Beas Kund trek guide: Manali’s glacial lake walk

The Beas Kund trek is one of the easiest ways to stand beside a glacial lake in the Manali region without a long, punishing climb. It starts near Solang Valley, follows the young Beas river up through open meadows, and ends at a small, cold lake tucked below Hanuman Tibba and Friendship Peak. Most walkers finish it in two to three days, which makes it a sensible first Himalayan trek or an acclimatisation walk before a bigger one.

The Beas Kund trek is a short weekend walk near Manali, Himachal Pradesh, that climbs from Solang Valley through Dhundi and the Bakarthach meadow to a glacial lake at roughly 3,700 m, widely described as the source of the Beas river. It is graded easy to moderate and takes two to three days.

About the trek and quick facts

Beas Kund sits in the upper Solang basin in Kullu district, ringed by peaks that climbers use as training summits: Hanuman Tibba, Friendship Peak, Shitidhar and the line of ridges trekkers call the Seven Sisters. The lake is small and often part-frozen early in the season. Its draw is the setting rather than the size.

Sources place the lake at about 3,700 m. Trek operators commonly quote figures between 3,690 m and 3,890 m, which should be treated as indicative. The Wikipedia entry on the Beas river states that the river “rises 4,361 metres (14,308 ft) above sea-level on the southern face of Rohtang Pass in Kullu,” pointing to Beas Kund as its source area.

Quick facts (as of September 2026): base at Manali (about 2,050 m) with the roadhead at Solang and Dhundi; lake at roughly 3,700 m; round-trip distance about 24–28 km depending on the roadhead used; two to three days; grade easy to moderate; season roughly mid-May to October. Distance and day figures come from trek operators and are indicative.

Best time to do the Beas Kund trek

The trail is a summer and autumn walk. From roughly mid-May to October the meadows are open and the path is mostly clear of deep snow. Operators note that the route is generally closed from November to March because of snow and avalanche risk, so plan around that window.

May and June bring green meadows and wildflowers with some old snow near the lake. The monsoon in July and August makes the ground slippery and views patchy. September and October are the steadiest, with clear skies and cold nights.

How to reach the trailhead

Everyone starts from Manali, then drives about 13 km to Solang Valley and on to Dhundi where the walking begins. Manali itself is the logistics hub; our Manali travel guide covers where to base yourself and how to get up from the plains.

By air: the nearest airport is Kullu-Manali (Bhuntar). The airport’s Wikipedia page places it “at Bhuntar, 11 km from Kullu and 52 km from Manali,” with Alliance Air the sole operator as of April 2024, flying routes including Delhi, Dehradun, Jaipur and Amritsar. Flights are limited and weather-dependent, so most travellers treat air as a bonus, not a plan.

By rail: there is no broad-gauge line to Manali. The official Kullu district administration site lists Joginder Nagar (about 120 km, narrow gauge), Kiratpur (about 200 km) and Una (about 260 km) as the nearer railheads, with road onward. In practice many travellers ride the train to Chandigarh and continue by bus or taxi.

By road: the same official site gives Kullu as about 312 km from Chandigarh and 570 km from Delhi on the highway. Overnight Volvo and HRTC buses run from Delhi and Chandigarh to Manali; from Manali, a shared or private taxi covers the last stretch to Solang and Dhundi.

The route, day by day

The classic plan is three days, which suits acclimatisation. Fit groups sometimes compress it into two by driving further and walking longer. Exact stage distances vary by operator and roadhead, so treat the figures below as indicative.

• Day 1 – Manali to Dhundi, walk to Bakarthach: drive to Solang and on to Dhundi (around 2,800–2,900 m by operator estimates), then follow the Beas upstream through pine and boulder fields to the Bakarthach meadow. This first leg is gentle to moderate and is the usual first camp.
• Day 2 – Bakarthach to Beas Kund and back: a there-and-back day to the lake at about 3,700 m, climbing over moraine below Friendship Peak. Start early, spend a short while at the lake, and return to camp before the afternoon cloud builds.
• Day 3 – Bakarthach to Dhundi, drive to Manali: retrace the trail down to the roadhead and drive back to Manali. Many groups reach town by early afternoon.

A two-day version drives to Dhundi, camps once near Bakarthach, tags the lake early the next morning and walks out the same day. It is harder and gives less time to acclimatise.

What you pass on the way

This is a short trek, so the interest is in the meadows, the river and the peaks rather than a list of monuments.

According to local belief, the sage Vyas (after whom the river is named, Vyas becoming Beas) meditated and bathed at this lake. Treat that as legend rather than recorded history; what is documented is that Beas Kund is the accepted source area of the river.

Difficulty, altitude and AMS

The Beas Kund trek is graded easy to moderate. The daily distances are short and the gradients are forgiving, but the lake sits high enough that altitude matters. You climb from Manali at about 2,050 m to roughly 3,700 m over a couple of days.

The CDC Yellow Book (2026) advises against going directly from low elevation to more than 2,750 m sleeping altitude in a single day, and suggests spending a few days near 2,500–2,750 m first, since acclimatisation takes three to five days. It names headache as the cardinal symptom of acute mountain sickness (AMS), usually with fatigue, nausea, dizziness or loss of appetite, typically 2–12 hours after arriving high.

In practice: sleep a night or two in Manali before you start, drink water, keep the first day easy, and do not push higher if symptoms appear. Descent is the reliable treatment. Anyone considering preventive medication should ask a doctor before the trip.

Permits and forest rules

No Inner Line Permit is needed here; those apply near the border areas of Lahaul-Spiti and Kinnaur, not the Solang basin. What does apply is forest access. The trail runs through Kullu Forest Division land, and trekking parties are expected to register and, where required, obtain a forest permit from the local Forest Range Office at or near Solang.

Most organised operators handle this registration and the camping arrangements for you. If you walk independently, confirm the current procedure and any fee with the Kullu Forest Division before you set off; check the Himachal Pradesh Forest Department for contacts. Registering also means rescue teams know you are on the hill, which matters on a high, remote trail.

Carry out all waste, avoid single-use plastic, and camp only where the forest staff or your operator direct. These meadows are grazing land and recover slowly.

What it costs

A guided Beas Kund trip is inexpensive by Himalayan standards because it is short and close to a road. Prices below are indicative planning estimates gathered from operator listings as of September 2026 and should be reconfirmed; they usually exclude your travel to Manali.

Doing it independently is cheaper on paper but you take on transport, food, tents and the forest formalities yourself. For a first high trek, a guided group is usually worth the small premium.

Where to stay

You sleep in Manali before and after the walk, and in tents on the trail. Manali has a deep range of rooms; rates below are indicative and rise sharply in peak May–June and around holidays, so book ahead.

• Budget (₹800–1,500 a night): guesthouses and hostels in Old Manali and Vashisht, fine for a night either side of the trek.
• Mid-range (₹2,000–4,500): hotels along Mall Road and the Hadimba area with heating and hot water.
• Homestays and HPTDC: HPTDC (Himachal Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation) runs government hotels in and around Manali; homestays in nearby villages give a quieter base.

On the trail itself you are in your operator’s tents at Bakarthach; there are no lodges up there.

What to eat

On the trek you eat what the kitchen team carries: simple, hot, carbohydrate-heavy meals that suit the altitude. In Manali, try the local Himachali plates before or after.

• Siddu (a steamed wheat bun, sometimes stuffed, served with ghee or dal) — filling mountain comfort food.
• Dham (a festive sit-down meal of rice, lentils and curd-based dishes served on special occasions).
• Trout and rajma-chawal (kidney beans with rice) are common in Kullu-side kitchens.
• On the trail, expect dal, rice, roti, vegetables, soup and plenty of tea; carry your own dry snacks and electrolytes.

Packing and practical tips

Short does not mean casual: it is cold and high, and mountain weather turns fast.

• Layers: thermals, a fleece, a windproof or down layer and a waterproof shell; nights near the lake can dip to or below freezing even in autumn.
• Feet: broken-in waterproof trekking shoes with grip, plus a spare pair of socks; the moraine near the lake is loose.
• Sun and cold: sunglasses, sunscreen, a warm hat and gloves; snow glare is strong early season.
• Money and network: draw cash and settle payments in Manali. Mobile signal fades above Solang, so do not rely on UPI or calls on the trail.
• Health: the nearest hospital is in Manali (with the district hospital in Kullu); carry a basic kit and any personal medicines.
• Solo and women travellers: the trail is busy in season and generally considered safe, but join a registered group or hire a local guide rather than walking the upper section alone; tell someone your plan.

Nearby places

The trek pairs well with time in Manali and, for the fitter, a second walk in the same region.

Frequently asked questions

How long is the Beas Kund trek?

The Beas Kund trek is a short walk, usually done over two to three days from Manali. Trek operators quote a round-trip distance of roughly 24 to 28 km depending on the roadhead used. Treat those distances as indicative, since the drivable point at Dhundi shifts with road conditions.

What is the altitude of Beas Kund?

Beas Kund lake is widely described at about 3,700 m, though operator figures range from roughly 3,690 m to 3,890 m and should be taken as indicative. Wikipedia’s Beas river entry states the river rises at 4,361 m on the southern face of Rohtang Pass, referring to the wider source area.

Is the Beas Kund trek suitable for beginners?

Yes. It is graded easy to moderate, with short daily distances and gentle gradients, which makes it a common first Himalayan trek. The main challenge is altitude, since the lake sits near 3,700 m, so spend a night or two in Manali first and keep the first day relaxed.

When is the best time for the Beas Kund trek?

Roughly mid-May to October is the window. May and June bring green meadows with some snow near the lake; September and October give the clearest, most stable weather. The route is generally closed from November to March because of snow and avalanche risk, so avoid winter.

Do I need a permit for the Beas Kund trek?

No Inner Line Permit is required, as this area is not a border zone. However, the trail crosses Kullu Forest Division land, so trekking parties should register and obtain any forest permit at the local range office near Solang. Most guided operators arrange this; independent trekkers should confirm with the forest department.

How do I reach the Beas Kund trailhead?

Start from Manali, then drive about 13 km to Solang and on to Dhundi, where walking begins. Reach Manali by road from Delhi or Chandigarh, by limited Alliance Air flights to Bhuntar airport about 52 km away, or by train to a railhead such as Joginder Nagar and onward by road.

Last updated and sources

Go if you want a low, friendly introduction to a Himalayan glacial lake, or a warm-up before a harder trek. Aim for late May to June or September to October, and always sleep a night in Manali first.

Last updated: 25 September 2026. Fees, timings and permits change — reconfirm with official sources before you travel.

Sources: Wikipedia, Beas River (source altitude); Wikipedia, Kullu-Manali Airport; Kullu District Administration, How to Reach; Himachal Pradesh Forest Department; CDC Yellow Book 2026, High-Altitude Travel and Altitude Illness. Distances, stage altitudes and prices marked indicative are drawn from trek-operator listings and should be reconfirmed. Accessed September 2026.

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