Chandra Taal, Location, Ramsar Site Status, Biodiversity

Chandra Taal is a high-altitude freshwater lake in Lahaul and Spiti district of Himachal Pradesh, located in the upper Chandra Valley near Kunzum Pass. Known for its crescent-shaped form and fragile Trans-Himalayan ecosystem, the lake was designated a Ramsar Site in 2005.

About Chandra Taal

• Chandra Taal is located in the upper Chandra Valley of Lahaul and Spiti district, Himachal Pradesh, near the Kunzum Pass.
• The lake is situated at about 4,337 metres above sea level, making it an important high-altitude wetland.
• Its crescent-shaped form gives it the name Chandra Taal, meaning “Lake of the Moon”.
• The lake is associated with the Chandra River system, with the Chandra joining the Bhaga at Tandi to form the Chandrabhaga, or Chenab.
• Snowmelt and seasonal precipitation are the main sources of water for the lake.
• Located in the cold, arid Trans-Himalaya, Chandra Taal supports specialised high-altitude biodiversity, including the snow leopard, Himalayan ibex, blue sheep, red fox and Himalayan marmot.
• The wetland and its surroundings support high-altitude birds, including snowcock, chukar, golden eagle, kestrel and chough, while Ruddy Shelduck is also recorded here.
• Chandra Taal was designated a Wetland of International Importance under the Ramsar Convention on 8 November 2005, covering 49 hectares.
• It is one of Himachal Pradesh’s three Ramsar Sites, the other two being Renuka Wetland and Pong Dam Lake.
• The lake lies within the Chandratal Wildlife Sanctuary, which protects the surrounding high-altitude ecosystem.
• Tourism, camping, littering, overgrazing and vehicular disturbance threaten the fragile wetland, while climate change may affect its snowmelt and water regime.

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