Key Facts about Chandra River

About Chandra River:

• It is one of the two rivers (other being the Bhaga River) that merge to form the Chenab River in the Lahaul region of Himachal Pradesh.
• Course:
  • Origin: It rises in the snows lying at the base of the main Himalayan range in the Lahaul and Spiti districts, Himachal Pradesh.
  • It flows for a considerable distance along the base of this range in a southeasterly direction before turning completely and taking a south-westerly course in the Spiti Valley.
  • It flows on to merge with the Bhaga River downstream of Keylong.
  • The beautiful Chandra Tal Lake has formed at its source.
• The upper and middle catchments of this river are made up of a topography that has been carved out by glacial action.
• The entire area is a vast, cold desert that receives little or no rain as it lies in the rain shadow of the Pir Panjal range of the Himalayas.
• Throughout its course, the river is fed by a number of glaciers, the biggest being the Shigri on its left bank, and the Samundari on its right. 
• Many small snow-fed tributaries join the Chandra at different places.
• Koksar is the only important human settlement along this river.