What do you do on the day of a major festival? Eat, drink, dance, and have fun, right? However, we chose to spend the day with the nature, do a little adventure, and have fun. 12th October, 2024; Dussehra, a major Hindu festival. And we were trekking in the mountains. Because a few months ago, we had fixed a date with the nature. We were in Tirthan Valley in the Great Himalayan National Park (GHNP) area in Himachal Pradesh. On one of the three days, we had planned to trek to the Serolsar Lake, and back. The experience turned out so good that I can’t wait any longer to share with you all. So, here’s the story of our Serolsar Lake trek, a day out in the wild. {If you are looking for more Himachal destinations, here’s one: Dalhousie.}
Location of Serolsar Lake:
The Great Himalayan National Park (GHNP) is among the most beautiful, and important national parks from biodiversity point of view. Spread across 1171 sq. kms, GHNP constitutes four major valleys: Tirthan, Parvati, Sainj and Jiwa Nal. To know more about the GHNP, do check out: A guide to the GHNP.
Tirthan Valley is the largest valley of the four, and offers scores of interesting things to do. From trekking in the forests, to chasing waterfalls, or trout fishing, or visiting its quaint little villages, or just relaxing in the peaceful natural environment, a traveller has great options to choose from.
Tucked in one corner of Tirthan Valley, Serolsar (or, Seryolsar/ Seruvalsar) Lake is a cute little lake with a small temple beside it and lots of interesting stories. At about 9 kms from Banjar (the main town of Tirthan Valley), is Jibhi, a small hill station. Driving past Jibhi for another 11 kms, one reaches Jalori Pass, the starting point of Serolsar Lake Trek.
{If you love lakes, here are a few suggestions: Loktak Lake (Manipur) ||| Nainital Lake (Uttarakhand) ||| Vembanad Lake, Alleppey (Kerala) ||| Lake city, Udaipur (Rajasthan)}
The trekking party:
We were eight of us on the Serolsar lake trek. Joining me and Parina were our partners in crime from Delhi- Mamta and Varun. After our Triund trekking experience, it was the second time we were going to trek together. Once in the Tirthan Valley, it was quite expected that Rahul and family (Asha, Anshika and Arnav) would join us. We met Rahul on our first trip to Tirthan Valley, and he remains a friend since then.
To start with, we had at least three members who have issues with their lower limbs. Parina has general walking problems after her cervical surgery. Similarly, Mamta and Varun have gone through surgeries on their limbs. Isn’t it commendable that in spite of this, they chose to trek Serolsar lake!
Serolsar Lake Trek Diary
Since we were planning to complete the trek of 10 kms (to and from) to Serolsar Lake and come back the same day, it was pertinent that we started early. Thus, we had planned to start the trek early in the morning, about 8-9 AM. But a little problem at the hotel meant we started the day late. After picking up Asha and the kids from Banjar, we reached Jalori Pass about 11 AM. Though we had planned to stopover at Jibhi on the way, to see the waterfall, we had to drop the plan since we were running late.
{If you love trekking, here are more of our experiences: Dzukou Valley Trek ||| Triund Trek}
Jalori Pass:
At about 10,236 feet (3120 mts), Jalori Pass connects the Shimla region with Tirthan Valley/ Kullu region. In the winters, it experiences heavy snowfall. So, it becomes a popular tourist spot for snow-experience in the spring season. In the summer season, when the snow melts away, it serves as base location for two lovely treks. A little hike of 2.5 kms from Jalori Pass takes one to a gorgeous meadow with ruins of Raghupur Fort. On the opposite side of the Raghupur Fort trek, another trek route goes towards Serolsar lake.
The trek begins:
It was about 11 AM, when we started our Serolsar Lake trek. Serolsar lake is situated at an elevation of ~10,170 feet (3100 mts) above sea level. So, it’s almost on the same plane as Jalori Pass. Hence, the route from Jalori Pass to Serolsar Lake is mostly smooth. Of course, the hilly terrain means a slight up and down through out. But never too hard on the knees.
At the beginning of the trek route, there’s a big insignia of “Jalori”, where we all gathered to take group pictures. Then we started walking slowly, enjoying the nature and having fun as a group. Varun with his on-the-spot jokes, and the kids with their innocent utterings made our hike feel light. This is why, trekking in a group is a lot more enjoyable than trekking alone.
The entire trek route to Serolsar lake is covered with a thick canopy of trees like pine, deodar, oak, chestnut, and fir. The forest cover is so thick that even the afternoon sun finds it hard to penetrate. However, since the temperatures weren’t too low or too high, the weather was enjoyable.
Though the valley is home to a number of predators like brown bear and leopards, they generally don’t come this side. Needless to say that snow leopards, that live in the GHNP are far from the green forests.
Midway on the trek:
Before the exact midway, there’s a lovely valley-view point. That was our first pit stop. Thanks to a local entrepreneur, a zipline facility has come up at the spot for adventure seekers. But we had other modes of entertainment: music and dance. When a fellow trekker played some local pahadi music, our group couldn’t resist shaking a leg. That was so cool!
At the midway point, there’s a nice resting place with chairs made of tree-trunks (I hope they were not cut for this purpose). Rahul told us that there used to be a few eateries, but now closed by the government. Apparently, this was to reduce littering and pollution on the trek.
However, that was not a complete solution. I hardly found any public dustbins on the Serolsar lake trek route. This naturally meant that the trekkers threw plastic bottles and wrappers all around! Such a pity! The government can manage these things in a much better way. To know more, here’s an article: Role of government in promoting sustainable tourism.
After the midway, came a patch of route where it became a little rocky. Though it was a bit hard to hike through that section, the landscape looked interesting.
Reaching Serolsar Lake:
Just before (500 mts) reaching Serolsar lake, there was a point where all the eateries have been provided space. We took about 2 and half hours to reach this point ~1.30 PM. Yes, this was a bit more than average hiking speed for the Serolsar lake trek. But it was perfect time for us, because we were hungry.
Without exploring the shops, we just sat down at the first one. Walking around later, I found out that every eatery offered almost the same kind of food/ beverage: rajma-chawal, kadhi-chawal, siddu, maggi noodles, and paratha. So, it hardly matters which one you choose. We ordered some rajma-chawal and siddu, which was really good. Thereafter, it took us another 15 minutes to reach Serolsar lake; ~2.15 PM. So, it took us about 3 hours and 15 minutes; minus the lunch time, it comes to 2 hours and 45 minutes.
Serolsar Lake:
The first look of the lake from 100 meters away was satisfying. Because this was the reason why we trekked all the way. It’s a clean lake, not so big, but beautiful because of the wonderful landscape surrounding it. On one side of the lake, over a small hill, there’s a small temple dedicated to Budhi Nagin. Beyond the temple, a little hike takes one to a gorgeous meadow/ valley. In order to discourage visitors to enter the lake, the sides of the lake are cordoned off. At the entry point, there’s a large black stone that seemed to be the point where a lot of rituals take place.
After lazing out a bit at the entry point, we visited the temple. Though it was the day of Dussehra, there was no local crowd, or any rituals taking place at the temple! So, it was a bit surprising for me, especially because they consider Budhi Nagin to possess powers of Goddess Durga! Later, we heard a number of stories and legends about the lake and Budhi Nagin (see next section).
Exploring around Serolsar Lake:
While most of our group started the return trek soon afterwards, I hiked up to the other side of the hill. Along with amazing views of the valley/ meadow, I met some youngsters who were enjoying a picnic there. I had a chitchat with them, and they offered me some beverages.
While coming back, I saw Arnav still walking near the lake. So, I asked him if he would accompany me to take a round of the lake. He agreed readily, and we took a round of the lake before joining the group on the return trek. The view from the other side of the lake from a cliff was amazing. It offered a panoramic view of the place with Serolsar lake and Budhi Nagin temple in one frame.
The way back:
The return trek started around 3.00 PM. Like always, return trek was uneventful, and less interesting. While only Varun chose a horseback ride, all others chose to hike back to Jalori pass. Quite expectedly, the walk was slow, very slow, especially Parina and Mamta were really struggling. However, I, Rahul and the kids didn’t have much issues. Taking multiple small stops along the way, we took about 3 hours, and reached Jalori pass around 6.00 PM.
Relaxing the day after:
Since Parina and Mamta both had prior issues with their legs, they had a sore legs after trekking Serolsar lake. So, we had to cancel our plans of visiting some villages the next day. Nevertheless, it turned out to be a relaxing, beautiful day. We strolled by the Tirthan river, enjoyed the valley-views and ate leisurely. Aman, the owner of the resort, joined us in chitchatting, and told us tens of stories from around Tirthan valley.
The legends of Serolsar Lake and Budhi Nagin
Serolsar lake has a strong mysterious vibe about it. The lake and Budhi Nagin temple beside it are shrouded in many legends. We heard about some of these legends at the lake itself, from Rahul, who is a local. Next day, Aman told us a few more. Fascinated, I looked for more online, and got a lot more! I’m sharing a few of them here.
While chitchatting with Aman, Mamta and Varun shared their experience at Serolsar lake. They observed some unusual, dazzling starry sunshine in the lake that grew over the lake, and spread wide. Mamta felt some mysterious spirits engrossing her thoughts and feelings. Though she didn’t quite understand that immediately, she connected with Aman’s mysterious stories about the lake later.
They say that in spite of efforts, they haven’t been able to correctly measure the depth of the lake! One legend has it that the lake is bottom-less! According to another legend, there’s a golden palace at the bottom of the lake where Budhi Nagin resides!
No doubts that the lake looked clean. But I’m not sure if it’s because there’s a bird/ some birds that are cleaning all the leaves that fall in the lake (as per legends)! If true, what might be the reason? In fact, I heard similar stories about the Khecheopalri lake near Yuksom; read more: Yuksom in Sikkim.
If you are curious, read more such stories about the Serolsar lake here: The mystical world of Seryolsar.
Serolsar Lake: Travel Tips
Best time to visit:
- For pleasant weather, spring- summer (March- June) and autumn (Oct-Nov) seasons are the best times to trek Serolsar lake
- Though one can trek in the winters, it won’t be enjoyable due to very low temperatures
- Since landslides are common in rains, avoiding monsoon months of July- September is a good idea.
How to Plan:
- For only Serolsar lake trek, one needs at least two days. First day, arrive and relax in the valley; second day, go on Serolsar lake trek
- However, if you are in Tirthan Valley, it’s a great idea to visit the Great Himalayan National Park, and explore some villages around the valley. I just love the charming villages, their warm hospitable people and unique culture.
How to reach:
- Since Jalori Pass is the starting point of the trek, one has to reach here. One can reach Jalori Pass either from Shimla side, or Kullu side. However, Kullu side is more popular, and more convenient
- To reach from Kullu side, nearest bus stop is Aut (on Delhi- Manali highway), about 45 kms from Jalori. But visitors typically would get down at Aut and take accommodation somewhere in Tirthan Valley (Banjar, Gushaini or Jibhi) before going for Serolsar lake trek
- Nearest railway station: Joginder Nagar, about 100 kms away from Aut; not so convenient
- Nearest airport: Bhuntar, about 20 kms from Aut.
Where to stay:
- There are three major locations in Tirthan Valley to look for your accommodation: Banjar, Gushaini, or Jibhi. However, there are guesthouses and homestays across Tirthan Valley
- If you are planning to visit the Great Himalayan National Park along with Serolsar lake trek, Gushaini is the best place to stay. However, Jibhi is the closest major location to Serolsar lake.
Some budget stay suggestions:
- Gushaini side: The River Walk || The Whispering Woods || Riverfront Chalets || Anand Tirthan Camps || Khwaabgaah || Kaliyuga || Raju Bharti Homestay || Trishla Resorts || Trout House || Trout Valley
- Banjar- Jibhi side: Whoopers Boutique Resort || Rai Kuteer & Cottages || Bradhi- Echor Riverside Resort
- Tree Houses: The Hidden Burrow by Whoopers (budget) || The WoodenBranch’s Jacuzzi || The Treetop Treehouse || Hunting Wood Tree Cottage.
Camping options:
Camping at Serolsar lake is a great idea. There are a number of camping sites on the Serolsar lake trek route, and also around the lake. So, one may carry their own camping gear. Or, book with a camping service provider in Jibhi/ Banjar. Besides, now-a-days, there are a few good online service providers as well.
What/ where to eat:
- Must try: Siddu || Trout fish || Pahadi Thali || Fresh seasonal fruit
- Some good restaurants/ cafes: The Forest Bean café (Jibhi) || Great Himalayan Café (Gushaini) || Café Stories N’ More (Shangarh) || The Himalayan Trout House Kitchen (Sharchi) || Riverberate Café (Jibhi) || Mazel Tov (Sharchi), Israeli food || The Pink Panther (Jibhi).
Other nearby attractions:
- Raghupur Fort trek from Jalori; 2.5 kms one way
- Great Himalayan National Park: can enter either from Gushaini side or Sainj side
- Waterfalls: Jibhi || Chhoie (Nagini village) || Bathad || Shangarh
- Several meadows across the valley, especially Shangarh in Sainj Valley
- Fishing in Tirthan river, and other smaller rivulets
- Visiting quintessential Himalayan villages: Sharchi || Shangarh || Raila || Chehni.
Concluding Notes
Our love affair with the Great Himalayan National Park (GHNP) area continues. I say GHNP area because we love all the valleys in this area. This was our fifth trip; and we have taken our family and friends along. On each trip, we have done something new, and explored a bit more of the valleys. I think there are still some hidden gems for us to discover.
This time, it was Serolsar lake trek that was high on agenda. Serolsar lake trek is one of the easiest and most pleasant treks one can have in a day. We thoroughly enjoyed the trek, especially because we had so many good friends with us! Maybe sometime later, we would love to camp at the lake for a night.
We also visited a lovely village in Tirthan Valley called Bathad. I can’t say whether we enjoyed chasing the waterfall more or devouring the local food on offer more. More on these experiences another time, in another blog.
If you liked reading this article, or want to know more, do write to us. Or, if you have gone on Serolsar lake trek already, share your experience; it would be amazing to hear from you.
Mamta
Amazing !!!! We enjoyed the trek and more than that a wonderful company. All pain is worth for such a lovely trek. Suvendhu ji your narration is amazing and I am sure if I read after years as well I will feel the same.
stampedmoments
Hi Mamta!
Yup, the trek was amazing! It was so much fun!
Thanks a lot; happy that you found the reading interesting.
Cheers!