Manimahesh Yatra

Manimahesh Yatra The Himalayas is believed to be the abode of Lord Shiva and several peaks bearing the name Kailash across the great mountain chain are held sacred as the place where the Lord resides. The towering Manimahesh Kailash peak at 5656 meters in Bharmaur mountains of Chamba is one of them. At the foot of the peak is a turquoise lake whose waters are said to have healing properties. After the summer snowmelt opens up a trekking path to the lake, in August-September thousands of pilgrims undertake a pilgrimage to Manimahesh Lake (4190 meters) to pay obeisance and to celebrate being in the divine environment. A Chhari Yatra starts from Chamba with pilgrims carrying sacred symbols of Lord Shiva and after passing by Bharmaur, slowly wind up their way up on an arduous route to bathe in the icy waters of the lake and worship by a small lakeside temple. Manimahesh means Lord Shiva’s jewel. On the day of the ritual bathing, under a clear sky, mesmerized believers at dawn witness a dazzling spectacle when the sun rays hit the peak. The large mountain is suddenly illuminated and it appears to be one large diamond. This rare sight has given birth to several myths and also its name ‘Mani’. Spending a night near the lake, it is in the early morning hours of the 15th day of Janamashtmi that pilgrims seek to take a dip in the holy lake. To uphold the mountains sacredness no one attempts to scale it. From Chamba, Bharmaur is 65 Km and can be reached by bus or a taxi. Motorable transport is possible up to Hadsar, which is 13 Km from Bharmaur. From here on, the remaining journey has to be done on foot with temporary shelters put up along the way for night stays. Dhanchoo, 11 Km from Hadsar, is a day’s trek and to get to the lake you have to climb past Bandar Ghati, Gauri Kund, Shiv Kalotri and Ganesh Ghati. At Bharmaur, Himachal Tourism runs Hotel Gaurikund - a budget hotel that provides decent accommodation. There are also many private hotels and home stays in and around Bharmaur providing basic accommodation. The Manimahesh Lake is situated about 35 kilometers from Bharmour in the Budhil Valley. Every year, on the eighth day of the light half of the moon in the month of Bhadon, a fair is held at this lake, which attracts thousands of pilgrims who assemble here to take a dip in the holy water. Lord Shiva is the presiding deity of this Fair/Jatra. He is believed to reside in Kailash. A rock formation in the shape of a Shivling on Kailash is considered to be the manifestation of Lord Shiva. The snowfield at the base of the mountain is called Shiva's Chaugan by the local people.