Set amidst the pristine snow capped mountains of Lahaul valley,spread over upon a vast green expanse of flatland(valley),is Sarchu. In buddhist language Sarchu literally means gold water(Ser=gold,Chu=water). infact in ancient buddhist texts its been written that water in this place is so pure that it shone like gold in daylight! Sarchu is at the border of the indian states of Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir.Sarchu is at the other point of Baralacha-La(4892mtrs.),the end point of Himachal Pradesh on the way to Leh-Ladakh,infact it is at the exact mid-point on the route from Manali to Leh. On the way from Manali to Sarchu(251kms) has Rohtang pass(3900mtrs.),Gondhla fort and Keylong headquarters of the tribal district of Lahaul. its huge ,flat ground was used by the ancient traders from Lahaul,Spiti,Ladakh,Zanskar,Tibet,China etc in the past. Various trekking routes to Spiti,Chandertal and zZanskar start from here itself.very nearby is the beautiful,high altitude lake-surajtal,which is the origin of river bhaga.
Infact thesplendour of sarchu cannot be told in writing,it has to be felt by being there only!
Calm,peace,tranquility and oneness with mother nature are some of the things that one experiences during their stay at sarchu apart from the picturesque landscape and scenic beauty of the place.
In short its a real Shangri-La in himalayan silence!
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