Lhanag-tso Lake

Lhanag-tso Lake is also regarded as the ghost lake by local people, and also named Rakshas which literally means "toxic black lake" in Tibetan language. It is situated in Pulan County of Ngari Prefecture, 4574 meters high. It is apart from Manasarovar Lake (Lake Mapam Yumco) with a road. Lhanag-tso is salt water lake which can not be drunk by people and animals. That may be the reason why people called it "ghost lake".

Lhanag-tso Lake is usually appreciated by tourists on the way to Ngari with Manasarovar Lake (Lake Mapam Yunco) together. The different charming scenery and fantastic legends of these two lakes shocked and surprised tourists deeply but also attract large numbers of people from home and abroad to visit every year.

Lhanag-tso Lake - Brief Introduction

Lhanag-tso Lake is actually an attraction nearby Manasarovar Lake (Lake Mapam Yunco) with amazing scenery, fresh air, snow mountains, and blue water. Why people called it ghost lake?

As a matter of fact, Manasarovar Lake (Lake Mapam Yunco) and Lhanag-tso were both one lake in old times. Due to the climatic change, shrunken lake, and descending water surface, a little narrow hill appeared and separated these two lakes.

Local people thought that the bottom of these two lakes is still interlinked. If the water of Manasarovar Lake (Lake Mapam Yunco) flows into Lhanag-tso Lake with golden fish and blue fish, the water of Lhanag-tso will be changed sweet, too.

Lhanag-tso Lake - Attraction

Lhanag-tso Lake is apart from Manasarovar Lake (Lake Mapam Yunco) with a road which is the only way which must be passed. It is said that there is wave of 3 feet high without any wind in Lhanag-tso Lake. In fact, the scenery here is very beautiful and amazing, dark red small mountains are surrounded on the side, and the pebble beach looks like a bright silver silk overspreading along the lakeside.

Walking along the Lhanag-tso lake, people will find it strange and interesting that there are no people except themselves, no animals. The coverage of Lhanag-tso Lake is large and vast, but no vitality there, which feel like standing on the edge of the universe.

Lhanag-tso Lake - Highlights

The water of Manasarovar Lake (Lake Mapam Yunco) is different from it of the Lhanag-tso Lake, the former one is fresh and sweet but the latter one is bitter and astringent. It is said that there is a universe door at the bottom of Lhanag-tso Lake, which connects Manasarovar Lake (Lake Mapam Yunco) successfully.

There is a canal connected these two lakes even though it is always sere without any water. Because it is so sere that becomes the road between the two lakes. But local people believe that the water, the golden fish and red fish will flow into Lhanag-tso Lake one day. At that time, the water of Lhanag-tso Lake will be also sweet and fresh.

We could have a view of that canal standing in Gyiwu Village. The canal is so slender, twists and turns, that looks like charming and enchanting.

Lhanag-tso Lake - Transportation

Lhanag-tso Lake have a chance to be appreciated by tourists on the way to Pulan County from Mt. Kailash or Manasarovar Lake (Lake Mapam Yunco). The road is lesser than 1 kilometer away from Lhanag-tso Lake.

Lhanag-tso Lake - Accommodation

There is a small village at the foot of Wusi Mountain about 30 kilometers away from the Lhanag-tso Lake. The guesthouses in the small village provide very simple food and general facilities in the room. You'd better take some food in advance.

Or there are some hostels in Pulan County such as Shanxi Restaurant. It is much safety and healthier.

Lhanag-tso Lake - Travel Tips

A. There are some other attractions nearby Lhanag-tso Lake such as Manasarovar Lake (Lake Mapam Yunco), Pulan County and kegya Monastery.

B. It is about 60 kilometers of a circumambulate of the Manasarovar Lake (Lake Mapam Yunco). It usually take 2-3 days of walking a circle of the holy lake.