Sacred places by Lake Namtso
Tibetan sea
Namtso (4 729 m asl) is the largest lake lying in the Autonomous Republic of Tibet and also one of the highest located lakes in the world. It also boasts with beautiful mountain views thanks to seven thousand high mountains range Nyenchen Tanglha (Nyainqêntanglha) stretching to the south of the lake. Locals see it as a sacred lake since groups of pilgrims from all over Tibet have been coming here in ancient times. Unfortunately, due to asphalt road over the pass Laken la (5 190 m asl) it became the favorite destination of mass travelers, mostly Chinese, which takes away the romance from this place a little. Fortunately, it is possible to walk around the surroundings, which is a little bit freer.
Guest houses
Once you finish a nice drive from Lhasa across the pass Laken la to the lake, you will be accommodated in one of the guest houses directly under the sacred rocks just off the shores of the lake. If you want to bypass the lake, you would need to walk more than 250 kilometers, because the lake is really huge. But almost 99% hikers watch the lake from the sacred peninsula at its southeastern end. Guest houses are basically just cardboard buildings, but they look as large tents from distance, so the look is not so bad.
Life in the tourist village
There is quite bustle and hustle all around. There are not only tourists, but also dogs, yaks, horses and other animals. Also sellers of souvenirs and even ordinary Tibetans come here to pray.
View to the lake
From the tourist village it is about a half a kilometer walk down a small hill to the shore of the lake. Even so, the tourists usually have problems with walking at this altitude.
Sacred rocks
Pilgrims were always attracted to the interesting rock formations along the banks of the lake. They are now all hung with prayer flags. Of course there are also prayer wheels.
At sacred rocks
You will meet Tibetans at the sacred rocks. Overall, this place has an interesting atmosphere. It would be interesting to see it here a century ago.
The shrine in the caves
Small rock massif lying in the middle of this peninsula is literally threaded with small caves, which became small shrines over the time. The name of the monastery is a Tashi Do
Namtso
The lake itself has an amazing color and looking to the southwest, you can enjoy views of the mountains range Nyenchen Tanglha. You can increase your bathing altitude record here :-)
Nyenchen Tanglha
Southern horizon is dominated by four top ridge of Nyenchen Tanglha (name is the same as the whole mountain range), all of whose tops have over seven thousand meters above sea level. The highest has (7 162 m asl) and is one of the highest mountains in the „interior“ of Tibet (except for the main Himalayan ridge).
Walks along the lake
The shortest possible trip is the along the „beach“ directly below the tourist village.
Ride on yak
One of the popular activities on the shore of the lake are yak rides.
Other trips from the lake
If you are not satisfied just with a short walk along the beach at the lake, there is the possibility to undertake two other trips. First, you can bypass the whole peninsula along the lake, or walk along the ridge, which is perfect at sunrise. However, more about these trips will follow in separate photoreports…
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Article: Trip to lake Namtso
Very nice two days trip from Lhasa leads to, for Tibetan sacred, lake Namtso surrounded by six thousand meters high mountains. If… continue reading
