Satopanth Tal is a lake in Uttarakhand, India, located in the midst of snow-capped peaks at an altitude of above sea-level. The lake is considered to be of religious significance to the local people; residents of

Mana According to Melanesian and Polynesian mythology, ''mana'' is a supernatural force that permeates the universe. Anyone or anything can have ''mana''. They believed it to be a cultivation or possession of energy and power, rather than being ...

village throw the ashes of the dead in the lake.

Geography

Located in the midst of snow-capped peaks at an altitude of 16,000 feet from sea level, Satopanth Tal is 22 km ahead of

Badrinath Badrinath is a town and nagar panchayat in Chamoli district in the state of Uttarakhand, India. A Hindu holy place, it is one of the four sites in India's Char Dham pilgrimage and is also part of India's Chota Char Dham pilgrimage circuit. ...

. Balakun Peak, Kuber Top, Mt. Nilkantha, and Mt. Swargarohini are the peaks visible en route. The lake remains under snow from the end of September to the middle of May or sometimes end of June. The normal summer temperature remains around 12 °C in day and 7 °C to −5 °C in night, while the winter temperature may drop to even −25 °C in day and −36 °C in night.

Popular beliefs

Many people believe that the Trimoortis, viz,

Brahma Brahma ( sa, ब्रह्मा, Brahmā) is a Hindu god, referred to as "the Creator" within the Trimurti, the trinity of supreme divinity that includes Vishnu, and Shiva.Jan Gonda (1969)The Hindu Trinity Anthropos, Bd 63/64, H 1/2, pp ...

Vishnu Vishnu ( ; , ), also known as Narayana and Hari, is one of the principal deities of Hinduism. He is the supreme being within Vaishnavism, one of the major traditions within contemporary Hinduism. Vishnu is known as "The Preserver" withi ...

and Mahesh, bathe in the lake in an auspicious day. Also some types of birds are found here, which pick up the pollutants of the lake and thus keep the lake clean. These birds are not found anywhere. The local belief is that they are the

Gandharvas A gandharva () is a member of a class of celestial beings in Dharmic religions, such as Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism, whose males are divine performers such as musicians and singers, and the females are divine dancers. In Hinduism, they are ...

disguised, who guard the lake against evils.

Essentials for Satopanth Tal trek

guide A guide is a person who leads travelers, sportspeople, or tourists through unknown or unfamiliar locations. The term can also be applied to a person who leads others to more abstract goals such as knowledge or wisdom. Travel and recreation Ex ...

, and experienced

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must be taken. There are no night stay places, so a tent, stove, food and mattress are needed. The trek route is a bit tough and only experienced trekkers should undertake it. En route the Dhano Glacier has to be crossed and en route Chakratirth one sharp ridge has to be crossed.

External links

* http://www.uttaranchal.org.uk/uforums/viewtopic.php?f=15&t=268 * http://trekwords.wordpress.com/2008/11/05/on-the-bank-of-satopanth/ {{Hydrography of Uttarakhand Hiking trails in Uttarakhand Lakes of Uttarakhand Glacial lakes of India