High on a forested ridge in Mandi district lies a small, oval lake that locals will tell you holds one of the Himalaya's great secrets: a fortune in gold and silver, resting undisturbed beneath the water. This is Kamrunag Lake, and the story behind it is as old as the Mahabharata.
The legend of Dev Kamrunag
At the lake's edge stands a roofless stone shrine to Dev Kamrunag, revered across the Mandi region as a rain god and a guardian of justice — one of the valley's most powerful deities. Legend links him to a Yaksha king of the Mahabharata; some tellings say the lake itself was made by the Pandava Bhima in the deity's honour. For centuries, pilgrims have offered coins of gold and silver to the water as a mark of devotion. Nobody disturbs them. Over generations, the belief goes, these offerings have settled into a vast sunken treasure — protected not by locks but by faith.
The lake and the trek
Kamrunag sits at about 3,334 m, ringed by oak and pine. The classic approach is a forest trek of roughly 6–7 km from the village of Rohanda, which takes around three to four hours of steady climbing. The trail is beautiful but genuinely uphill, so a reasonable level of fitness helps. Near the lake, the roofless shrine and its simple surroundings feel wonderfully remote — the deity, famously, has no roof over his head.
- The great annual gathering is the Kamrunag Mela on 14–15 June, when thousands of pilgrims climb up to offer prayers, flowers and coins.
- This is an active place of worship. Dress modestly, remove your shoes near the shrine, follow local custom (leather items are often kept away from the deity), and do not touch or attempt to retrieve anything from the water.
How to reach Kamrunag from Naggar
Kamrunag is a committed trip rather than a quick outing. Rohanda, the trailhead, is about 46 km from Mandi town, on the Mandi–Karsog side of the district. From Naggar you would drive south to Mandi and on towards Rohanda — a long half-day of road — so it works best as an overnight or two-day journey, staying near Mandi or Karsog before an early-morning trek. Carry your own water and snacks; there are only basic tea stalls on the route, and none reliably open off-season.
Best time to go
May to October is the window. The lake and the high ridge are snowbound and largely inaccessible in deep winter. June, around the mela, is the most atmospheric — but also the busiest. For quiet, aim for September or early October, when the forest is green, the air is clear, and the trail is at its loveliest.
Kamrunag rewards the traveller willing to walk and to wonder. If you would like a calm, welcoming base to plan a bigger Mandi adventure from, Ghar in the Hills is a cozy homestay right in Naggar — book your stay and we will happily help you sketch out the route.