About Chorabari Tal
Chorabari Tal, also known as Gandhi Sarovar, was a glacial lake situated at an altitude of 3,900 meters near Kedarnath in Uttarakhand. The lake formed at the snout of the Chorabari Glacier and held religious significance as the site where Mahatma Gandhi's ashes were immersed in 1948. Following a catastrophic breach in June 2013 that contributed to the Kedarnath floods, the lake no longer exists in its original form. The area remains accessible via a 3-kilometer trek from Kedarnath temple.
Visitors guide
Visitors can undertake a 3-kilometer trek from Kedarnath temple through grassy fields to reach the former lake site at the base of the Chorabari Glacier. The trek offers views of snow-capped Himalayan peaks including Kedarsringa, Kedardome, and Thalaysagar. The location sits at high altitude with alpine terrain. While the lake itself no longer exists following the 2013 breach, visitors can observe the glacier area and surrounding mountain landscape.
Key highlights
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High-altitude glacial site at 3,900 meters above sea level
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Historical significance as site where Mahatma Gandhi's ashes were immersed in 1948
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Panoramic views of Himalayan peaks including Kedarsringa and Kedardome
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3-kilometer scenic trek from Kedarnath temple through alpine meadows
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Location at the foot of Chorabari Glacier, source of Mandakini River
History of Chorabari Tal
The lake was originally known as Kanti Sarovar. In 1948, some of Mahatma Gandhi's ashes were immersed in the lake, after which it was renamed Gandhi Sarovar. On June 17, 2013, the moraine dam holding back the lake waters gave way during heavy rainfall, causing a catastrophic outburst flood that devastated the Kedarnath valley below.
Culture & Context
The lake holds religious importance as the site where Lord Shiva is believed to have imparted yoga teachings to the Saptarishis. It gained additional significance when Mahatma Gandhi's ashes were immersed here in 1948, leading to its renaming as Gandhi Sarovar.
Route
| By road |
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