Tibet’s Lucky Charm- The Yamdrok Yumtso Lake

Have you ever wondered about the beauty of nature in all its magnificence? I know I have. And when it’s something as breathtaking as Yamdrok Yumtso Lake in Tibet, you know for sure that God had a hand in its creation. The lake is located about 100 kilometres southwest of the capital of Tibet, Lhasa, and is known to be the largest freshwater lake at the south foot of the Himalayan Range.

 

Legendary Tales

 

Tibetans believe that like their mountains their lakes too are sacred, and are the dwelling place of protective deities. Yamdrok Yumtso Lake is one of the three holiest lakes in Tibet. The main reason why it is known as the holy lake is because it can help people find the Dalai Lama’s reincarnation. Everyone from the Dalai Lama to local villagers makes pilgrimages here every year. These followers walk all the way around the Lake, a journey that can take up to one month on horseback. Some start on foot from hundreds of kilometres away and give one prostration every three steps! Legend has it that the lake was a fairy that descended to earth. Her husband followed and transformed into Mt. Kampala. According to an old saying “If its waters dry, Tibet will no longer exist”. Pilgrims believe that the lake has magical powers and can make the old look young again, give the middle-aged a longer life, and make children smarter.

 

The Most Beautiful Lake in the World

This salt water lake is surrounded by snow-peaked mountains and is fed by many small streams, thawing snow and icebergs. It is 638 square kilometres in size, extending 130 kilometres from east to west and 70 kilometres from north to south, with a maximum depth of 60 metres. The lake has more than 10 islands; the large ones can accommodate up to 5 to 6 households while the small ones are only about 100 square metres. Whoever has been here is awestruck by her beauty. No wonder it is regarded as the most beautiful lake in the world. A photographer’s dream, this turquoise blue lake is often known as a fairyland by Tibetans and has some vivid names like Coral Lake or Green Jade Lake. Since Yamdrok Yumtso Lake has many short streams winding into nearby mountains that appear to look like a coral, it is nicknamed Coral Lake of the Highlands. The name ‘Green Jade’ is derived from its clear water and surface as smooth as of fine jade. Every year in mid-November, the lake begins to freeze and the ice can be as thick as 0.5 metres (1.6 feet).

 

A Must-See Tourist Attraction

The picturesque Yamdrok Yumtso Lake has an abundant aquatic life and its surrounding pastures are ideal for animals and birds to flourish. An added attraction for tourists visiting during the winter months is the flocks of birds gathering here. One can see swans, pigeons, yellow ducks, cormorants and bar-headed geese in large numbers. It is also a common sight for herdsmen to bring their flocks of sheep to the islets in the lake during herding season, and leave them to graze until the onset of winter.

The fascinating beauty of Tibet has attracted travellers for centuries, and the Yamdrok Yumtso Lake is the perfect example of this. Come, see for yourself.