Chandra Taal was designated a Ramsar wetland of international importance on 8 November 2005, one of only two high-altitude wetlands in India on the list at that time.
Source: Chandra Taal
Lake in Spiti & Lahaul
Chandratal
The crescent moon lake, open June to early October
Chandratal, the moon lake, is a crescent of blue water at about 4,250 m below Kunzum La in upper Lahaul, a Ramsar wetland since 2005. Camps sit 2–3 km away and the last kilometre is on foot. The road opens roughly mid-June to early October. Sleep here only after nights in Kaza or Keylong.
Photo: Adarsh Patel · CC BY-SA 4.0 · CommonsChandratal lies in a hollow of meadows and moraine above the Chandra river, about 1.8 km long and 400 m wide, with peaks of the Chandra–Bhaga range on one side. The colour changes through the day from deep blue to green to grey. In November 2005 it was declared a Ramsar wetland, one of two high-altitude Ramsar sites in India.
Getting there is part of it. A rough side road leaves the Manali–Kaza highway near Batal and climbs about 12 km to a parking area; the camps are spread out a few kilometres before the lake, and you walk the final kilometre. From Kaza it is about 95 km over Kunzum La; from Manali through the Atal Tunnel, Gramphu and the stony Chhatru–Batal stretch, it is a long day.
Camping by the lake is not allowed. Tented camps with Swiss tents, dinners and breakfasts operate in a designated area, from roughly mid-June until the first snow in late September or early October. Nights drop below freezing, and the altitude is real: do not come here as your first night above 3,000 m. Sleep in Kaza or Keylong first, and if you feel unwell at the camp, drive down.
Say it like a local · HindiTaal
lake; Chandra Taal means moon lake
What to do in Chandratal
The walk around the lake
A path circles the lake in about 1.5–2 hours. Walk it clockwise in the morning, when the water is still and the colours are deepest. Stay on the trail and keep off the fragile meadows at the edge.
Kunzum La and its temple
On the drive from Kaza, Kunzum La at about 4,590 m has a small shrine to Kunzum Devi and chortens wrapped in prayer flags. Drivers stop to circle it for luck. Stay a few minutes only; it is very high.
Lunch at Batal
Batal, where the Chandratal road leaves the highway, is a tiny stop with dhabas that feed trekkers, bikers and drivers with dal, rice and tea. In season, it is the only hot meal for many kilometres.
Meadows in July
In July and August the meadows around the lake fill with small wildflowers. Walk carefully; overgrazing and footfall have already thinned the grasslands.
A night of stars
Camps are far from any light. On a clear, moonless night the sky above Chandratal is crowded with stars. Bring a down jacket, a cap and patience; it is cold.
Field notes
What most guides miss about Chandratal
The lake is about 1.76 km long and 0.41 km wide, with a maximum depth of about 42.5 m. Its name means moon lake, after its crescent shape.
Source: Chandra Taal
The road to Chandra Taal branches off NH-505 about 2.9 km from Batal and 8 km from Kunzum Pass, then runs about 12 km to a parking area; the last stretch to the lake is on foot.
Source: Chandra Taal
Experiences
Three days worth having in Chandratal
Photo: Adarsh Patel · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Commons
Chandratal · 2–3 hours
Morning walk around Chandratal
Walk from the camps to the lake and around its shore at sunrise, when the water is still and the crescent reflects the …
Free
Photo: John Hill · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Commons
Chandratal · 20–30 minutes
Kunzum La and its roadside shrine
Stop at Kunzum La, about 4,590 m, between Spiti and Lahaul, where drivers circle the small shrine to Kunzum Devi and th…
Free
Photo: Gerd Eichmann · CC BY 4.0 · Commons
Chandratal · 1 hour
Dal and rice at a Batal dhaba
Eat with drivers, bikers and trekkers at Batal, the tiny stop where the Chandratal road leaves the highway. Hot dal, ri…
₹150–300 a meal
Real prices
What things cost in Chandratal
ItemIndicative 2026
Tented camp with dinner and breakfast₹1,500–3,000 per person
Taxi Kaza–Chandratal drop₹6,000–8,000 per car
Shared taxi seat Kaza–Batal turn-off₹800–1,200
Dhaba meal at Batal₹150–300
Taxi Chandratal–Manali₹8,000–11,000 per car
Local prices change with season and fuel costs. Check current status before you travel.
Getting there
How to reach Chandratal
Air
Bhuntar airport near Kullu is closest. From Manali, drive through the Atal Tunnel, Gramphu, Chhatru and Batal: about 120 km and 6–7 hours on a rough road.
Bus
No bus goes to the lake. The HRTC Manali–Kaza bus passes Batal, about 14 km from the camps; arrange a camp pickup in advance. Check current timings and road status before you travel.
Road
From Kaza, about 95 km and 4–5 hours over Kunzum La. Private cars and taxis go up to the parking area; walk the last kilometre. The road is open roughly mid-June to early October.
Where to stay
Sleeping in Chandratal
Everyone sleeps in the designated camping area a few kilometres before the lake, since camping on the shore is not allowed. Saver and comfort travellers stay in Swiss tents with beds and blankets, dinner and breakfast included, for about ₹1,500–3,000 a person; some tents have attached basic toilets, others share. There is no hotel or signature-level lodge here; our signature trips use the best-run camp available and add extra bedding and hot water bottles. Batal has a few very basic dhaba rooms as an emergency option.
Trips that stop here
See Chandratal on a trip
Photo: Sumita Roy Dutta · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Commons
Comfort
Spiti & Lahaul · 9 nights · sleeps to 4,420 m
Spiti circuit: Kinnaur in, Kunzum La out
Private SUV with driver
From, per person₹72,000Jul · Sep
Photo: This Photo was taken by Timothy A. Gonsalves. … · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Commons
Comfort
Spiti & Lahaul · 5 nights · sleeps to 4,250 m
Lahaul and Chandratal from Manali
Private SUV with driver
From, per person₹41,000Jul – Sep
Photo: Sumita Roy Dutta · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Commons
Signature
Spiti & Lahaul · 11 nights · sleeps to 4,420 m
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Slow Spiti and Lahaul with a private guide
Private SUV with driver, private guide
From, per person₹1,95,000Jul · Sep
Questions
Chandratal, answered
When does the Chandratal road open?
The side road to Chandratal usually opens around mid-June, after Kunzum La and the Batal stretch are cleared, and camps close in late September or early October with the first snow. Dates vary each year with snowfall. Check current status before you travel, and book camps only once the road is confirmed open.
How much does a night at Chandratal cost?
Camps in the designated area charge about ₹1,500–3,000 a person for a Swiss tent with dinner and breakfast. Better-run camps with attached toilets cost more. Prices are indicative for 2026 and rise in July and August.
Is it safe to sleep at Chandratal?
It is safe for most healthy people who have acclimatised for two or three nights at lower altitude. At about 4,250 m, sleeping here on your first night in the mountains, for example straight from Manali, risks altitude sickness. Watch for worsening headache or breathlessness, and drive down if they appear. Talk to your doctor first.
Can I camp next to Chandratal lake?
No. Camping on the shore is not allowed, and the designated camps are a few kilometres away. You drive to a parking area and walk about a kilometre to the lake. The rule protects a fragile Ramsar wetland.
How do I reach Chandratal by public transport?
There is no bus to the lake. The HRTC Manali–Kaza bus passes Batal, about 14 km from the camps; your camp can often arrange a pickup. Otherwise, share a taxi from Kaza or Manali. Check current status of buses and roads before you travel.
Is there mobile network at Chandratal?
No. There is no mobile signal between Losar and Chhatru, which includes Kunzum La, Batal and Chandratal. Some camps have satellite phones for emergencies. Tell family you will be offline for a day.
How cold is Chandratal at night?
Even in July and August, nights fall to around 0 °C or below, and in September to −5 °C or colder. Camps provide heavy blankets, but bring a down jacket, thermals, a cap and warm socks.
Can I visit Chandratal with children or seniors?
A day visit is fine for most healthy people who have acclimatised in Kaza or Keylong. Sleeping at the camps is harder; for young children and seniors, we suggest visiting by day and sleeping lower. Ask your doctor first.
Should I visit Chandratal from Kaza or Manali?
From Kaza, after acclimatising in Spiti, is safer and easier: about 95 km over Kunzum La. From Manali, the drive is shorter but rougher, and you gain altitude too fast to sleep at the lake on the first night. On a circuit, visit it on the way out from Kaza to Manali.