The Three Divine Lakes Of Sikkim, India

Gurudongmar Lake

The spectacular Gurudongmar Lake is one of the world’s highest lakes. It lies at an altitude of 17,800 feet in Sikkim. The lake has high religious significance since it is considered to be sacred by both Sikhs and Buddhists. 

The lake is named after the founder of the Tibetan Buddhism, Guru Padmasambhava who visited the lake in the 8th century. According to fables, the Gurudongmar Lake is one of the 108 holy lakes or “Tso-Chen" of Denjong (Sikkim) and the abode of local guardian deities. It is also said that Guru Padmasambhava, in order to satisfy the thirst of the local people, placed his hands on the frozen lake to trigger a miracle. The lake stopped freezing in winter and the people could drink its water. The lake is also blessed by Guru Nanak, the founder of Sikhism. 

The lake is fed by glaciers and gives rise to a stream which joins the Tso Lahmu that finally joins the Teesta River. The lake remains frozen from November to mid-May. The Gurudongmar Lake encompasses an area of 118 hectares but only a small section of the lake is visible from the place where devotees offer worship. Yaks, blue sheep, and other Himalayan wildlife inhabit the region around the lake.

The Gurudongmar Lake is about 5 km to the south of India’s border with China. The lake is about 190 km away from Gangtok and is accessed by a scenic and dramatic route via a terrain of rugged mountains, moraines, and alpine pastures. Indian tourists are allowed to visit the lake without much ado but foreigners need special permit from the government to visit this lake. 

Khecheopalri Lake

Khecheopalri Lake, also named as the Kha-Chot-Palri, is located in the proximity of Sikkim’s Khecheopalri village, 147 km west of Sikkim’s capital city of Gangtok. The lake is held sacred by both Hindus and Buddhists. The  Khechoedpaldri hill surrounding the lake is also held to be sacred. The lake is part of the Buddhist religious pilgrimage circuit and is thus visited by many pilgrims along with ordinary tourists. The lake is often described as a “wish-fulfilling lake” by those who have faith in the lake’s miraculous powers. The lake is associated with many local and religious fables and legends. 

The Khecheopalri Lake was formed as a result of the scooping action of glaciers about 3,500 years back. Two perennial and five non-perennial streams feed the lake which has only a single outlet. A dense forest cover of bamboo and temperate vegetation encloses the lake. The Lepchas are the main ethnic groups living in the region around the Khecheopalri Lake. Several species of fish inhabit the lake. A large number of birds like the common teal, grebe, white-breasted waterhen, tufted duck, little cormorant, etc., also visit the lake. 

The Khecheopalri Lake is currently threatened with degradation due to the rising pressures from tourism in the region. Offerings made on the lake by the pilgrims also pollute the lake. The local population is also rising and natural resources around the lake are being gradually depleted. Several measures have been thus introduced to ensure the tourists enjoy the beauty of the lake and the pilgrims make their offerings without adversely affecting the lake habitat.

Tsomgo Lake/Changu Lake

A popular tourist destination in Sikkim, the Tsomgo Lake or the  Changu Lake is a glacial lake located in East Sikkim. It is about 40 km away from the capital of the state, Gangtok. The lake is located at an altitude of 12,313 feet and freezes during winter. Like many other lakes in Sikkim, the Changu Lake held sacred by the locals of the region. With changing seasons, the lake reflects changing colors which adds to the special qualities of the lake. 

The Changu Lake is surrounded by tall and steep Himalayan mountains. The snow of these snow-clad mountains thaws to some extent during summer acting as the source of water of the lake. The Changu Lake occupies an area of 24.47 hectares and has a maximum depth of 49 feet. 

The Tsomgo Lake serves as the venue of the Guru Purnima festival of the Sikhs when faith healers assemble in the region to derive powers from the lake waters. The lake is surrounded by stretches of alpine forests. The scenic bloom of flowers like yellow poppies, irises, rhododendrons in the lake habitat at about mid-May is a sight to behold. Animals like the red panda and several species of birds can be observed near the lake area. 

Tourists visiting the  Changu Lake enjoy observing the beauty of the place, take rides on yak and mules offered by the locals, and taste local cuisines at kisoks set up on the banks of the lake. The lake can be visited by Indian tourists with ordinary permits while foreign tourists require special permits to visit the lake.