OVERVIEW
Beas Kund is considered a sacred or holy lake which is located in the Kullu Valley and is the original source of the Beas River. It is believed that sage Vyasa used to take his daily bath in the pristine waters of this lake, positioned at an altitude of 3,650 meters in the lap of Hanuman Tibba and seven sisters. The path to Beas Kund through Solang Valley is heart-warming. The Beas Kund journey, which is considered to be one of the easiest journeys in the Himachal Himalayan region, is a short three-day trek from the popular hill station of Manali which is positioned at an altitude of 2,050 meters.
The Beas Kund trek begins from Manali and proceeds to Dhundi for a distance of 3,150 meters via Solang Nala. From Dhundi the route goes uphill to Bakartach, which is at an altitude of 3,300 meters and after a gradual rise up the moraine, leads to Beas Kund. This is one of the easier/shorter treks around Manali that gives you a panoramic view of the Pir Panjal range. It is a beginner level trek that brings you closer to glaciers, glacial lakes and high peaks. Tracing a river to its source is thrilling as it takes you through unusual geographies.
HISTORY
Like numerous places in the Himalayas, Beas Kund is also mentioned in Hindu mythology and tradition. Legend has it that once the sage Vashishtha committed suicide by jumping into the Beas river after losing his son Shakti. But the river refused to let him die by drowning in its water. Sage Vashishta was overwhelmed by this incident and started living on the banks of Beas Kund.
It is believed that the sage Vyasa, who wrote the Mahabharata, had a daily bath in this lake. The word Beas Kund is probably derived from sage Vyasa; and Kund, a lake. Beas Kund is protected by an igloo-like stone structure and is considered sacred by Hindus. The site attracts thousands of devotees and addicts every year. The present name Beas is derived from Rishi Vyasa who is the author of Mahabharata. The ancient Greeks called it Hyphasis while the ancient Indians called it ‘the Beas river Vipas or Arjiki’.
BEST TIME TO VISIT
Beas Kund remains under a snow cover several feet thick during winter, especially from December to February. So it is better to avoid touring in this area during layoffs. From May to July, these three months are the best time to gamble out on the Beas Kund trails.
One should stay away from the road leading to Beas Kund in Manali from August to September due to heavy rainfall. Because it frequently leads to landslides and rivers are in torrent. Nevertheless, this trek can be done in monsoons with proper planning and prior experience of trekking during rains.
During March and April, midriff-deep snow covers the trail and visibility is veritably low. Trekking is more difficult during this time and you must have snow gears to do the trek.
AVERAGE TEMPERATURE
The temperature of the Beas Kund trek in May and June will be between 13-16°C during the day and 3-6°C at night. In the months of July-September, the temperature will range between 14-17 °C during the day and 4-8 °C at night.
WAYS TO REACH
Manali is well connected to major cities. You have an option to take an overnight bus from Delhi to Manali. The nearest airport is at Bhuntar and is at a distance of 52 km from Manali. The nearest railway station from Manali is Joginder Nagar, located at a distance of 166 km. Other accessible rail heads are at Chandigarh and Pathankot.
TRAVEL PROGRAM
FIRST DAY:
Manali to Bakartach Via Solang Valley – Dundhi:
After breakfast we proceed by cab to Dhundhi and after that the trek will start for Bakartach. The trail leads uphill from the Solang Valley through green meadows and ranges of Bakarthach groves of deodar and pine trees. Camp here for the night with excellent views of the girding mountain peaks. overnight at camp.
SECOND DAY:
Bakrathach- Beas Kund (4471M) and Back:
The trail again climbs steeply towards the beautiful glacial lake of Beas Kund which is one of the sources of the Beas River. Get a close-up view of Hanuman Tibba, Dosti and other famous peaks of Manali.
THIRD DAY:
Bakrathach – Dhundi – Solang:
Early morning after breakfast we leave for Solang Valley. (From Dundhi to Solang Valley we proceed by cab) and our services end.
CONCLUSION
The trek is for those who want to experience and witness the beauty of the Himalayas but have no previous trekking experience. The short duration makes it perfect for a quick weekend getaway, but its multitude of trekking facilities also ensure that you have a complete trekking experience.
