When the whole of North India is suffering from severe heat wave, I started my trek to Rani Sui Lake.
Rani Sui Lake is a beautiful lake located in the Mandi district of Himachal Pradesh, India. It is a high-altitude lake, situated at 12,500 ft above sea level. Rani Sui Lake is surrounded by high mountains, lush meadows, and amazing flora and fauna. The trek to Rani Sui Lake is considered to be of moderate to difficult level, depending upon the stamina and overall health of the trekker.
The diverse terrain of Rani Sui Lake Trek
The journey to Rani Sui Lake encompasses a diverse range of landscapes, from thick, lush forests to steep inclines and rugged pathways. At times, the path becomes so narrow that beginner hikers may encounter difficulties. However this diverse terrain makes the trek a popular destination for trekkers, seeking scenic beauty and adventure.
From struggle to success
Day 1
Starting from the Invincible's Manali Base Camp, which is approximately 25 km from Rani Sui Lake by bus, I sat by the window, admiring the beauty and grandeur of the mountains. As I looked out, I couldn't help but marvel at the greatness of the mountains and contemplate how they were formed. The sight of houses and cities nestled in the valleys of the mountains was truly captivating. Additionally, the River Beas added to the beauty of the scenery.
Finally, we reached Kasheri village, which is located at 8,500 feet above sea level. From there, we started our trek to Rani Sui Lake. The Rani Sui Lake trek generally takes about 2 days. On the first day, we had to reach the Invincible's Advance Base Camp for Rani Sui Lake, which was at an altitude of 10,500 feet. Throughout the trek, I witnessed the richness of the flora and fauna in the dense forest. The chirping sounds of the birds felt like heaven to me. The steep slopes in the mountains made it difficult to catch our breath, so we took rest several times along the way. Finally, we reached the advanced base camp by 5:00 pm, where we had our evening tea and some snacks. During the night time, the temperature dropped to nearly 0 degrees. But despite this, the sky was very clear and we were watching the night view of the town from such a high altitude. Additionally, the stars were looking so beautiful that anyone would fall in love with them. At the end of the day, after reflecting on my inner self, I went to the tent allotted to me.
Day 2
The next day, we woke up at 5:30 am, without the need for an alarm, as the sun rose early in the mountains. After having breakfast, at around 8:00 am, we began our trek to Rani Sui Lake. All the participants were eager to see snow, and we finally got the chance to experience it at the 360 view point( A point from where you can see all the mountains like Bhrigu lake and Indrasan). Despite the temptation to play in the snow, we had to climb up to reach Rani Sui Lake by 1:00 pm. We continued on the route, taking short breaks, feeling the snow and snowy winds, and navigating through several steep slopes where it was very difficult to gain traction on the snow-covered surface. Finally, we reached Rani Sui Lake.
The thrill at the summit
Upon reaching nearly 12,500 feet above sea level point, we felt that all the fatigue, physical discomfort, and slight altitude sickness had been justified. The scenery was breathtaking. For an hour, we were able to forgot our physical discomfort and had fun in the snow, creating snowballs, engaging in playful snowball fights, and constructing a snowman. We had a great time.
Packing Essentials
There are certain items that everyone needs to have with them. Due to unpredictable weather conditions, it’s important to be properly prepared. Here’s a list of items that you should bring with you:
Warm clothing: May to October is the best time to trek through Rani Sui Lake, but unpredictable weather conditions make it necessary to bring warm clothes as well as a raincoat or poncho.
Personally, I brought a poncho and a warm jacket as it sometimes rains during the daytime. And as I said earlier, during the nighttime the temperature drops to 0°.
A sleeping bag : sleeping bag is a must as it will protect you from the cold and freezy winds, at night.
Trekking shoes: trekking shoes are important because it provides proper grip, so that one could not slip and fell off.
Conclusion
Hence, trekking is an exhausting, however mindblowing activity you can do. There are several things that I would like to suggest you:
Firstly, cool down yourself and do some streching to prevent muscle stiffness and injury.
Secondly do not forget to hydrate yourself, refuel youself with plenty of water and some food at a proper time interval.
Overall plan your trek wisely, and also not forget to share your trekking experience with us. we would love to hear from you.