Tsomgo Lake, also known as Tsongmo Lake or Changgu Lake, is a glacial lake in Changu in the Gangtok district of the Indian state of Sikkim, some 40 kilometres (25 mi) from the capital Gangtok. Located at an elevation of 3,753 m (12,313 ft), the lake remains frozen during the winter season. The lake surface reflects different colours with change of seasons and is held in great reverence by the local Sikkimese people. Buddhist monks prognosticated after studying the changing colours of the lake.
In Sikkimese language the name Tsomgo is made of two words 'Tso' meaning "lake" and 'Mgo' meaning "head" which gives the literal meaning as "source of the lake".[3]
Topographyedit
The lake is surrounded by steep mountains which are covered with snow during winter. During summer the snow cover melts and forms the source for the lake.[1] The lake which remains frozen in winter season, sometimes extending up to May, receives an average annual precipitation of 1,183 millimetres (46.6 in) with temperatures recorded in the range of 0–25 °C (32–77 °F). [3]
The lake is about 40 kilometres (25 mi) away from Gangtok on the Gangtok-Nathula highway.[3] Further, the road to Nathu La skirts the lake on the north side. The Chinese border crossing is only some 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) east-northeast in a straight line, but some 18 kilometres (11 mi) by road.[4]
Featuresedit
Sign for Tsomgo Lake
The lake is formed in an oval shape and has a surface area of 24.47 hectares (60.5 acres). The maximum length of the lake is 836 metres (2,743 ft) and has a maximum width of 427 metres (1,401 ft). The maximum depth reported is 15 metres (49 ft) while the average depth is 4.58 metres (15.0 ft). The lake water quality is of moderate turbidity.[3]
The lake is the venue for the Guru Purnima festival which is also the Raksha Bandhan festival when the faith healers known as Jhakris of Sikkim assemble at the lake area to derive benefits from the healing qualities of the lake waters.[1]
Alpine forests cover the catchment of the lake.[5] After the winter season ends in middle of May, the periphery of lake has scenic blooms of flower species of rhododendrons (the state tree of Sikkim), primulas, blue and yellow poppies, irises and so forth. Also seen in the precincts of the lake are several species of birds including Brahminy ducks. Wildlife seen includes the red panda.[2][3]
Tourist attractions at the lake site include joy rides on decorated yaks and mules where kiosks offer variety of food and drinks.[1] There is also a small Shiva temple on the bank of the lake.[2]
Entry permitsedit
As the lake is located in a restricted area it is essential for all Indians visiting the area to obtain permits. In case of foreign nationals special permit is essential.[2]
It is one of the biggest tourism draws in the Eastern Himalayan state of Sikkim receiving around 300,000 (3 lakh) tourists annually. The best time to visit the lake is January to March.[9]
Referencesedit
^ abcd"Tsomgo (Changu) Lake". Sikkim Tourism:Government of Sikkim.
^deBruyn, Pippa; Bain, Keith; Venkatram, Niloufer; Joshi, Shonar (4 March 2008). Frommer's India (Frommer's Complete). Hoboken, New Jersey, USA: Frommer's. p. 586. ISBN978-0-470-16908-7. Retrieved 29 November 2009.
^O'Neill, A. R. (2019). "Evaluating high-altitude Ramsar wetlands in the Sikkim Eastern Himalayas". Global Ecology and Conservation. 20 (e00715): 19. doi:10.1016/j.gecco.2019.e00715.
^"Changu Lake stamp and Sikkim Philately". Sikkimphilatelic Society.
^"Documents signed between India and China during Prime Minister Vajpayee's visit to China". Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India. 23 June 2003. Retrieved 27 March 2021.
^Acharya, Alka (2008). China & India: Politics of Incremental Engagement. Har-Anand Publications. p. 134. ISBN978-81-241-1442-1.
^"Darjeeling and Sikkim Tourism places have the most beautiful sights for 2021 trip". Retrieved 12 June 2021.
Tsomgo Lake travel guide - Permit Regulations Climate Temperature
Bibliographyedit
Kar, Devashish (28 January 2014). Wetlands and Lakes of the World. Springer Science & Business Media. ISBN978-81-322-1023-8.
March 16, 2024
lake, tsomgo, tsomgo, lake, also, known, tsongmo, lake, changgu, lake, glacial, lake, changu, gangtok, district, indian, state, sikkim, some, kilometres, from, capital, gangtok, located, elevation, lake, remains, frozen, during, winter, season, lake, surface, . Tsomgo Lake also known as Tsongmo Lake or Changgu Lake is a glacial lake in Changu in the Gangtok district of the Indian state of Sikkim some 40 kilometres 25 mi from the capital Gangtok Located at an elevation of 3 753 m 12 313 ft the lake remains frozen during the winter season The lake surface reflects different colours with change of seasons and is held in great reverence by the local Sikkimese people Buddhist monks prognosticated after studying the changing colours of the lake Lake TsomgoChangu LakeLake Tsomgo in Gangtok district Sikkim Lake TsomgoChangu LakeLocation in SikkimLocationChangu Gangtok district SikkimCoordinates27 22 31 N 88 45 50 E 27 37528 N 88 76389 E 27 37528 88 76389Basin countries IndiaMax length836 metres 2 743 ft Max width427 metres 1 401 ft Surface area24 47 hectares 60 5 acres Average depth4 58 metres 15 0 ft average Max depth15 metres 49 ft Surface elevation3 753 metres 12 313 ft Frozenwinter 1 2 3 Contents 1 Etymology 2 Topography 3 Features 4 Entry permits 5 Border trade market 6 Gallery 7 See also 8 Tourist Attraction 9 References 10 BibliographyEtymology editIn Sikkimese language the name Tsomgo is made of two words Tso meaning lake and Mgo meaning head which gives the literal meaning as source of the lake 3 Topography editThe lake is surrounded by steep mountains which are covered with snow during winter During summer the snow cover melts and forms the source for the lake 1 The lake which remains frozen in winter season sometimes extending up to May receives an average annual precipitation of 1 183 millimetres 46 6 in with temperatures recorded in the range of 0 25 C 32 77 F 3 The lake is about 40 kilometres 25 mi away from Gangtok on the Gangtok Nathula highway 3 Further the road to Nathu La skirts the lake on the north side The Chinese border crossing is only some 5 kilometres 3 1 mi east northeast in a straight line but some 18 kilometres 11 mi by road 4 Features edit nbsp Sign for Tsomgo LakeThe lake is formed in an oval shape and has a surface area of 24 47 hectares 60 5 acres The maximum length of the lake is 836 metres 2 743 ft and has a maximum width of 427 metres 1 401 ft The maximum depth reported is 15 metres 49 ft while the average depth is 4 58 metres 15 0 ft The lake water quality is of moderate turbidity 3 The lake is the venue for the Guru Purnima festival which is also the Raksha Bandhan festival when the faith healers known as Jhakris of Sikkim assemble at the lake area to derive benefits from the healing qualities of the lake waters 1 Alpine forests cover the catchment of the lake 5 After the winter season ends in middle of May the periphery of lake has scenic blooms of flower species of rhododendrons the state tree of Sikkim primulas blue and yellow poppies irises and so forth Also seen in the precincts of the lake are several species of birds including Brahminy ducks Wildlife seen includes the red panda 2 3 Tourist attractions at the lake site include joy rides on decorated yaks and mules where kiosks offer variety of food and drinks 1 There is also a small Shiva temple on the bank of the lake 2 Entry permits editAs the lake is located in a restricted area it is essential for all Indians visiting the area to obtain permits In case of foreign nationals special permit is essential 2 Indian Postal Service released a commemorative stamp on the lake on 6 November 2006 6 Border trade market editThe nearby habitation of Changgu was declared a border trade market in 2003 7 8 nbsp nbsp 1 5km1mile nbsp Gnathang nbsp Sherathang nbsp Thegu nbsp Manju Lake nbsp Jelep La nbsp Changgu nbsp Nathu La nbsp ChangguGallery edit nbsp Tsongmo Lake January 2014 nbsp Tsomgo Lake nbsp Tsongmo Lake in Winter nbsp Tsomgo Lake in April 2017 nbsp Tsomgo Lake in October nbsp Tsomgo Lake in April 2019See also edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Tsomgo Lake Tilicho Lake Gurudongmar Lake Nathu LaTourist Attraction editIt is one of the biggest tourism draws in the Eastern Himalayan state of Sikkim receiving around 300 000 3 lakh tourists annually The best time to visit the lake is January to March 9 References edit a b c d Tsomgo Changu Lake Sikkim Tourism Government of Sikkim a b c d Tsomgo Lake National Informatics Centre a b c d e f Kar 2014 p 101 deBruyn Pippa Bain Keith Venkatram Niloufer Joshi Shonar 4 March 2008 Frommer s India Frommer s Complete Hoboken New Jersey USA Frommer s p 586 ISBN 978 0 470 16908 7 Retrieved 29 November 2009 O Neill A R 2019 Evaluating high altitude Ramsar wetlands in the Sikkim Eastern Himalayas Global Ecology and Conservation 20 e00715 19 doi 10 1016 j gecco 2019 e00715 Changu Lake stamp and Sikkim Philately Sikkimphilatelic Society Documents signed between India and China during Prime Minister Vajpayee s visit to China Ministry of External Affairs Government of India 23 June 2003 Retrieved 27 March 2021 Acharya Alka 2008 China amp India Politics of Incremental Engagement Har Anand Publications p 134 ISBN 978 81 241 1442 1 Darjeeling and Sikkim Tourism places have the most beautiful sights for 2021 trip Retrieved 12 June 2021 Tsomgo Lake travel guide Permit Regulations Climate TemperatureBibliography editKar Devashish 28 January 2014 Wetlands and Lakes of the World Springer Science amp Business Media ISBN 978 81 322 1023 8 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Lake Tsomgo amp oldid 1212525088, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
