All You Need To Know About The Kareri Lake Trek

Take a deep breath and picture yourself sitting on the banks of a lake sounded by mountains. There’s no sound other than the little chirps from nature, and your fellow trekkers. That’s how calming the reward for completing Kareri Lake trek can be. But this isn’t even the best part. This trek takes you through a forest, there’s even a small waterfall on the way which poses as the perfect spot for bird-watching. And, you can meet locals from the Gaddi Tribe who live in Kareri village and learn more about their culture.

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All You Need To Know About The Kareri Lake Trek

Why You Must Trek To Kareri Lake?

The Kareri Lake Trek is the perfect weekend adventure to go on if you’re touring the Kangra district. Located in Himachal Pradesh on the southern side of the Dhauladhar range, this trek takes you to the high-altitude freshwater Kareri lake. This glacial lake is shallow and ideal to dip your feet into after the trek, which can take about 4.5 hours.

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Beautiful Trails

Once you begin the trek, you’ll pass through a sub-tropical forest abundant with chir and chilgoza pines, and broad-leaf species. This easy-to-moderate trek is dotted with lots of campsites along the trail and small food stalls that provide much-needed refreshments at various spots.

A few minutes after you’ve crossed the Nolli bridge, the forest continues and eventually leads you to Nyund nallah. You’ll spot local shepherds herding sheep here and birds like the warbler, redstart and brown dipper, which are a common sight around the stream. Look up and catch sight of the Himalayan griffon vultures gliding around too.

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Enchanting Campsites

After you reach the banks of the nallah at Reoti, it’s advisable to camp for the night. Sleep under the stars or choose to spend the night at a Gaddi hut along the nallah. This campsite is where you can rent a tent and dig into Maggi, tea, and wholesome meals like dal or curry with rice.

The second leg of the trek takes you to a hilltop across the nallah, where a Shiv temple is the highlight. On the other side of this hill is the picturesque Kareri Lake. This beautiful glacial lake is shallow at the banks and its water is cool. But you can sit here and take in the views of the ice and grey rocks of the mighty Dhauladhar range. You can later descend to Kareri village before sunset.

How To Get To Kareri Lake  

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The best way to go on this adventure is to plan your travel first to Dharamshala. You can take a local bus from Dharamshala to Ghera Village; busses start their service at 8 am. However, the journey from Ghera Village to Kareri Village (from where the trek starts) is a two-hour walk. If you’re short on time, taxis run all day from Ex-Service Men Taxi Stand at Dharamshala and drive you to Kareri Village. The taxi takes two hours to reach and should cost you around INR 800-1000. Although if you’re a group of four or more, you can bargain the price. You can stay at our hostel in Kareri Village where you can spend the night before beginning the trek in the morning.

Things To Know Before You Trek To Kareri Lake

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The Kareri Lake trek is an easy-to-moderate trek that you can do by yourself or opt for a guided tour.

The weather at Kareri is unpredictable, so don’t forget to carry your rainwear, especially during the monsoon. If you plan to stay at Kareri for more than one night, it’s advisable to arrange for food and water from Ghera Village. ATMs however are only available at Dharamshala, so it’s best to make your arrangements before you head out.