A commonplace occurance in Lahaul and Spiti valley is Chhorten-literally meaning the receptacle of relics.A chhorten represents five elements.the square base of chhorten reresents the element Earth;the stylised dome-the element of Water;the chimney like shaft represents Fire;the crescent symbolises the element of Ether;the distribution of these elements in a Chhorten corresponds to their distribution in the body of the Buddha.
Suraj taal or the lake of the sun god is situated well on the summit of the Baralacha la,a little below an altitude of 16000 feet! The Bhaga river rises in this lake which is situated in a beautiful natural amphitheatre just below the highway."During winters it remains in the grip of a pall of ice untidy with lumps of frozen snow and jutting stones".But in the summer season this tarn comes back to its glorious charm,the deep blue of its waters reflecting the craggy mountains and snowy heights.This is an ideal halting place for having a bite that one might be carrying.
