'Manimahesh Lake pilgrims to have more facilities next year

The Chamba district administration has decided to build over 250 semi-permanent toilets for pilgrims to the Manimahesh Lake, one of the major pilgrimage spots in Himachal Pradesh.

The project would be funded by the Manimahesh Trust and completed before the annual pilgrimage begins next year, said Bharmour Additional District Magistrate (ADM) Prithi Pal Singh, who is also the Trust's chairperson.

The Manimahesh Lake is situated 26 kilometers from Bharmour in the Budhil valley.

The lake is situated at an altitude of 13,000 feet. Every year, on the eighth day of 'Bhadon' month of the Hindi calendar, a fair is held at the lake, with thousands of pilgrims assembling to take a holy dip.

This year, the yatra to Manimahesh Lake began on September 3 and ended on September 17.

The Bharmour ADM said the Trust would be building toilets at various halting points en route the Lake, including Dhanchho and Gauri Kund, besides providing for other arrangements for the pilgrims.

This year, the Manimahesh Trust had an income of over Rs 14 lakh from the donations by pilgrims, he said.