewhere near the lake?
Hi Kartavya – Yes, The camp sites do have the arrangements of bonfires at night.
Hi Vargis,
There are quite a few travel bloggers but seldom do you find bloggers replying to the queries of individuals within a few hours even though the article was written 6-8 months ago. Bloggers blog and forget about it.
Its commendable what you are doing. Even if the answers to our question lies in your article or are vague you still take out the time to respond.
Keep up the good work!
I was hoping to go on new years eve to this place along with my brother
what are the odds of finding snow?
Thank you Siddhant. Chances of finding snow this year are great. It has been snowing already all across the hills already.
Hi, I’m planning my trip to Parashar lake for the next week. I wanted to know how’s weather is going be like? I am planning for trekking and for a night stay there, and am a female solo traveller, so will it be safe?
My itinerary is-
Day1- Chandigarh to mandi
Day-1 or 2 (depending on the tranptransport)
Mandi to Parashar lake. Overnight stay.
Please also suggest some more places to explore nearby
Weather – It is going to be very cold, possibly below zero at nights so pack accordingly.
Safe – I really cannot guarantee anything but there will be other girls there camping with friends.
There is nothing else to explore there. From Mandi, you can go towards Kasol or Manali though.
Thank you Vargis for such valuable information.
I would like you kind advice.
Would it be advisable to do a tour at the lake and stay there for 5 days with 30 students of mine and study scriptures, be silent and meditate in a group?
The age group will vary from 25 – 60 yrs!
Is May / June a good option or would you suggest September?
Which would be the best place to stay and any idea about food arrangements which is not so costly.
Nihar Bhai what will you do there for 5 days?
As i shared , study scriptures and meditate, chant
And of course be with mother nature
Yes, in that case May June can be a good time. Just make sure you book the HPPWD rest house and circuit house in advance and only go if you have confirmation. I don’t think they will be able to accommodate all 30 of you though. So some of you may have to stay at camp sites but would at least have the option of using the washrooms in rest house. Camp sites there do not washroom facilities and will ask you to do the morning business in the jungle. One Krishna Camps there has washrooms but extremely inconvenient and not at all recommended.
So how many can the guest houses accommodate?
Usually the PWD rest houses have only about 4 to 5 rooms so you will have to call and ask them about how many people will they allow in a room.
3day are sufficient? can you please tell me how much it cost?
3 days should be sufficient but it also depends on where you are coming from. Cost too will depend on your mode of travel.
Hi vargis ji
I am planning for prashar lake in decemvDe.is it good time to visit this place.will I be able to do camping at that time.
Hello Godhuli – You can camp in December yes but it is not really a good time to go. Better plan in Jan or Feb if you want to see snow.
Hello..great deal of information there…Please guide me for few queries:..I am a solo female traveler, Want to visit Prashar by road (not trekking)…reaching mandi around 11-30 am…The 8-00 am HRTC bus won’t be a option..Can you please give me info about sharing cabs..Will I get sharing cab from Mandi to Prashar or I will have to change at Baggi or in between?..Also, do you have any information about the frequency at noon in October…Also, I intend to return in the evening, will that be feasible?..Will sharing cabs till Baggi/Mandi be available around 5-30/6 pm…If not, I am ready to hire from Baggi to Prashar drop and return pick up..How much will be approx. cost for taxi hire?..Please guide. Thanks in advance.
Thank u
You are welcome
How are the roads from chandigarh to prashar lake at this time of year ? Is it possible and safe to plan a trip at this time?
hi Vargis,
You have written very well about Parashar lake trip. I am planning to go alone on 1st october 2018. I will reach mandi from delhi. I want to know about the waetaher in the begining of October. Will it be winter kind of things ? I will be carrying one sack with me only. Do i need to book hotel prior or it can be booked upon reaching over there ?
Alok – Yes it will be very cold so please pack accordingly. The PWD guest house would have to be booked in advance but if you want to camp then you do not need to.
Thanks a lot . I will do that 🙂
You are welcome !!!
Hey..thanks for the detailed information…
I am planning to go prashar lake on 20th August…is this timings are safe by wether or anything for solo women traveler..?
Itternary ( as i thought)
Day 1: manali to mandi by hrtc (arrival timing 12.30 pm)
After that, prashar lake by shared cab
Night stay at Temple’s dharamshala
Day 2:
Leave for mandi by whatever is available in morning
Catch a bus for delhi in evening around 7.30 pm
Hi how much did you pay for the text from Mandi to Parashar lake
Sorry for not being able to respond Devika. I was travelling myself for last 10 days.
No need to say sorry sir…next time i will surely take ur advice in advance…
thn i cancelled my trip… So I don’t know @Antara
Plan in winter season. I have found it better covered in snow entirely.
Hi Vargis, Thanks for the excellent write up….
How good is it to visit during October?? How would the weather be like in Prachar, Mandi and Khullu??
Hi Baala – Thanks for your kind words. October is OK to visit. It will be cold at Prashar Lake but moderate weather at Mandi and Kullu
Hi Vargis,
First of all thanks for such a great article. I am planning to go to Prashar Lake via below itinerary.
Day 1: Chandigarh-Mandi. Overnight stay in Mandi
Day 2: Mandi to Prashar Lake by private cab. Stay at Prashar Lake (in either HPPWD or Forest Department Guest house).
Day 3: Back to Mandi and the on to Chandigarh. Catch a flight in the evening.
Please let me know if it is feasible.
Hi Biswaroop – Thanks for appreciating. Yes your plan is definitely doable.