Satopanth Glacier Trek – Lake of Divinity. Uttarakhand India

 

Satopanth Glacier Trek Lake of Divinity.

Satopanth Glacier Trek & Swargarohini Glacier

It is a matter of very hard work and hard perseverance to reach the lakes settled at a high altitude. One of such lakes is Satopanth lake which is full of many mysteries and legends. SatopanthLake, located in Uttarakhand, is one of the natural lakes here.

Satopanth Glacier Trek also recorded on the world's tourism map due to its unique nature & beauty. Natural lakes are often round or square in shape, but this unique lake is triangular or triangular in shape. It attracts Indian tourists but also does not keep foreign tourists untouched by its sharpness. Tourists are convinced of the amazing peace found here and its beauty.

Paranomic View at Satopanth Tal Trek

Many foreigners love this lake so much that they give high priority to this lake for tracking. Come, let us go to see such a religious, mythological and sacred lake today, in view of the difficult but beautiful landscape reaching therewith.

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How to reach Joshimath Satopanth Tal Trek. Satopanth Lake is a snowy lake situated on the Himalayan Mountains in Uttarakhand. Nestled at the foothills of the Chaukhamba peak, it is one of the picturesque lakes of Uttarakhand.

Story related to Satopanth Glacier Trek and Satopanth lake

 There are many stories related to this sacred religious lake. Two of these stories are most popular among the people. The name of the lake Satopanth means 'Sato' means 'Truth' and 'Panth' means 'Rasta', i.e. 'Path of Truth'.  Soumit ban According to the legend associated with the Satopanth lake, the Pandava brothers of Mahabharata went to heaven through this 'path to heaven', hence the lake was named Satopanth lake. It is also called the way to heaven on earth.

The story related to the Satopanth lake is believed to be that the Pandavas meditated at this place before going to heaven by the Swargahrohini (Stairway to Heaven). Therefore, this place holds special significance among the people of the Hindu religion. The story associated with the Soumit ban Satopanth lake is said that Yudhishthira got a 'celestial vehicle' to reach heaven near this lake and hence this lake came to be called Satyapanth lake. 

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According to another legend related to the Tribhujakar lake, the trinity - Brahma, Vishnu, came to this lake on the day of Mahesh Ekadashi. The three deities stand at different corners of the lake and perform a holy dip, so it is said that this lake is in the shape of a triangle. Because of these stories, Satopanth lake has special and great importance in Hinduism. 

Satopanth lake is not only a religious place, but also a trekking area of ​​Uttarakhand. The Satopanth Glacier Trek has to go through many difficult trekking trails as during trekking you have to go through many slopes, rugged and high-altitude areas of the Himalayan region.  Soumit ban Trekking towards Satopanth Glacier/Lake.

This trek starts from Mana village and passes through Vasundhara valley & falls. Chaukhamba and Swargarahini mountain range in the backdrop of the Satopanth Glacier, creating beautiful untouched scenery here She does. Cleanliness Campaign in Tatocha Satopanth According to religious texts, the lake will have a virtuous effect as long as there is cleanliness and cleanliness in Satopanth. Tour operator of adventure trekking Joshimath here says that in view of the religious significance of Satopanth, travellers are not allowed to rest at night.

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How to reach Soumit ban Satopanth Lake

 Satopanth Glacier/lake is accessible only by trekking route. Before going here

A line permit has to be applied as it is located near the Indo-Tibet border. One can get a permit from Joshimath also.

 It is located at a distance of about 22 kilometres from Badrinath. Joshimath has located about 70 km from the Satopanth Glacier.

Badrinath Uttarakhand

The Satopanth Glacier is situated in the state of Uttarakhand in India.

Satopanth Tal is a crystal clear green water, the triangular lake at an elevation of 4600 meters above sea level and is adorned in the midst of the snow-shrouded peaks. Satopanth Tal is a high altitude lake located in the Chamoli district of Uttarakhand and near to Badrinath Shrine. 

The term ‘Satopanth’ is perhaps derived from two words – ‘Sato’ meaning of truth, and ‘Panth’ meaning path or way. So its literal meaning is the path of truth. The glacier is one of the popular glaciers of Uttarakhand. River Alaknanda took its origin in this glacier. Mountaineers consider it a bit tough to scale. Apart from religious significance Satopanth also become one of the Popular treks in Uttarakhand. This glacier trek offers majestic views of the Himalayas.

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Joshimath Uttarakhand

Alaknanda River

Satopanth glacier/Lake has a very rich history. It is considered to be a religious place for the locals. It is believed that the Trimurti(triple deity of the divinity in Hinduism), Brahma, Vishnu, Maheswara meditated on its three corners. 

Scientists claim that the Satopanth Glacier is retreating, though not as fast as the Gangotri Glacier. So, a number of preventive measures have been taken. Also, as the Satopnath glacier lies quite near the Indi-Tibet-Border so photography is strictly prohibited here in this area.

 It lies on the northwest side of Nilkantha major peak of the Garhwal division of the Himalayas. It sits below a 2,500 m (8,200 ft) face of the peak. Originating at a height of 7000 meters from the peaks of the Chaukhmaba (7068m) and the Badrinath (6974m) mountains, the glacier spreads over a vast expanse of 13 km, this glacier melts into the water at an altitude of 3810 meters.

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 The Narayan Parvat and the foot of Balkun or Balakun peak touches the glacier.

The Satopanth Glacier can be approached from Joshimath in the Chamoli sub-division, by following the Badrinath and Mana (3128 m above sea level) road. From Mana, the route follows the course of the Alaknanda River. On the route, you will come across a waterfall named Vasudhara Falls, lying on the right bank of the Alaknanda River. The snout of Satopanth Glacier opens at about 5 km upwards from Vasudhara Falls. Two kilometres down the valley, the left bank of the river offers good conditions for camping.

Mana the last Indian Village

Satopanth Glacier can only be approached in the summer months. Treks to this glacier is a very sought-after adventure, for tourists in Uttarakhand.

The nearest airport is at Jollygarnt, about 221 km, the nearest rail station is at Rishikesh and is well-connected by roads with Dehradun, Haridwar, Rishikesh, Nainital, and Almora.

Lakshmivan

Satopanth Tal Trek

Satopanth Tal is an untouched glacier lake at an altitude of 15100 ft. With the shape of a triangle, it is hidden amidst the majestic Garhwal region. Some articles say that at the end of the Mahabharata, Pandavas took the route from Mana village to reach the steps to heaven which is on the Swargarohini Glacier via Satopanth Tal. 

The trail to Satopanth lake is one of the beautiful trails in the Garhwal region. You cross Mana, India’s last village, the famous Vasundhara waterfall. Sahastradhara which has more than 100 waterfalls can be spotted on the trail. Trekking on the bank of Alaknanda and camping in the Lakshmi van forest and Chakratirtha meadow are the best part of the trek.

Vasudhara Water Falls

The lake is surrounded by Mount Chaukhamba, Mount Neelkantha, Mount Swargarohini & Mount Balakun. All these amazing and beautiful snow-capped mighty mountains will be standing next to you. This triangular Satopanth lake in Garhwal Himalaya remains clean throughout the year even though locals throw the ashes of the dead in the lake. There is also an extensive study which shows the water. quality of the lake is being categorised as “Excellent” following the standards of WHOand Bureau of Indian Standards. 

The Majestic view of the MountNeelkanth

The trail to the Satopanth lake is at the foot of Mount Neelkanth. It is the major peak of the Garhwal division of the Himalayas in Uttarakhand.  If the weather is clear you can constantly see this mountain once you cross the Lakshmi van forest region. 

After a 3 km trek from the Mana Village, you start to hear the burbling sound of the Vasundhara falls. It will be on your right side on the other bank of the Alaknanda river. 

There are many tourists and locals who trek only to the Vasundhara falls from the Mana village and return back. The trail from the village is tricky and takes almost 2 hours. 

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Pristine Satopanth Tal is situated in the midst of snow-capped mountains. Some of the famous mountains like Swargarohini, Chawkamba, Neelkanth and Balakun can be seen from here. 

This triangular lake has a perimeter of over 1 km and has a soothing evergreen colour. It remains clean throughout the year. 

Satopanth Tal trek can be done in 4 days from Badrinath to Badrinath. The trail can be divided as:
Day 1: Acclimatisation Day. Day 2: Badrinath to Lakshmi van via Mana Village and Vasundhara falls. Day 3: Lakshmi van to Chakrateertha. Day 4: Chakrateertha to Satopanth Tal and back. Day 5: Chakrateertha to Badrinath

Badrinath is at an altitude of 10,830 ft which is quite high to start any trek. So it is recommended to stay one extra night at Badrinath and start the trek. 

It is recommended to go on a preventive course of Diamox for this trek. It will help your body to acclimatize faster. You will have a higher chance of completing the trek. 

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Badrinath Uttarakhand

Day 1: Acclimatisation day at Badrinath

Since the trek starts at a high altitude of 10,830 ft, a buffer day is a must. On day 1, you can go to Mana village, explore a bit there and come back to Badrinath. Since the Inner Line Permit(ILP) is compulsory, you can also get it done from Joshimath if you do not have it. Rest well on that night and prepare yourself for a long trek ahead. 

Day 2: Badrinath to Lakshmivan

Trek Distance: 9 km 
Trek Duration: 4 – 5 hours
It is advisable to start the trek early in the morning from Badrinath. The trek distance to be covered is 9 km.

Lakshmivan on the way from Badrinath to Satopanth tal

You walk on the Badrinath to Mana road all the way to the Mana village. You can also get a taxi from Badrinath to Mana village and then start the trek from there. It will reduce 3 km from the overall trekking distance on that day.   

After a 3 km trek in the same trail, on your right side, you can see the Mana village. This is India’s last village to the China border. Mana is just 26 km away from the India China border. 

You can also see the road that goes to the border. But the entry is restricted only to people in the army.

From this village, the trail deviates towards the left side (towards the Eastern side) of the Alaknanda River. There is a proper man-made trail from here for a few kilometres. 

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After 2 to 3 km from the village, you start to hear the sound of water plunging down from almost 400 ft. Soon, you see the graceful Vasundhara fall on your right. 

Vasudhara Falls

There is another route to reach Vasundhara falls from Mana village. It is from the right side of the Alaknanda river. Tourists and villagers visit the waterfall and return back to the village from that side. 

It is proven that the water of Vasundhara falls as well as the Alaknanda river holds medicinal value. Hence, many people carry the water in a bottle and store it. 

As you cross the falls and continue towards Lakshmi van campsite, the valley opens up into two. Stay on the left bank throughout the trek. 

After 3 km of moraine walk on the left bank of the Alaknanda river, you reach the Lakshmi van campsite. 

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Now you are at an altitude of 11,900 ft. This campsite is on the green grassland. You find a lot of Bhoj-Patra trees in this campsite.Day 2: Lakshmi van to Chakrateertha

Trek Distance: 7 km 

Trek Duration:  3 – 4 hours 

       This trek is slightly difficult as the altitude gain is higher than 2000 ft. But, it is a scenic route as you enter the magical and beautiful  

The trail continues to be on the bank of the Alaknanda river. You trek on the grassland in the middle of the terminal moraine of the Dhano glacier. 

on the way from Lakshmi van to Chakrateertha

You will find some of the most beautiful alpine flowers on the trail. Once you cross this patch you start to see the 3 peaks of Bhagirathi in front of you if the weather is clear at that time. 

After around 5 km of a trek, you reach the Sahastradhara. From here you can see Mount Neelkanth on the left side. 

You also spot more than 100 small waterfalls on the huge monolithic rock in front of the mountain. 

The weather here changes drastically post noon. At an altitude of 14,000 ft. At higher altitudes, weather becomes unpredictable post noon. Make sure to reach the campsite as early as possible. 

From here Chakrateertha campsite is around half an hour. It is a flat grassland where you can pitch your tent for the night. 

Once you reach the campsite, make sure you cover your head and wear a fleece jacket. do not expose yourself too much to the cold. The temperature here can be 5 to 10 degrees daytime and -5 to 0 degrees during the night. 

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Day 3: Chakrateertha to Satopanth Tal and back to Chakrateertha

Trek Distance: 10 km (5+5)
Trek Duration: 8 hours
The view of this route is a jaw-dropping view the next day early in the morning. With Mount Neelkanth on your left, Chaukanmba at the centre, Balakun range on your right, you can not forget this sight soon. Keeping the view in mind, get ready for a difficult day of the trek.

The initial trail from Chakrateertha is pretty flat and you trek on the grassland. 

After 2 km of the trek, the trail mazes through boulders and moraine. You need to trek very carefully. Take the help of a trekking pole here. 

Satopanth Tal is still hidden. You get the first view of the Tal only when you reach the top of the ridge. From there you can see the triangular Satopanth Lake. There is a small room constructed as a temporary shelter here using stones. A Local sage Mauni Baba is known to live near the lake. 
The views from here are eye-catching and spectacular. Spot the Mount Chaukhamba at the centre, Balakun on the right, Swargarohini towards the left and Neelkanth standing behind you towards the left. 

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The water quality of the Lake is excellent. It stays clean throughout the year. There are stories and beliefs that few rare birds keep the lake clean all the time. But nobody has spotted those birds till now. You might be that rare person who spots on the trek! 

There is also one more interesting thing to see from here. If the weather is clear, you can also see the 3 steps out of 7 on the Swargarohini glacier which is believed to be the steps to heaven that Pandavas took.

Enjoy the calmness around the lake. This is the perfect setting to reflect on your long journey. 

After having packed lunch or snacks, start the return journey to Chakrateertha. It will take around 2 to 3 hours to reach back to the campsite. 

Day 4: Chakrateertha to Badrinath

Trek Distance: 15 km

Trek Duration: 5 – 6 hours

Take the same trail taken to reach Chakrateertha from Lakshmi van and again from mana to Lakshmi van. This will take around 5 to 6 hours to reach Mana village.

If you are too tired to walk up to Badrinath, you can take a jeep or taxi from Mana village. 

Best Season to do the Satopanth TalTrek

Satopanth Tal trek is best if you do it in the month of May to mid-July and September to October. In the month of May to mid-July, you get to see the lush green meadows, beautiful wildflowers and crystal clear Satopanth Tal. 

If you are trekking post-monsoon, you can see the Alaknanda river at its best and graceful Vasundhara waterfalls joining the Alaknanda river aggressively.

Since this trek goes up to 15100 ft, you can expect a lot of snow during winter. So trekking in the winter season is not possible.

During the monsoon season, the trail becomes extremely dangerous making it difficult to access the lake. 

 Difficult sections on the Satopanth Tal Trek

Satopanth Tal trek is of Moderate-Difficult level. You need to have prior Himalayan trekking experience and high fitness level to do this trek. This trek is categorized based on the steep sections on the trail, overall altitude gained. And the total distance covered every day. 

The trail of this trek passes through a maze of loose rocks, boulders and moraine. Trekking on them is not as easy as trekking in any other places. 

Apart from the terrain, there are a few sections that are steep and need to be negotiated carefully. They are:

Chakrateertha the campsite is at an altitude of 14,500 ft and Lakshmi van is at 11,900 ft. This means you will be gaining almost 2,500 ft in a day. This makes you more susceptible to altitude sickness. If you are trekking on your own, having the knowledge of AMS is a must.

You can prevent this by starting the preventive course of Diamox from Badrinath and preparing your body to function well at higher altitudes (with less oxygen).

The final stretch to Satopanth Tal is quite steep and has loose soil over the glacial moraine. There are also scree slopes that make it more difficult to climb. You need to be very careful while climbing. 

The Satopanth Tal trek is of the moderate-Difficult level. You start at an altitude of 10,830 feet and reach an altitude of 15,100 feet in 3 days. Ideally, you should be only gaining 1000 ft a day. However, the Indian Himalayas climb very quickly. This is called a forced ascent.

There is a lot of trekking distance that one will cover in high altitude carrying their backpacks.  One has to walk on uneven terrain during the trek.

How to reach Satopanth Tal

Satopanth Tal trek starts from Mana village, India’s last village. To help you with your travel plans, a detailed step by step guide is given. 

The Mana village can be accessed easily from Haridwar/Rishikesh. There are multiple options to reach both places. 

The distance from Rishikesh to Badrinath is around 301 km. There are buses every hour that charge you around Rs 650. Take a bus from Rishikesh that leaves very early in the morning to Badrinath. It will take 10 to 12 hours to reach Badrinath depending upon the road condition.

You can stay at Badrinath that day. Next day, you can either hire a cab to the starting point at Mana or directly start the trek from Badrinath.

Nearest Railway Station

Haridwar Railway Station – 314 km. Nearest International and Domestic Airport. Jolly Grant Airport, Dehradun – 314 km

 Things to get for the Satopanth Tal Trek

Satopanth Tal is a high altitude trek. The trekking gear you need to carry for this trek is different from regular treks. So pay careful attention to this entire section.

The Essentials things to carry while tracking

1. Trekking Shoes: Satopanth Tal Trek requires trekking shoes that are sturdy, have a good grip, have ankle support and can handle snow.

2. Backpack: For a trek like Satopanth Tal, you need a 50-60 litre backpack. Make sure your backpack has good hip support, shoulder support and quick access pockets.

3. Clothes: Wearing layers is the mantra in the mountains. Layers give you maximum protection from all elements. And when the weather changes in the mountains (as it happens every few hours), you take off or put on layers as required. Base layer: 3 T-shirts:

Wear one T-shirt and carry two. Carry full sleeve dry-fit T-shirts (preferably collared). These prevent your arms and neck from getting sunburnt. In the rarified air on the trek, especially at high altitudes,  Dry-fit T-shirts quickly dry your sweat, they are easy to wash and in case of a rainy day, they dry quicker. Round neck T-shirts are ok, but collared ones are better.

Cotton or Synthetic As Indians love cotton. Down in the plains when the heat is blistering at 40°C it makes sense to wear cotton. But it takes a long time to dry when it gets wet. In the mountains, where it is cooler, synthetic is what you wear. They wick sweat rapidly and keep you dry. (But they do tend to smell quickly, so carry a roll-on deodorant with you.)

4 insulation layers: The highest altitude you reach on this trek is 15, 100 ft. At these altitudes, it can get freezing cold even in the middle of summer. You will need at least 3 insulation layers for this trek.
You will need 2 light fleece layers, 1 full-sleeve light sweater. Do not get your grandma stitched sweaters, which can be very heavy. You need sweaters and fleece jackets that can fold into compact rolls.

 Trek pants: Two pairs of trek pants should suffice for this trek. Wear one pair and carry two just in case it rains. Trek pants with zippered cut-offs at the thighs are very suitable for treks. Also, choose quick-dry pants over cotton. They dry up soon in case of small stream crossings/rain.

Mandatory Accessories, without these you won’t be able to do the trek. 

These accessories are mandatory. Don’t go to Satopanth Tal trek without them. Trekkers generally put off purchasing / borrowing the accessories for the last minute. We suggest the opposite. Start gathering these accessories first. 

1. Sunglasses: Sunglasses are to prevent snow blindness. Especially in the month of May and October on a trek like Satopanth Tal, expect to walk on long stretches of snow from Chakrateertha to Satopanth Tal. A small overexposure to direct sunlight on snow can lead to snow blindness (about a half hour’s exposure). That’s because fallen snow is like thousands of mirrors that reflect direct UV rays. So you need sunglasses with UV protection. 

 2. Suncap: A sun cap is mandatory. Trekking without a sun cap can lead to headaches, sunstrokes, quick dehydration and a sharp drop in trekking performance.

3. Synthetic hand gloves: On a trek like Satopanth Tal you are going to be handling snow quite a bit especially in the month of May and October, You’ll need gloves to grip something or to steady yourself in snow. You also want the gloves to keep you warm. Get synthetic hand gloves that have waterproofing on the outside and a padded lining on the inside. If you find the combination difficult to get (not likely), wear a tight-fitting fleece hand glove inside a synthetic hand glove. Hand gloves are mandatory on this trek.   

4. Woollen cap or Balaclava: Ensure these cover your ears. In the cold mountains, you lose maximum heat from your head, not from your hands, feet or the rest of your body. This is why you need to keep your head protected, especially when the sun is down. Early mornings, late evenings, a cold trekking day are when you must use your woollen cap.
Your ears are sensitive too, so a woollen head cap that covers your ears is absolutely essential. A balaclava is a modern version of the woollen cap. It covers your ears, neck and parts of your face as well. Do not get a woollen cap that only covers your head. 

5. Socks  Apart from two sports socks take a pair of woollen socks. Sports socks give you cushioning plus warmth. Again the mantra is to wear synthetic socks or at least a synthetic blend. Cotton socks soak in water and sweat. They are very hard to dry. As for woollen socks, they help you to keep warm and snug in the night. If you cannot get woollen socks, wearing two sports socks serves the purpose as well. 

6. Headlamp: Trekkers are often confused about whether they need to get a headlamp or a handheld torch. You need to get a headlamp because it leaves your hands free to do other activities. On the Satopanth Tal trek, you’ll need your hands free to wash dishes, pitch tents and hold your trek poles.
Ensure your headlamp covers a wider area and is not too focused as a single beam. On a trek, your headlamp must help you see around you as much as ahead of you. 

7. Trekking pole: Trekking poles give you stability and balance. They reduce your energy consumption by almost 40%. On the Satopanth Tal trek, there are steep ascents and descents. The trek up to the Satopanth Tal is pretty steep.  A pair of trekking poles will make the difference between a comfortable and a strenuous trek. In India, we tend to use a single trekking pole. However, two trekking poles give you greater stability and balance. They also increase your walking pace. 

8. Rainwear: On a trek, the weather can change quickly. A bright sunny day can turn into a downpour in a matter of minutes. Carry a poncho or a rain jacket to tackle this. A poncho is a big rain cover with openings for your arms and your head. It is extremely effective because it covers both you and your backpack. It is extremely light and weighs next to nothing.
Rain jackets are more streamlined and less cumbersome but weigh more. Rain pants are really not required. Dry fit trek pants dry quickly even if soaking wet.

9. Rain cover for your backpack: Backpacks are your life. You carry all your dry clothes, your warm gear in your backpack. It is important that your backpack stays dry at all times. Modern backpacks usually come with built-in rain-covers. If your backpack does not have a rain-cover, ensure you get a rain cover by either (a) buying a rain cover (b) or cutting a large plastic sheet to the size of your backpack. You can roll the plastic sheet around your backpack and keep it in place with a string or elastic. 

10. Daypack On day 4, you will be coming back to Chakrateertha. So carrying a daypack is mandatory. In your daypack, you carry essentials like water bottles, rainwear, emergency medicines, a headlamp, some snacks and a warm layer.
A daypack is a smaller backpack that is usually of 20-30 ltr capacity. Laptop bags are not daypacks. Do not get them.

Other important requirements

1. A toilet kit: Keep your toilet kit light. Carry just the basics — toothbrush, toothpaste, small soap, toilet tissue roll, a small moisturiser, lip balm, and a roll-on deodorant etc. You will not be able to have a bath on the trek, so don’t carry soaps and shampoos with you.

.2. Cutlery: Carry a lunch box, a mug and a spoon. Your lunch box must be leakproof. You will need this to have lunch, dinner and breakfast. 

3. Two 1 litre bottles or a 2-litre hydration pack: Satopanth Tal has long walking days. You need to carry two one-litre water bottles to keep yourself hydrated over the distance. If you are used to a hydration pack, then that is ok too. If one among the two bottles is a lightweight thermos, then that helps you to store warm water on a really cold day or for late evenings and early mornings.

4. Plastic covers: Carry 3-4 old plastic covers to keep your used clothes. You could use them even for wet clothes. Re-use old plastic bags for this and do not buy new ones.

Personal medical kit: Carry some common medicines with you like pain killer, paracetamol, etc which are easily accessible at all times.