Kareri lake Dhauladhar Mountains

Kareri Lake A Heavenly Spot to Visit

Kareri Lake is a small glacial lake just below the Minkiani Pass in the western Dhauladhar Mountains to the north east of McLeodganj. It is 3500 m high and oval like a perfect ellipse. To the north are the massive rocky peaks of the main Dhauladhar, to the east is a low ridge that leads towards McLeadganj, to the west is a steep drop of a thousand metres to an open valley, while to the south is the only outlet from the lake in the form of a stream going down to Noli and Kareri villages. The lake is frozen over from November to March, while during the summer the surrounding meadows are rich with green nutritious grass and wild flowers that the local Gaddis and villagers use for the grazing sheep and cattle. Kareri Lake is best known for being a trekking destination in the Dhauladhar. Snow melting from the Dhauladhar range serves as the source of the lake and a stream, Nyund is the outflow. Since the source is fresh melting snow and the lake is shallow, water visibility is very high and in most places, the lake bed can be seen. The Kareri Lake is the third largest natural lake in the Dhauladhar region.

Etymology

Kareri Lake is named after the nearby gaddi village of Kareri, situated 9 km south east of the lake.

Accessibility

Kareri Lake is not connected by a road. The closest roadhead is at Ghera, a village near Dharamshala. From Ghera, a hiking trail leads to Kareri village, which is 3 km from Ghera. Another hiking trail of 13 km from Kareri leads to the lake. Most of this trail is along the Nyund stream right up to the lake.

Attractions

Apart from the lake’s natural beauty, the trek itself goes through beautiful forests, rural villages, and finishes at a remote temple on the banks of Kareri Lake. The Kareri Trudge is an ideal trek to see rural villages and the natural beauty of the oak and cedar forests that cover most of the Dhauladhar range.