Trek To Kareri Lake

Kareri is another high mountain lake with clean water, sourced from the glacier water of Minkiani Peak of Dhauladhar Mountain Range of Himalayas. Kareri Lake trek is open between March to Oct. 

This trail is long but enjoyable easy trek. If  you want to solo camping In Kareri Lake. Then there is sufficiet space for camping. But for that you will have to go across the lake. 

The Lake hosts temples dedicated to Lord SHIVA and SHAKTI. From Kareri Lake, one can head to Baleni Pass and Minkiani Pass and Lam Dal...longest high mountain lake of Dhauladhar. Between June to mid September, you will find Gujjars and shepherds around Kareri Lake. Between For on How to Trek to Kareri Lake Trek,   

Kareri Lake Trek 

For Kareri Lake trail you need to reach Ghera Village either using a taxi or bus leaving from Dharamsala ISBT around 07:45 AM or via a foot trail from Satowari Village.You don't need to go Chari. Bus fare is 15 INR. From Ghera Village there is a road under construction suitable only for jeeps.

The trek starts from Ghera Village. From Ghera Village to Kareri Village you need to cross the bridge.

Kareri Lake or Kumarwah Dal, is a high Dhauladhar Mountain shallow water lake....what more of so appears to be a huge pond extended to be like a lake by the locals.

The reason why it appears to be extended by humans is that...the there are water exit points which are raised with a mixture of stone blocks and concrete.

Because of this, the restricted flow of water of Dal or Lake, the lake water is not suitable for consumption or bathing...reason...this November end we observed (without microscope) micro organisms floating in lake water and there may be more of nano organisms.

Kareri Lake is not a Fresh Water lake because it is not suitalbe for drinking, as of the shop near lake temple...that shop itself gets it's part of drinkable water via a PVC plastic pipe which goes through the lake and is directly connected to inlet point from which fresh water flows in to the lake and avoiding any contact with lake water.

Between October to December, you are not supposed to camp by the side of the lake and the reason for that is (except if you have proper and standard stuff to purify the water), the water source of lake goes below ground...and the PVC pipe runs dry and whatever water is flowing is either almost stagnant in nature or is not suitable for consumption even after boiling and don't even think of bathing!

By mid or end of November you can see shallowness of the lake and with in 20 meters of lake center you can notice boulders with grey grass clearly, which forms the base of the lake.

Also one more thing the if you are on hike then do avoid drinking the water of Lyund rivulet that flows by the side of the trail and all along the trail and at the point where once you cross the Lyund rivulet and once more after the metal sheet bridge.

The reason why, same...the water comes directly from the lake and nowadays the locals have set up a toilet with its outlet right on Lyund rivulet. So if you/anyone poop in that toilet...the "stuff" directly mixes with water and further pollutes the water which is already full of micro organisms (tiny snail head type and other tiny worms)!

We were once joined in by a local family from Salli village and they helped us to identify the water points, which are Clean for consumption....and those points are as follows >

After you take on the main trail from road concrete bridge, you cross the Lyund rivulet via huge boulders and will climb a step trail and face an open stretch and further climb up to see the trek/trail with sandy composition...keep on walking and will notice one water point by your left side, skip that one and continue walking...

after around 10 minutes walk you will notice another water hole to your left, but this one has sitting arrangement around it...this is the first water point which is safe for consumption...refresh and refill here.

After this keep on walking and you will see Lyund rivuelt to your right fall be alert here and safe...keep on walking through boulders and turn left and then right to cross over the metal sheet bridge and pass the shepherd campsite marked with goat/sheep droppings and a boulder cave...you will see another water stream flowing from the right side of the trail and the cave...so you can use this individual water stream for consumption....but do avoid Lyund water which is on to your left hand side. There is a suitable camping spot as well....and just a little further there is a tiny water source flowing by the side of a small tree...this is the second good clean water spot (look out for step trail and water flowing to its right).

After this campground keep on walking for another hour or more and you will walk up, down and notice a shepherd hut across the Lynund rivulet...keep on walking up and then straight...you will also notice water flowing under boulders to your right...skip that and after more of walking you must notice water gushing out from the boulder wall to your right...this water spot is the last Clean water spot....and you will experience its being clean and refreshing just by the touch of the  water, because it is comparatively more colder and flowing at fast pace. So if you are thinking of overnight camping by the side of the lake between Nov to Dec then better refill your bottles and campers from here. From here the trail to lake is just 30 minutes walk.

We Wish You A Safe, Clean and Green Hike, you may or will notice trash all along the trail and by the side of the lake and temple...but please do not throw your part of trash/garbage...keep it in a spare bag and please bring it back to Dharamsala for proper disposal...Mother Nature and Dhauladhar will be glad to see your responsible behaviour!

Also one more thing the if you are on hike then do avoid drinking the water of Lyund rivulet that flows by the side of the trail and all along the trail and at the point where once you cross the Lyund rivulet and once more after the metal sheet bridge. 

The reason why, same...the water comes directly from the lake and nowadays the locals have set up a toilet with its outlet right on Lyund rivulet. 

So if you/anyone poop in that toilet...the "stuff" directly mixes with water and further pollutes the water which is already full of micro organisms (tiny snail head type and other tiny worms)! 

We were once joined in by a local family from Salli village and they helped us to identify the water points, which are Clean for consumption....

and those points are as follows > After you take on the main trail from road concrete bridge, you cross the Lyund rivulet via huge boulders and will climb a step trail and face an open stretch and further climb up to see the trek/trail with sandy composition...keep on walking and will notice one water point by your left side, skip that one and continue walking... after around 10 minutes walk you will notice another water hole to your left, but this one has sitting arrangement around it...this is the first water point which is safe for consumption...refresh and refill here. 

After this keep on walking and you will see Lyund rivuelt to your right fall be alert here and safe...keep on walking through boulders and turn left and then right to cross over the metal sheet bridge and pass the shepherd campsite marked with goat/sheep droppings and a boulder cave...you will see another water stream flowing from the right side of the trail and the cave...so you can use this individual water stream for consumption....but do avoid Lyund water which is on to your left hand side. 

There is a suitable camping spot as well....and just a little further there is a tiny water source flowing by the side of a small tree...this is the second good clean water spot (look out for step trail and water flowing to its right). After this campground keep on walking for another hour or more and you will walk up, down and notice a shepherd hut across the Lynund rivulet. 

Keep on walking up and then straight...you will also notice water flowing under boulders to your right...skip that and after more of walking you must notice water gushing out from the boulder wall to your right...this water spot is the last Clean water spot....and you will experience its being clean and refreshing just by the touch of the  water, because it is comparatively more colder and flowing at fast pace. 

So if you are thinking of overnight camping by the side of the lake between Nov to Dec then better refill your bottles and campers from here. From here the trail to lake is just 30 minutes walk. We Wish You A Safe, Clean and Green Hike, you may or will notice trash all along the trail and by the side of the lake and temple. 

But please do not throw your part of trash/garbage...keep it in a spare bag and please bring it back to Dharamsala for proper disposal...Mother Nature and Dhauladhar will be glad to see your responsible behaviour!