Kush Kalyan - Sahastra tal Trek Overview

Sahastratal is also known as Shastru Tal. 'Shastru' means seven in the local dialect and 'Tal' means Lake. All these lakes are located close to the ridge line, unlike other lakes which are found in the valleys. This ridgeline separates the Bhagirathi valley from Bhilangana river and also acts as a boundary between the Uttarkashi and the Tehri districts of Garhwal. These lakes are considered holy and worshipped by people from both districts. The trek leading to lakes goes through a region called Kush Kalyan and hence the name is Kush Kalyan - Sahastra tal Trek. This remote trek begins from the small village of Silla and goes through mixed Himalayan forests of oak, rhododendron, pine and walnut and has some steep sections before the tree line ends. Then the trek goes through the meadow of Kush Kalyan which is connected to another meadow called Kyarki Bugyal via a steep ridge. The trek gains altitude towards the end and reaches the foot of high mountains where all the lakes are situated. Apart from Shashtru Peak that stands as the backdrop for Sahastratal Lake, trekkers also get stunning views of many peaks such as Gangotri group, Jaonli, Srikanth and those of Bandarpunch range. On the way back, trekkers descend into the Bhilangana valley after crossing Kush Kalyan and finally finish the trek in the Tehri district.