The group from La Martiniere for Girls at Serolsar Lake

A group of students from La Martiniere for Girls travelled to Himachal Pradesh. An account of their trip to Serolsar Lake and Jalori Pass

Serolsar Lake is located in Kullu district of Himachal Pradesh, at an altitude of 3,199 metres (10,496 feet) above sea level. It is surrounded by alpine forests. The water is crystal clear and local residents believe that if a leaf falls into the water, it is immediately removed by a bird. No geological study has ever been able to calculate accurately the depth of the lake. The water has medicinal properties and is considered by local residents.

We also visited the temple of Budhi Nagin (old snake goddess), a holy spot next to the lake.

It is said that the lake is very deep and that Budhi Nagin herself lived in a golden palace at the bottom of the lake. One day, legend goes, a Brahmin from nearby Shoja village came to the lake and drowned himself. Budhi Nagin saved him and allowed him to stay in her palace for three years.

After three years, the Brahmin returned. His friends and family had, by then, assumed that he was dead and were surprised to see him. He was repeatedly asked where he had been for three years and he reluctantly revealed the truth. The moment he did so, he died and any of his descendants who tried to visit the lake thereafter met with accidents on the way and perished. We saw the house of this family at Shoja.

The trek was an enriching experience. We are grateful to Dr T Dasgupta, award leader, International Award for Young People, our principal Lorraine Mirza, and our vice-principal Rupkatha Sarkar, without whose help and cooperation the trek would not have been possible.

Nishka Das Gupta,
Class XI, La Martiniere for Girls