Kareri Lake, Dhauladhar Ranges: Blissful Wilderness

There’s something mystical and magical about the mighty Himalayas. Endless mountain ranges standing sentry in all their majestic splendour, overlooking the great rivers emerge from its higher reaches as the massive plains sprawl out to create the beautiful peninsula of INDIA.

My weekend getaway to Kareri reinforced yet again my fascination with the mountains. I spent two days and a beautiful night in the company of leggy Firs and Conifers, listening to the gentle gurgle of streams urgently criss crossing the landscape, while the howling wind dared to lift up and carry me within its sails to lands far and wide.

Kareri (also known as  Kumarwah) Lake is a high altitude, fresh water lake, fed by snow melting from the Dhauladhar ranges.
On the banks of the lake, there is a small temple and few grazing grounds used by the local villagers.
Kareri Lake serves as the base for further trekking in the Dhauladhar ranges, onward to Chamba and Bharmour via the Minkiani Pass and Baleni Pass. One can even embark on a journey to explore the seven alpine lakes that lie beyond the Minkiani pass.

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How to start with the trek:
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A lot of people prefer to start the trek from Kareri village.
The only downfall is that it turns out to be a bit costlier option since, there is no form of public transport available to Kareri village yet. So, you will have to book a private taxi to get there.
Another preferred start point is village Ghera. Buses ply from Dharamsala to Ghera regularly. You can either commence the trek from Ghera or hop on a taxi/shared jeep from Gera to Kareri village and then start the trek from there.

Total distance:
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The distance from Kareri village -> Kareri Lake is approximately 13 km one way.
If you start the hike from Ghera village, the total distance one way would be approximately 20 km.

Day 1:
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We did the trek in the month of October and I witnessed all possible weather conditions in a span of two days. It was pleasant and warm when I started with the trek, but gradually transformed into a drizzle playing hide-n-seek with the clouds and trees.
At the Kareri lake, the morning calm gave way to torrential rain accompanied with a massive downpour of hail and sleet, followed by a bout of freezing temperatures.

We started from Kareri village by around 9 AM.
As the mountain trails (sometimes existent, sometimes not-existent) meandered uphill along the banks of Nyund Stream, crossing the beautiful  Rhodedendron and Birch trees, my heart raced with excitement and the possibility of discovering a relatively unknown Paradise.
After a whole day of trekking, we reached the Kareri valley. We were exhausted from the climb but enthused by the mind blowing sceneries.
We set out to explore the area after gorging upon a serve of Parle g biscuits and hot piping tea.

Note:
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There is a small shop near the lake which offers simple and delicious home-cooked meals.

Soon, the setting sun pulled up a gorgeous blanket made of umpteen twinkling stars. Thanks to extremely low levels of light pollution, the sky looked like a new, bright wallpaper adorned with thousands of glittery specks.
If you love star-gazing, you can’t thank your heavens enough for bringing you to this place. It is absolutely surreal and overwhelming.
As the right retired to a frigid affair and a misty endowment, it was time to go to sleep.

The following morning exploration brought with it a sudden and unexpected downpour of giant hail and sleet. Once the rains decreased in intensity, we started with the descent.
The descent was quiet and occupied with a sharp focus to try and grab a footing to prevent any slips and  mishaps.
We reached Kareri village by late afternoon and immediately started with our return journey to Dharamsala.
The goodbyes were laden with gratitude and a promise to be back with the mountains someday.

Did I enjoy the experience? Ohh boy, I felt liberated.
The trip was an ode to the mighty mountains, who stand tall and high inspite of any adversity.

So, this was one of the chapters of my love story with the mountains.
The kind of love we all crave for, steady and unflinching… The ones that take you high yet leave you feeling grounded !!

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Best time to visit:
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Kareri Lake is worth visiting throughout the year.
Summers are delightful due to the warm weather and the chance to witness a wide variety of native flora and fauna.

During the Monsoons, the mountains and the valleys are engulfed in a mist of greenery and sublime wilderness.

Winters are the epitome of tranquility. The Kareri lake gets frozen and the sense of unperturbed solitude blanketing the valley is overpowering.

TIP: If planning to trek in winter, ensure to exercise extra caution. There have been reported sightings of bears and leopards, who are known to come down to lower altitudes in search of food during the colder months.

Things to carry:
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1. Warm clothes
Night temperatures can reach freezing points at Kareri lake. Sleeping in tents under the open sky, you don’t want to be shivering through the night. Wear layered clothings and be warm and hydrated.

2. Rain cover/poncho, water proof bag covers
Mountains and rains are close buddies. Before going on any long treks, ensure you carry some sort of rain protection with you.

3. Good quality sturdy shoes
It’s needless to emphasise anymore on this since you would be engaged in high altitude trekking and would be literally living out of your shoes for days altogether.
Also carry extra pair of socks.

4. Walking stick
Get hold of one if you feel you may need support while traversing through uneven terrains.

5. Water bottle
You may refill your water bottle at some of the mountain streams (talking of refreshing, sparkling stream water!! ) but don’t forget to at least have a bottle and some water handy before starting with the trek.

6. Tissues
There are no toilets up there at Kareri Lake and you would have to go out in the open. So, keep some tissues and sanitiser handy.
Do ensure you dispose of wastes sensibly and help maintain the pristine beauty of this place.

7. Snacks, energy bars, chocolates
For quick shots of energy as and when needed.
There are few small makeshift shops along the way. Stock up on snacks or gorge on some hot noodles or sip on a cup of tea/coffee as you enjoy the delectable views.

It’s not the mountain we conquer, but ourselves.
– Sir Edmund Hillary