Serolsar Lake, Mysterious Lake – Jibhi – Jalori Pass trek

At a height of 3,100-m in the Kullu district of Himachal Pradesh amidst the dense forest lies an absolute scenic beauty, a small beautiful lake, the Serolsar Lake. Also known by several names like Sereolsar, Seruvalsar, Manimahesh, or Saryolsar Lake.

Day 1:

My journey started from New Delhi with four of my friends in a Taxi which is the best option one can find to explore mountains.

To reach here, you may choose amongst the following routes:

• Delhi — Shimla – Narkanda – Luhri – Khanag – Jalori Pass
• Delhi – Chandigarh – Bilaspur – SundarNagar – Mandi – Aut – Jalori Pass.
• Manali – Kullu – Aut – Banjar – Jalori Pass

Also, I have seen and know that there are buses that ply from Manali/Mandi/Kangra towards Shimla district via Jalori pass and vice versa.

I planned this trip during one long weekend in mid of August’19 during the monsoon season. So we were expecting heavy rainfall. Thus, carrying raincoats and extra of almost everything in case of an emergency.

Now after crossing Sundarnagar, we left for Mandi at 07:30 AM. Although, tour surprise, as we crossed Pandoh Dam but no rain. Additionally, driving along the Beas River was amazing with clouds right above our car’s roof. After crossing the long-tunnel, we reached Aut and took the road that leads to Banjar from Aut’s market.

After passing Banjar, the roads got narrow & scary. So I had to slow my speed and be extra cautious. As the possibility of committing mistakes was almost zero.

Moving forward, we took a halt at Jibhi, a beautiful village surrounded by hills and orchids of apple, almond, pear, and peach. From a nearby local shop, we ordered tea and tried their local cuisine ‘Siddu’. We also got some of them packed for our onward journey.

Day 2: Jibhi Waterfall

The early morning visit to the Jibhi waterfall, which is less than a kilometer from the main town, is a breath-taking experience. It is one of the most amazing waterfalls and you reach there by crossing lovely, small wooden bridges over the stream which is flowing down from the waterfall.

The area near the waterfall appears like a pool below the waterfalls. As it’s very nicely paved with stone and cement.

Day 3: Jibhi to Jalori Pass to Serolsar Lake

It was getting difficult with every passing minute to drive. As roads were broken and slippery but the fresh air, the mesmerizing greenery, and every bit of scenic beauty kept us motivated to keep moving ahead.

The path to the lake starts from just behind the temple at Jalori Pass. There are a few ascends and descends on the way to Serolsar. Though the path is mostly straight. I even saw a few elderly people slowly walking down the path.

It took me around 1.5 hours of moderate walk to reach the lake. I also climbed two small sidehills on the way to see the view of the valley from above. There are a couple of campsites on the way if you would like to stay at the pass longer.

Serolsar lake is surrounded by a dense forest. It is an easy and enjoyable 5 km hike.

On the way to the lake, you will see a few houses literally under the rock. I noticed one of them even giving a basic room for rent.

The lake is so clean that you can see through it. I met a shepherd there with a flock of sheep. He told me that in whichever season you might visit the lake, you will not find fallen leaves on the lake itself. The birds keep it clean throughout the year.

Though there were plenty of fallen leaves on the path, I didn’t see any in the lake. But, hey, I’ve been there for just an hour. If you stay longer, let me know!

Mata Budhi Nagin Temple: The other half, which received sunshine, hosted a small temple.

Close to the lake, you will see a few tents where you can buy basic snacks and light meals. They come at the same price as food at Jalori pass.