Tsongmo Lake (also called
Changu Lake or
Tsomgo Lake) is a large
lake in the East Sikkim district of the
Indian state of
Sikkim.
Etymologically "Tso" means
lake and
"Mgo" means
head, thus literally meaning "source of the lake" in the
Bhutia language. The
cerulean lake is about forty kilometres away from the capital
Gangtok at an altitude of 3,780&_160;m (12,400&_160;feet). It is oval-shaped, with a length of about one kilometre and has an average depth of fifteen metres. The
tarn with its refulgent waters is situated on the Gangtok-
Nathula route.
Tsongmo lake is declared a sacred lake by the local Buddhist and Hindu population. During the winter months, the lake freezes over. It is fed by the melting snow during the summer months from May to August. Flora around the lake include the rhododendron, the state tree, primulas, iris and poppies. The Brahminy ducks, red panda and migratory birds frequent the lake. Due to the heavy promotion of tourism in the state, many locals have set up shop here offering yak rides, yak cheese, trinkets, and local curios.
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