The sacred lakes of Tibet and the culture of circumambulating them: What does "Tso" mean?

Those who have traveled to Tibet are certainly familiar with the word "Tso". From Yamdrok Lake near Lhasa to Pangong Tso Lake on the Sino-Indian border, the journey from one Tso to another seems to be filled with endless lakes.

 The word "tso" means lake in Tibetan. Tibetans generally believe that these lakes are the embodiment of gods, so each lake, large or small, has its own story and legend.

The three holy lakes of Tibet are Namtso, Yamdrok Lake, and Manasarovar. In addition, there are many other lakes worth visiting, such as Rakshastal, known as the "Ghost Lake," Siling Lake, currently the largest lake in Tibet, as well as Pangong Tso, Zharinamtso, Dangra Yumtso, Lhamo Latso, Basum Tso, and Ranwu Lake.

Lake Circumambulation Culture: A Sacred Ritual of the Tibetan People

In Tibet, "circumambulating a lake" is a sacred religious ritual. Believers believe that walking around a lake can cleanse sins and accumulate merit. Tibetans believe that mountains and lakes possess spirits, and circumambulating a lake is a form of worship to the gods and also a form of spiritual practice.

Tibetan Buddhists typically circumambulate the lake clockwise, while Bon followers do so counter-clockwise. The most devout believers will prostrate themselves every three steps to complete the circumambulation, a process requiring immense perseverance and faith.

 A Tibetan proverb says, "Circumambulate the mountain in the Year of the Horse, and circumambulate the lake in the Year of the Sheep." Circumambulating the lake in the Tibetan Year of the Sheep is said to bring ten thousand times more merit than at other times. Therefore, every Year of the Sheep, pilgrims to sacred lakes such as Namtso and Yamdrok Lake crowd the shores.

Comparison table of major holy lakes in Tibet

Lake Name	Altitude (meters)	Area (approximately)	Water quality type	Distance from Lhasa (approximately)	Tour Difficulty
Namtso	4718	1920 km²	saltwater	240 km	★★★
yamdrok yongtso	4441	638 km²	Slightly salty	100 km	★★
Lake Manasarovar	4588	412 km²	freshwater	1200 km	★★★★★
Basongcuo	3480	27 km²	freshwater	360 km	★
Serlincuo	4530	2391 km²	saltwater	560 km	★★★★
Dangra Yongcuo	4500	835 km²	saltwater	800 km	★★★★★
Ban Gong Cuo	4241	604 km²	East is light, West is salty	1600 km	★★★★★
Lhamo Latso	5300	1 km²	freshwater	350 km	★★★★
Ranwu Lake	3850	22 km²	freshwater	760 km	★★★

Namtso Lake: The world's highest-altitude large lake

Namtso means "Heavenly Lake" in Tibetan, and is called "Tengri Sea" in Mongolian and Manchu. This lake is located between Damxung County and Baingoin County, north of Lhasa, about 240 kilometers from Lhasa, and its surface elevation is 4,718 meters.

The lake stretches 70 kilometers east to west and 30 kilometers north to south, covering an area of approximately 1,920 square kilometers. It was once the largest lake in Tibet, but has since been surpassed by Serling Tso to become the second largest saltwater lake in Tibet. However, it remains...The world's highest lake.

Historical records indicate that this lake resembles the sky descending to earth, hence its name "Heavenly Lake." Local herders also say that because the lake's surface is at an extremely high elevation, it appears to be located in the air, thus earning the name "Heavenly Lake."

To the south of Namtso lies the Nyainqêntanglha Mountains, perpetually covered in snow, while to the north and west are surrounded by high-altitude hills. The vast lakeside grasslands are lush and verdant, and the crystal-clear lake waters create a picturesque scene against the backdrop of the surrounding snow-capped mountains. Three islands dot the lake, and a large peninsula called "Zaxi Peninsula" juts into the southeast.

 The lake freezes over every winter and doesn't completely melt until May of the following year, with the ice period lasting up to six months. 

During the summer, migratory birds such as cormorants, ruddy shelducks, and gulls inhabit and breed on the rocky islands in the lake and the beaches along the shore. Legend has it that Namtso was the daughter of Indra and the wife of Nyainqêntanglha. This goddess was dressed in blue, with one face, two hands, and three eyes. She held a treasure vase in her right hand and a treasure mirror in her left. Her hair was tied in a high bun, with the rest flowing down her back. She was beautiful and charming, and rode a blue dragon.

Practical travel information for Namtso Lake

project	Information
Best viewing time	May to October (Summer weather is pleasant, but heavy snow can easily close roads in winter).
Ticket Reference	Approximately 120 RMB during peak season and approximately 100 RMB during off-season.
Distance from Lhasa	Approximately 240 kilometers
Altitude	4718 meters

The most beautiful water: The Jade Legend of Yamdrok Lake

Yamdrok Lake is hailed as the most beautiful lake in the world. In Tibetan, "Yang" means "above," "Drok" means "pasture," "Yum" means "jade," and "Tso" means "lake." Together, it means "the jade lake of the upper pasture."

This is the literal interpretation, but in the hearts of Tibetans, Yamdrok Lake is regarded as "a turquoise earring dropped by a goddess." No matter the angle, one cannot see the full view of Yamdrok Lake. Its body meanders through the mountains for more than 130 kilometers, and only when viewed from a map or from above can one be surprised to discover that it is like an earring set on the helix of the mountain.

 Under the sunlight at different times, Yamdrok Lake displays an extremely rich variety of blue hues, almost like a dream. 

One of the unique features of Yamdrok Lake is that its water source comes from the snowmelt of the surrounding Nyainqêntanglha Mountains, but it has no outlet. The inflow of snowmelt and natural evaporation achieve a peculiar dynamic balance.

Yamdrok Lake is located in Langkazi County, Shannan Prefecture, Tibet, on the old road from Lhasa to Shigatse. It is known as one of the four major lakes in China, along with Namtso and Manasarovar.The three holy lakes of TibetThe lake is at an altitude of 4,441 meters and covers an area of 638 square kilometers. It can be reached by crossing the Gambala Mountain from Lhasa, a journey of approximately 100 kilometers.

Practical travel information for Yamdrok Lake

project	Information
Best viewing time	April to October (September to November are the best months for clear skies and vibrant colors)
Ticket Reference	Approximately 60 to 120 RMB (seasonal discounts are often available).
Distance from Lhasa	Approximately 100 kilometers
Altitude	4441 meters

Basum Tso, the sacred lake of the Nyingma school: a verdant secret.

Basongcuo Lake, also known as Cuogao Lake, is located in Cuogao Township, Gongbo'gyamda County. It is a famous sacred lake of the Nyingma school (Red Sect) of Tibetan Buddhism and one of the largest freshwater barrier lakes in eastern Tibet.

In Tibetan, Basum Tso means "green water" or "Three Rocks Lake." Surrounded by mountains, the lake enjoys a mild climate and an average elevation of 3,480 meters, making it relatively low and suitable for travelers new to the plateau. The lake is approximately 15 kilometers long, with an average width of 2.5 kilometers and a maximum depth of 166 meters.

Like a piece of jade inlaid in a high mountain valley, Basongcuo Lake has a deep green color and a silk-like luster.

Every year on the 15th day of the fourth month of the Tibetan calendar (around June 1st), locals have the custom of circumambulating the lake. There is a well-known hiking trail along the shore of Cuogao Lake, which usually takes two days to hike. There is no accommodation along the way, so you must bring your own tent.

The island in the middle of the lake is called "Zaxi Island". On the island is "Cuozong Gongba Temple", which was built at the end of the Tang Dynasty. On the south bank, there is a "Child-Seeking Cave" with a magical legend. It is said that this cave was blessed by Guru Rinpoche and that it is very effective for people who pray for children.

Starting from Lhasa, it takes about 4 hours to reach Basongcuo, a journey of about 360 kilometers, all of which is paved road.

Practical travel information for Basongcuo Lake

project	Information
Best viewing time	April to November (peach blossoms in spring, red leaves in autumn)
Ticket Reference	During peak season, it costs approximately 120 RMB plus a sightseeing bus; during off-season, it costs approximately 60 RMB.
Distance from Lhasa	Approximately 360 kilometers
Altitude	3480 meters

Lake Manasarovar: The Source of Four Great Rivers

Lake Manasarovar, meaning "invincible" or "victorious" in Tibetan, is known as the "Sacred Lake." Located between Mount Kailash, the main peak of the Gangdise Mountains, and Mount Namna Nyi in the Himalayas, it belongs to Purang County in the Tibet Autonomous Region.

Lake Manasarovar sits at an altitude of 4,587 meters. Its waters, fed by melting snow and ice from the Gangdise Mountains, are crystal clear, sweet, and pristine. The lake reaches a maximum depth of 81.8 meters, and its center boasts a transparency of up to 14 meters, making it the most transparent lake in China and the highest-altitude freshwater lake in the world.

The Buddhist canon states: "Going north from India, past nine great mountains, there is a great snow mountain, and at the foot of the snow mountain are the sources of four great rivers." The great snow mountain mentioned in the Buddhist scriptures is the sacred Mount Kailash, and the sources of the four great rivers refer to Lake Manasarovar, the mother lake of the holy lakes: the Maquan River to the east, the Peacock River to the south, the Elephant River to the west, and the Lion River to the north.

Lake Manasarovar is about 1200 kilometers away from Lhasa.A loop around the lake is about 90 kilometers.It will take about 4 days.

Practical travel information for Lake Manasarovar

project	Information
Best viewing time	May to October
Ticket Reference	A combined ticket for the sacred mountain and lake costs approximately 200 to 300 RMB.
Distance from Lhasa	Approximately 1200 kilometers
Altitude	4587 meters

Lake Rakshastal: A Mysterious Existence Beside the Sacred Lake

Lake Rakshastal, known as the "Ghost Lake" or "Poisonous Black Lake" in Tibetan, is located in Purang County, Ngari Prefecture, at an altitude of 4,574 meters. It is separated from the freshwater holy lake Lake Manasarovar by only a dike, but it is a slightly saline lake, and its water is undrinkable for both humans and animals. This is probably the origin of its name, "Ghost Lake."

Legend has it that there is a "cosmic gate" at the bottom of the two lakes, Lake Rakshastal and Lake Manasarovar, which secretly connects the waters of the two lakes. The water of the sacred lake is clear and sweet, while the water of the ghost lake is bitter and hard to swallow.

 The opposition of these two poles inevitably brings to mind the symbolism of the deity embracing the mother deity: the spirit of the universe and even an insect is in harmony and unity. Good and evil are inherently opposites, yet here they coexist peacefully. Ghost Lake and Sacred Lake exist beneath the same snow-capped mountain, free from hatred and war, simply guarding each other through countless desolate ages.

Lake Rakshastal, nicknamed "Ghost Lake," is often turbulent even in calm weather, with dark red hills rising from its shores, creating a strange and enigmatic landscape. When Tibetans make pilgrimages to the sacred lake, they also offer more sincere prayers beside the Ghost Lake, reflecting their understanding and compassionate nature.

The Rise of Siling Co, the Largest Lake in Tibet

Serling Tso was once the second largest saltwater lake in Tibet, but in recent years, due to global warming leading to an increase in glacial meltwater, its area has surpassed that of Namtso, making it the largest lake in Tibet.

Lake Serling Tso sits at an altitude of approximately 4,530 meters, covering an area of about 2,391 square kilometers, and is still expanding. It is located at the junction of Shenzha County, Nyima County, and Baingoin County in Nagqu City, northern Tibet, about 560 kilometers from Lhasa.

"Selin" means "Devil's Lake Reflecting Majesty" in Tibetan. Despite its magical name, its scenery is extremely spectacular, with deep and mesmerizing blue waters, earning it the nickname "Sea in the Sky".

This is also the largest black-necked crane nature reserve in northern Tibet, a habitat for many rare plateau wild animals. Every summer, flocks of black-necked cranes, ruddy shelducks, and other migratory birds breed here.

Other Tibetan lakes worth visiting

Pangong Tso: A lake spanning two countries

Pangong Tso is a border lake between China and Kashmir, and one of the very few international lakes in China. What is most peculiar is that the lake is a freshwater lake with abundant aquatic plants within the Chinese territory; however, once it reaches Indian-controlled Kashmir, the lake becomes saltwater and barren.

Dangra Yumco: The largest sacred lake of the Bon religion

Dangra Yumco is the largest sacred lake worshipped by the Bon religion in Tibet, and also the fourth largest lake in Tibet. On its southern shore, Mount Dargo has seven peaks, their bodies dark and their tops covered with white snow, resembling seven neatly arranged pyramids.

Lhamo Latso: The Sacred Lake in Search of the Reincarnated Lama

Lhamo Latso is the most legendary lake in Tibet, meaning "Lake of Auspicious Goddess" in Tibetan. Before searching for the reincarnation of great lamas such as the Dalai Lama and Panchen Lama, people would come here to observe the lake and divine their destiny.

Ranwu Lake: A Pearl on the Sichuan-Tibet Highway

Ranwu Lake, located in Baxu County, Changdu Prefecture, is a shining pearl on the Sichuan-Tibet Highway (National Highway 318). The famous Laigu Glacier extends to the lake's northern edge, offering breathtaking scenery in all four seasons. Admission is free.

Peiku Tso: The Reflection of Shishapangma Peak

Lake Peiku is the largest lake in Shigatse Prefecture, covering an area of approximately 300 square kilometers. Its most remarkable feature is that it is a "semi-freshwater" lake, with freshwater on the south side and saltwater on the north side. It is also an excellent spot for viewing the reflection of Mount Shishapangma.

Frequently Asked Questions about Lake Tibet