Vasuki Tal is one of the most pristine lakes situated at a distance of 8 km from the most famous Kedarnath temple. Located at an altitude of 4150 meters above sea level, Vasuki Tal is an amazing destination and very beautiful location. It's heaven for all those trekkers who are looking for a trek above 4000 meters height. This beautiful lake is believed to be one of the most ancient lakes and bathing points of lord Vishnu. Yes, you heard right, as per Hindu mythology it is believed that lord Vishnu used to take a bath at this lake on the occasion of Raksha Bandhan. This lake is also the home of lord shiva's favorite Brahmakamal which can be found in bulk in this area. In addition to Brahma kamal, this area is full of other rare medicinal herbs. From Vasuki Tal, the Chaukhambha peaks can be seen clearly and it's a perfect place to get a bird's eye view of Kedarnath valley and especially Kedarnath temple. This lake got its name from the snake of lord Shiva "Vasuki" because of its structure of snake. The river "Vasuki Ganga" originates from this lake. As per holy scriptures and Hindu mythology, it is believed that by the use of holy water of this sacred lake, all your karmic dosh can be neutralized. It's also believed that the Vasuki snake can be seen in this lake on Shravan Purnima.
The best time to go to Vasuki tal
The best time to go to Vasuki Tal is similar to that of Kedarnath Yatra. You can visit this place any time between the months of mid-May to October except July and August. This region faces heavy rainfall in the months of July and August. During this period you may face several problems like road slides, road blockage, heavy rainfall, shooting stones, slippery routes, etc. After the month of October, this is covered by snow and remains inaccessible for six months i.e. from November to April.
Things to Carry for Vasuki Tal Trek
Vasuki Tal is an exciting but difficult trek. You might face some serious problems if you miss some essential items while packing your bags. But the problem is that you have to carry your bag on your own. So you need to pack your bag smartly if you are planning to visit Vasuki Tal Lake after having a darshan at Kedarnath temple. Here is a short list of some of the essentials you may need while trekking for this lake.
- Headlamp
- Trekking Pole
- Trekking / Good Grip Sports Shoes
- Woolen Socks
- Rain Coat
- Gloves
- Thermal Wear
- Muffler / Scarf
- Good quality jacket
- Full shirt and trousers
- Backpack
- Water bottle
-Naphthalene ball
-Personal use medicines
- Personal use utensils
If you are taking a halt at Vasuki tal
- Sleeping mat
- Sleeping bag
- Dome tent
- Stove and Butane Gas Canister
How to reach Vasuki Tal
Vasuki Tal is very close to Kedarnath temple. So all the conveniences are available for Vasuki tal trekkers which are available for pilgrims visiting Kedarnath temple. You can reach Kedarnath by Helicopter, pitthu, mules, or Palki. But if you are a true trekker and want to enjoy this trek to the fullest then the following are the ways you can reach Vasuki tal.
By Air:- Jolly Grant Airport also known as Dehradun Airport is the nearest airport to Vasuki Tak trek which is about 280 Km away from this lake. Airlines like Air India, Indigo, Spice Jet, etc have regular flights to this airport from almost all the major or minor cities. The Nearest International airport to Vasuki Tal is IGI (Indra Gandhi International ) Airport located in New Delhi which is about 650 Km away from Vasuki Tal.
By Train:- Rishikesh is the nearest airport to Vasuki Tal Lake but very few trains are at this station. Some of the other stations near this location are Haridwar Railway Station and Dehradun Airport. These railway stations are about 250 to 280 km away from Vasuki Tal Lake. Trains from all the major cities can be found at this location.
By Road:- Haridwar is well connected with all the major cities of India. Till this location you can get direct Bus / Train / Flight. After this location, only road is the only way to reach Vasuki Tal. From Haridwar, you have multiple options to reach Gaurikund which is the last motorable part of this region. The first option is that you can take a bus from Haridwar to reach Sonprayag, The Second option is to hire a personal cab that will stay with you till the end of your trip and the third option is to book a shared cab that will drop you till Sonprayag. All three means are easily available at Haridwar / Rishikesh / Dehradun. You can opt for any one means as per your convenience and budget.
Kedarnath Yatra package:- You can visit Kedarnath by booking your package with some reputed company. Kedarnath yatra costs you between 8000 to 10000 Indian rupees per person depending upon the quality of services and other factors.
