Manimahesh Lake, Sacred lake in Chamba district, India

Manimahesh Lake is a mountain body of water in the Pir Panjal Range, sitting at about 4,080 meters elevation and surrounded by snow-capped peaks and steep slopes. Its water originates from mountain springs and feeds into the Budhil River through natural channels.

The Gaddi shepherd community adopted Shiva as its deity and holds that Shiva created the lake after marrying Parvati, worshipped locally as Mata Gorja. The lake is the goal of the Manimahesh Yatra, held in August or September on the eighth day of the new moon of Bhadon; the Himachal Pradesh government has declared it a state-level pilgrimage.

Pilgrims bathe in the lake before circumambulating it three times, then worship a four-faced marble image of Shiva. The water is divided into two parts: the larger, icy Shiv Karotri, where men bathe, and the smaller, lukewarm Gauri Kund, hidden by bushes, where women bathe. The Gaddis hold that the first sun's rays on the Manimahesh peak appear in the lake like a saffron tilaka, which is why bathing is done on Janmashtami or Radhashtami.

The trek from Hadsar village to the lake covers about 13 kilometers and requires good preparation for the altitude along with warm clothing because weather changes quickly. It helps to allow your body time to adjust to the thinner air and expect sudden shifts in conditions.

The name means "jewel (Mani) on Shiva's (Mahesh's) crown". Gaddis say moonlight reflected from the jewel can be seen on the lake on clear full-moon nights, though this is rare; it may instead be light reflected from the glacier that rings the peak like a serpent around Shiva's neck.