Chandratal Lake Trek and The Deadliest Landslide at Batal

We crossed the narrow terrains, river lines (nalaas), crossed through the valley and finally reached mighty Chandratal. But we never thought that the end could be that worst.

The time we reached Chandratal Lake

We reached Chandratal on 29th September. We hiked from our camp area to the lake. This little hike is worth to be remembered. The snow-capped mountains like CB (Chandrabhaga) 13 & 14 just like a cherry on the cake at there.

Took Time Lapse images at ChandratalNight time temperature dropped to -5 degree Celsius. Night sky worth to see there. You can see some shooting stars in the naked eyes and milky way also. In the morning water was totally frozen.

Chandratal Camp Stay Experience

We came back to our camp stay from lakeside. Our camp name was Tenzin Camp.

Well if you want to book this camp then think twice before. The tents were not up to the mark there. There were no attached bathrooms with the tents. Only one bathroom and that was not hygienic. With the same price, we got attached washroom in Sarchu, Pangong Lake, and Tsomoriri Camp Stay. That common washroom was not usable as they didn’t even think that it was required to clean up before new tourists arrive.

That night my sleep was not so good. I was feeling severe headache but still went to shoot the sunrise at the backside of our tent.

The initial plan was to leave the place before 6:30 AM as the road was not good and we might face roadblock and the cars can be stuck into the nalaas. If all parties and drivers leave together, they could help each other on the way.

But we failed to start before 6:30 AM. Many parties left Chandratal camp before 6 AM. We were late as our car was not starting due to engine cooled down. The temperature was below minus that night, so everything was frozen out.

We managed to start at 7 AM wishing that everything will be fine. We have crossed the nalaas successfully. But how we could know that our fate wrote something else. We saw a landslide just 2 km before Batal. The road was totally shut down. The cars which left before us, stuck in that place. We spent a few minutes into the car but didn’t see any movement in front of us. Was curious to see what exactly happened before us. We went forward and saw not a single person on those cars. All travelers already left for Batal by foot.

And all the drivers are working together to break the rocks and clean the path but that would take a long time.

“What about the JCB, BRO? Were they informed?”

We asked and the drivers said there were no telephone lines to contact them, better clean the path manually. This was the tensed moment when we kept thinking how long it will take? The time was already 8 AM.

We started walking towards Batal as we were craving that time for breakfast. The chacha chachi chandra dhaba seemed like heaven at that time. We crossed the bridge and reached chacha chachi dhaba. Ate delicious noodles and tea and waited for the positive news. There were almost 200 people at that place, keep hopping that the BRO will come and clean the road quickly. But how the JCB rock breaker would come so fast from the near by village.

Then I saw the desperate attitude to our driver Devrajrana’s face. He kept saying that

“kab ayega BRO aur kab tak aap log ayse rahoge, kuchi der main thanda aur bar jaega hawoa chalne lagega…. ham sab driver log or local logo milke kam khatam karte hain jaldi”

That was fast positive vibe I felt that morning.

They took almost 3 hours to make a path to clear for the motorbikers and an additional 2 hours to make the room for four wheelers. Though they unable to clear the road totally, so the big trucks remain there.

Finally, we started again from Batal to Manali at 1 PM and reached Manali successfully at 6 PM that day.

It will remain in my memory for a long time not only for the landslide experience but also for the hard work, dedication, and determination of the Himachal drivers and local people. Without them, we won’t able to cross the road that day.

Watch the video of the Chandratal road landslide