Satopanth Tal, Badrinath

Satopanth is a triangular lake with three corners spread within the circumference of about a kilometre. The Satopanth Lake is situated 4,402 m above the sea level and is 25 km from Badrinath. The lake is surrounded by snow covered peaks and is named after the Hindu gods Mahesh, Vishnu and Brahma. It is believed that these gods occupy one corner each of the Satopanth Lake.could be reached after a arduous trek crossing Lakshmivan and Chakratirtha. Natural Caves along the path are used as the night shelter. Around Badrinath every place is steeped in legends so are Lakshmiban and Chakratirtha. It is said that goddess Lakshmi ( goddess of wealth)and her husband Narayan meditated in Lakshmivan and Chakratirtha respectively and while meditating Narayan kept his famous Sudarshan Chakra on the valley which depressed by the weight of that Chakra to form a beautiful round shaped meadow surrounded by lofty mountains..... Traversing on to satopanth glacier and hours of hard trekking on the treacherous moraine under the last ridge until reach the lake.The first thing that strikes is the strange ethereal ambience of the lake. Calm and Soothing! probably because an achievement of hard labour or may be the legends, or endurance !. The perfectly triangle shaped lake at the base of the snow crested Chaukhamba I peak, surrounded by lofty mountains. The crystal clear water of triangular lake mirrors the snow crested Chaukhamba I peak. It is said there lies a path traversed by the pandava brothers on their last journey to the heaven.