Manali, the populous tourist town is the starting point for many treks in Himachal Pradesh like Beas Kund, Bhrigu Lake, and Hampta Pass. Manali main bus terminus is the assembly point where all trekkers are expected to arrive before 9 AM. We will do a quick headcount and start driving towards Gulaba. The drive from Manali to Gulaba is a fascinating journey. The 23 km to Gulaba should take us 2 hours to cover.

As soon as we start from Manali, for the first 20 minutes the roads will take you through the cultural lanes of Himachali tradition. Look out for the old heritage buildings, vibrant attires of the natives, and small flea markets on the corner of the streets. We can pick up some souvenirs at the end of the trip. As we pass through the huge metallic bridges to cross the Beas river, small twinkling stars will pop up and keep us company when the sun rays reflect on the mighty Beas river.

45 minutes into the drive, the Beas River will disappear behind us and we will enter into the famous Rohtang Pass. The road will divert to our right from the Rohtang Pass and enter into the Kullu district. Lush green and golden apple trees will wave their branches to welcome us on both sides of the roads. Once we cover a distance of 15 km, our vehicle will cross through fresh cotton clouds. It will cleanse our mind, body, and soul. During the monsoon season, we can witness the monsoon clouds joining together and making doodles in the sky. Keep your eyes peeled for the valiant hosts of Gulaba – The Vultures. They patrol the sky to keep us in check.

After 21 km, we will cross a government check post. They will take a headcount, check the necessary documents and allow us to go ahead. In 2 more km, we will reach the starting point of the trail – Gulaba. Gulaba (3,000M) to Rola Kholi (3,810M) Distance: 7 km Duration: 6 Hours The trail for the Bhrigu Lake trek begins from Gulaba. We will cross the road and start walking at around 11 AM. The water source for the day is small mountain streams between every 3 km and the terrain comprises of steep ascents and no descents.

In the beginning, for the first 30 minutes, the trails will be covered with dense oak trees, pine trees, Himalayan Birch, and shrubs. The mystic woods, moist leaves, and the hums of the insects will create a groovy song to keep us entertained. We jump, move and groove with the beat. The pathway will bend and twist like a snake and lead us through some water mist created from the monsoon clouds. (White-outs are a common factor in monsoon treks)

At the end of 2 km, the forest line ends and captivating grasslands take over the landscape. The rolling meadows extend for 5 km till Rola Kholi. Usually, it takes more time and a long distance to reach any Himalayan grassland from the base point of a trek. But on the Bhrigu Lake trek, it just takes 2 km and 30 minutes.

3 kms into the journey, the first water stream appears. We can fill our bottles and settle for lunch there. To make our journey more colourful, the terrain from the lunch point is completely covered with wildflowers. If we get lucky we can find some dry Dandelion flowers. Make a wish and blow it.

The sparkling colours of the flowers on the grassland fluctuate with different shades for the next 2 km. If we stop here and look back, we get a glimpse of the stunning Solang Valley and Beas Kund Valley. Once we cover a distance of 6 km in 5 hours, the pathway gets steeper and ascends towards the high ground. After finishing 7 km in 6 hours we reach a plain land near a big mountain stream. Thais is our Campsite for the day – Rola Kholi. Rola Kholi is a natural podium to stand and observe the stars and star dust in the night and witness the magnificence of Seven Sister Peaks, Deo Tibba, Solang Valley, Hanuman Tibba, and Beas Kund Valley in the day. The spectacles are bound to stay with us forever.

Today, the terrain and the trails continue with challenging ascents and are covered in scree, boulders, and broken rocks. There are few water sources, so carry enough bottles to support yourself.

We leave our camp around 9 AM and carry packed lunch with us. We cross the stream next to the campsite and start ascending. Just 10 minutes after the first ascent, the land opens up to a huge boulder and a wider skyline. From this spot, we can get a clean and panoramic view of the Seven Sister peaks, Deo Tibba, Solang Valley, Hanuman Tibba, and Beas Kund Valley. The grasslands from the boulder point come under the shepherd’s domain. For the next 2 kilometres, we can see many horses and cows grazing over the fresh grass covered in dewdrops.

The green tinge of the grassland dilutes and disappears at the end of 2 km. A mix of wild grey and light brown colours take over the landscape. The nature of the trail completely changes here. Be prepared to cross over boulders, narrow ascents filled with scree and rocky pathways. It is best to be with the group and follow the instructions of your trek leader while trekking through these trails. Because of frequent whiteouts, people tend to lose their way and get stuck in-between the rocks.

After covering a distance of 4 km, the trails incline towards a 30-degree ascent for another 1 km. Look down for the small flowers that sneak out and flash their bling through the cracks of the boulders. It’s a masterpiece in the mountains. Finally, at the end of 1 km, we reach a high ground with a fabulous view of Bhrigu Lake. Bhrigu Lake is a beautiful marvel which changes its colour according to season. During monsoon and summer, it changes from olive green to emerald green. During the winters it completely gets frozen and turns into pearl white colour. We stop for lunch near the lake, spend some quality time there and start heading back towards the campsite in Rola Kholi.

After dismantling the campsite and packing everything, we leave Rola Kholi at around 8 AM and reach Gulaba by 12 PM. The trail for today is less demanding with easy descents. A dedicated vehicle will pick us up from Gulaba and drop us back at Manali bus terminus around 2 PM. If you are traveling by flight, it is advisable to stay for the night, rest, and leave the next day. Manali roadways are prone to heavy traffic because of tourist attractions.