Satopanth Lake Trek

The Garhwal Himalayas are known for their various hidden gems in the form of pristine alpine lakes. Of these, the Sataopanth Lake, situated in Uttarakhand's Chamoli District, is one of the most remarkable. Situated at an altitude of over 15,000 feet, this glacial lake is a marvel of Nature, known for its breathtaking surroundings.
 

Adventure enthusiasts from across the country visit here to witness the quintessential beauty of Satopanth Lake. To access the lake, one needs to undertake a trek of 40 km (round trip), which goes through tough terrain, producing scenic and surreal beauty of nature along the way.

The Satopanth Tal trek typically begins at Mana, the first Village of India, and passes through the majestic Vasudhara Falls. Along the trail, trekkers can also spot some prominent peaks like Nilkantha, Chaukhamba, Balakun, and Swargarohini.

Religious Significance

Spread over around 500 yards, the Satopanth Lake is triangular in shape and holds deep religious significance. It is said that each corner of the lake represents the presence of 'Trimurti' - Brahma, Vishnu, and Mahesh, who meditated here and bathed on special occasions. In addition to this, it is also believed that after the epic Mahabharata war, the Pandavas embarked on their journey to heaven (Swargarohini glacier) via the Satopanth Lake.

The Swargarhini Glacier lies around 20 km away from Satopanth Tal, which is one of the notable and toughest treks in the Himalayan region. Besides its religious significance, the lake also holds cultural importance among the villagers of Mana. It is said that the villagers of Mana immerse the ashes of the departed soul in the lake; despite this practice, the water of Stopanth lake is clean and meets all standards established by the WHO.
 

In this Satopanth Tal Trek guide, we have shared some essential details which will be helpful if you wish to undertake this trek.

Base Camp of the Trek

Ideally, Mana is considered the base camp of the Satopanth Tal Trek, but due to better connectivity and services, Badrinath is a more practical option. However, Pipalkoti is also considered its base camp as it offers both accommodation and transportation services.

Badrinath, located in Uttarakhand's Chamoli District, is a well-known place. which is primarily known for the Badrinath Temple, the last shrine of the Uttarakhand Chota Chaar Dham Yatra. It can be reached via various means such as bus, shared taxi, cabs, and other available means. The town offers a wide range of stay options that can easily accommodate thousands of visitors.

Trek Difficulty Level

Considering the ascent, trail and weather conditions, the Satopnath Tal Trek is rated moderate to difficult. The 40 km journey of Satopanth Tal Trek passes through various hurdles like steep climbs and descents, where the rocky and pebbled path makes it hard for trekkers to hold their grip on the surface, especially with tired legs and luggage. It is important to have good stamina with good physical fitness, and endurance for this trek.
 

The highest point of the Satopanth Lake Trek is around 4,600 meters, which is 1,400 meters above Mana Village. Such a significant altitude can also cause various challenges, especially high altitude sickness. Thus, the trail is ideally not suitable for beginners, and prior trekking experience is a must before attempting this trail.

Best Time for the Satopanth Lake Trek

After assessing all the conditions, the best time to undertake the Satopanth Tal Trek is considered from May to July and September to October. During this period, the weather conditions are favourable for trekking and produce a scenic view of the surrounding landscapes.
 

The trek is not accessible in winter, as the region receives heavy snowfall that blocks the routes to access the area. Meanwhile, the monsoon season (July-August) is also not suitable, as rains cause severe damage to the route involved in the trail and make it difficult for the trekkers to navigate.

Satopanth Lake Trek Short Itinerary

The Satopanth Tal Trek distance is around 40 km long (round trip), which takes 4 days to complete. However, one must keep a buffer day for delays caused by weather and unforeseen situations. Here's a detailed day-wise Satopanth Lake Trek Itinerary: -

Day 1: Drive From Rishikesh to Badrinath

• Drive Distance: 286 km
• Drive Time: 10 hours
• Accommodation: Hotel/Homestay/Guesthouse

Your first day journey begins from Rishikesh, where you will head towards the trek base camp, i.e. Badrinath. The drive will proceed through some scenic and notable spots, which add charm to the journey. After travelling for 10-11 hours, you finally arrive at the Badrinath Dham.

Check into your accommodation and take a short walk to the Badrinath temple to seek the blessings of Badri Vishal. After dinner, prepare for the next day by separating the essential items for the trek.

Day 2: Drive to Mana and trek to Lakshmi Van

• Drive Distance: 5 km
• Drive Duration: 20 minutes
• Trek Distance: 7-8 km
• Trek Duration: 5-6 hours

Mana, the starting point of the trek, is 5 km away from Badrinath and is accessible by a short taxi ride. From Mana, you begin your trek to Lakshmi Van, which is about 8 km away. Being the first day of the trek, it may take time to adapt to the conditions.

The trail moves alongside the Alakananda River and is well-paved for some distance. After hiking around 3 km, you reach the Vasudhara Falls, a prominent site in the region. Refill your water bottle here, as the trail will gradually ascend ahead.

After continuing on the same path, you finally arrive at today's campsite, i.e. Laxmi Van. Situated at an elevation of over 12,000 feet, it is a verdant area surrounded by Bhoj Patra trees. On a clear day, you can easily spot the Alkapuri Glacier, the origin point of the Alaknanda River. Upon arrival, monitor your oxygen levels through an oximeter; if the machine reads below 90, descend immediately without wasting time.

Day 3: Trek from Lakshmi Van to Chakrateertha

• Trek Distance: 7 km
• Trek Duration: 6 hours

On the third day of this trek, you trek around 8 km to reach today's campsite at Chakrateertha. As compared to day 1, the trail is more challenging. However, the tough trail seems easy, thanks to the majestic view along the way. After passing the grassland patch, the view of the Bhagirathi peaks can be seen only if the weather is clear.

Moving further along the trail, you reach Sahstradhara, another spectacular waterfall in the region. From here, one can easily spot the Neelkanth peak only if the skies are clear; otherwise, it is mostly covered with clouds. Sahastradhara, with its 100s of small waterfalls, is nothing less than a magical place.
 

The weather changes here rapidly, especially post noon. From here, today's campsite is just half an hour away, so trekkers should try to reach the campsite as quickly as possible. On arrival, change your clothes and ensure your body is entirely covered with warm clothes, as the temperature can dip up to -5 degrees at night.

Day 4: Trek from Chakrateertha to Satopnath Lake and back

• Trek Distance: 10 km (5 km each way)
• Trek Duration: 8 hours

It's going to be the most exciting day of the trek. Wake up early, have breakfast and begin your hike to the Satopanth Tal. If the weather is clear, prominent peaks like Chaukhamba, Neelkanth, and Balaun can be seen en route. After walking continuously for over 2 km on an easy trail, you arrive at a place surrounded by some snakes, so the trekker must climb cautiously.
 

After reaching the top of the ridge, the breathtaking view of the Satopanth Tal appears before you. The triangular-shaped lake appears surreal from this height, and its emerald green is so captivating.

If luck favours you and the weather is clear, you might spot some steps of the Swararohini Glacier, which is believed to be used by the Pandavas to ascend to heaven. After spending some time around the lake, descend back to your Chakratheertha campsite, which takes around 3 hours to reach.

Day 5: Trek from Chakrateertha to Mana and drive back to Badrinath

• Trek Distance: 15 km
• Trek Duration: 6 hours
• Drive Distance: 5 km
• Drive Duration: 20 minutes

It is the final day of the trek, where we will retrace the same path, to trek back to Mana and a short drive to Badrinath. After reaching Badrinath, check into your accommodation and rest for a while. You can also visit the Badrinath Temple again and other nearby places in the evening. Also, do not forget to have a sacred dip in the Tapt Kund.

Day 6: Drive back to Rishikesh

• Drive Distance: 280 km
• Drive Duration: 10-11 hours

Wake up early, have breakfast and bid farewell to the towering mountains of Badrinath. The return drive will follow the same route taken during the arrival. You will reach Rishikesh by the end of the evening.

Journey Commenced From

The six-day-long Satopnath Tal Trek typically begins from Rishikesh. Satopanth Lake lies near Badrinath, in Chamoli District. Its base camp, i.e. Badrinath, is around 280 km away from Rishikesh.

Known as the "Gateway of Garhwal", Rishikesh is well connected to Delhi and other major cities by road. From Rishikesh, trekkers can take a bus, shared taxi or hire a cab to reach the base camp where the actual Satopanth Tal trek begins.

How to reach Rishikesh?

Rishikesh is accessible by road, rail, and air. Trekkers can choose the travel mode which suits them most.

• By Road: Rishikesh offer excellent road connectivity with nearby cities, especially with Delhi. Along with government buses, several private buses run regularly from various locations. Alternatively, a private taxi can also be hired to reach the town.
• By Train: Rishikesh's Yog Nagri Rishikesh Railway Station offers limited train connectivity from Delhi. For better connectivity, one must look out for the Haridwar Railway Station, which offers more frequent train services from Delhi to Haridwar. Like Rishikesh, Haridwar also provide bus and taxi services to Badrinath.
• By Air: Dehradun's Jolly Grant Airport is the nearest one, approximately 302 km away from Badrinath. The airport is connected with direct flights from major cities in India. From the airport, one can hire a taxi or travel 16 km to reach the Rishikesh bus stand, where bus and shared taxi services are available.

Satopanth Lake Trek Route: Key details

Satopanth Tal Trek Route Map

The journey of Satopanth Tal Trek begins from Rishikesh and goes up to Badrinath. In between, the journey proceeds through various location that marks the trail of the journey. The drive route map involved in the Satopanth Tal Trek is: - 
 

Rishikesh → Devprayag → Dhari Devi Temple → Rudraprayag → Karnaprayag → Nandaprayag → Chamoli → Pipalkoti → Joshimath → Vishnuprayag → Govind Ghat → Pandukeshwar → Hanuman Chatti → Badrinath → Mana

Backpack Check List for Satopanth Tal Trek

Accommodation

Badrinath, the base camp of the Satopanth Tal Trek, offers a wide range of stay options. Trekkers can book their stays in advance or upon arrival. In addition, they can also book their accommodation with the trekking agency to avoid hassle hassle-free journey. Some popular accommodations that you consider are: -

• Hotel Mangalam
• GMVN Tourist Rest House
• Bharat Anand Hotel
• Divine Ganga.
• Bharat Shree Guest House.
• Surya Guest House.
• Hotel Rishi Ganga.
• Hote Shankar Shree
• Hotel New Urvashi

Important Tips for Trekkers

• Prior trekking experience and good physical fitness are mandatory.
• Undertaking the trek alone can be tricky; it is advisable to hire a local tourist guide.
• Staying in Badrinath is costlier; you can also stay in Pipalkoti, which adds more value.
• Direct bus services to Badrinath are available from both the Rishikesh and Haridwar bus stands.
• Always opt for a trekking agency's transportation facility, as it may eliminate travel-related issues.
• ATM facilities are available up to Badrinath; beyond this, such as facilities will not be available.
• The last fuel station is available in Badrinath, so fill up your tank.
• Carry all necessary medicine and tools required for the trek.
• Carefully check the services which are available and which are not in the trek package.
• Carry one valid identity proof for hotel check-in and permit issuance.

Satopanth Lake Trek Package

The Satopanth Tal Trek packages cost around Rs 20,000/-. However, the transportation and other charges are not included in this package. Several trekking agencies provide a package for this trek, which covers a journey of six days. Visitors can also add other services which are not part of the standard package.

Facilities offered by the agencies

Popular Trek Providers

Note: The prices mentioned above are indicative and subject to change by the agencies. For the latest package cost, visit the portal of the respective agencies.