Prashar Lake

Prashar Lake
Parashar Lake
Prashar Lake
Location Mandi district
Coordinates 31°45′15″N 77°06′05″E / 31.75426°N 77.10141°E / 31.75426; 77.10141Coordinates: 31°45′15″N 77°06′05″E / 31.75426°N 77.10141°E / 31.75426; 77.10141
Type Holomictic
Primary inflows Rain water, Glaciel runoff
Primary outflows Evaporation
Basin countries India
Surface area 1 hectare (2.5 acres)
Average depth Unknown
Max. depth Unknown
Surface elevation 2,730 m (8,960 ft)
Islands Yes, floating island
References Himachal Pradesh Tourism Dep.
Prashar Lake in Feb 2014. Ground is covered with snow and the lake is frozen.

Prashar Lake[lower-alpha 1] lies 49 km north of Mandi, Himachal Pradesh, India, with a three storied pagoda-like temple dedicated to the sage Prashar.

Details

The lake is located at a height of 2730 m above sea level. With deep blue waters, the lake is held sacred to the sage Prashar and he is regarded to have meditated there. Surrounded by snow-capped peaks and looking down on the fast flowing river Beas, the lake can be approached via Drang. There is a round, floating island inside the lake, which is a common natural phenomenon found all around the world. It is composed of plant matter in various stages of decomposition, and is held aloft by the oxygen in its plants' roots.The floating land moves in all directions in the lake. The floating land covers 7% of area of lake whereas water is with 93%.

The temple was built in the thirteenth century and legend has it was built by a baby from a single tree. The lake has a floating island in it and it is said to be unclear how deep it is, with a diver not being able to determine its depth.[1]

Mysterious Story

It is believed that Sage Prashar meditated on the banks of this lake, hence it is named as Prashar Lake. Bhima, one of the Pandava brothers, had created the lake. The story says, after the Kurukshetra / Mahabharat war, Pandavas were returning with Lord Kamrunag. When they reach this place, Kamrunag loves the tranquil surroundings and decides to live here forever. So, Bheem (the strongest of the lot) rams his elbow on one of the mountains and creates a big dent in the land. This dent became Prashar Lake.[2]

Till now no one has been able to find out the depth of Prashar Lake.

Notes

  1. ↑ Also known as Parashar Lake.

References

  1. ↑ "Temples in the Clouds", film by Jim Mallinson and Chicco Patuzzi, 2008, http://www.filmsouthasia.org/archive/details.php?id=1016
  2. ↑ Lake
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