Tibet

Sacred places by Lake Namtso

Tibetan sea

Petr Liška
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Sacred places by Lake Namtso
Inserted: 05.02.2014
© gigaplaces.com

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.

Guest houses
Author: © gigaplaces.com

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.

Life in the tourist village
Author: Jiří Klečák © gigaplaces.com

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.

View to the lake
Author: © gigaplaces.com

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.

Sacred rocks
Author: © gigaplaces.com

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.

At sacred rocks
Author: © gigaplaces.com

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

The shrine in the caves
Author: © gigaplaces.com

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 :-)

Namtso
Author: © gigaplaces.com

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).

Nyenchen Tanglha
Author: Jiří Klečák © gigaplaces.com

Walks along the lake

The shortest possible trip is the along the „beach“ directly below the tourist village.

Walks along the lake
Author: © gigaplaces.com

Ride on yak

One of the popular activities on the shore of the lake are yak rides.

Ride on yak
Author: Jiří Klečák © gigaplaces.com

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…

Other trips from the lake
Author: © gigaplaces.com
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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

Trip to lake Namtso
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