Namtso Lake
Sacred Lake Of Tibetan Buddhism; Namtso Nature Reserve · Lhasa, Tibet
A vast turquoise lake at about 4,718 metres on the Changtang plateau north of Lhasa, one of the highest large lakes on earth and one of the three holiest lakes of Tibet. Namtso, meaning Heavenly Lake, stretches some 70 km beneath the snow-capped Nyenchen Tanglha range, whose peaks reach over 7,000 metres, and its water shifts from deep blue to emerald with the passing clouds. Tibetan pilgrims walk the shoreline koras, above all at the Tashi Dor peninsula, where weathered limestone rocks, meditation caves, mani stone walls and prayer flags crowd the shore, and a pair of standing rocks is said to guard the lake. Nomad herders graze yaks on the surrounding grasslands, and in winter the lake freezes solid. The drive from Lhasa crosses the Largen La pass at over 5,000 metres, making Namtso one of the most dramatic day trips on the plateau - and one of the most demanding on the body. Like all of Tibet, it is visited by foreigners only on agency tours with a Tibet Travel Permit.
Tashi Dor Peninsula, Namtso Scenic Area, Damxung County, Lhasa, Tibet, China
Scenic area open in daylight; main season May-October. Winter access limited by cold and snow on the passes. Agency tours with permits only.