Yamdrok Lake – Scenery, Legend

Yamdrok Lake, also named Yamdrok Yumco, is located in Nagarzê County, Shannan Prefecture. It is about 70 kilometers away from southwest of Lhasa. The area of Yamdrok Lake is 678 square meters, and the altitude of the lake surface is 4414 meters. It is named three holy lakes in Tibet with Lake Namtso and Lake Manasarovar. As the largest inland river on northern foot of the Himalaya Mountains, the scenery of Yamdrok Lake is the most beautiful in Northern Tibet.

Yamdrok Lake – Scenery

Yamdrok Lake is praised as the most beautiful water in the world. The "yam" means "upper"; "drok" means pasture; "yum" means jade; and "co" means "lake". Hence, the pearl on plateau - Yamdrok Lake means "the upper lake as green as jade on pasture". In Tibetans' hearts, the Yamdrok Lake is regarded as "the turquoise eardrop of fairy left on earth". No matter look from which view point, you can not see the whole scene of Yamdrok Lake. The Yamdrok Lake has three sisters. They are Kongmu Co, Chen Co and Bajiu Co. The four sisters of Yamdrok Lake connect with each other in the giant lake basin and form the holy lake. The giant Yamdrok Lake stretches among mountains for over 130 kilometers. You only can find that the shape of Yamdrok Lake is like eardrop inlayed on the ear of mountain on the map or in the sky. With different light in different time, the Yamdrok Lake will show rich blue colors with different levels which are as magical as dream. The scenery of Yamdrok Lake is as beautiful as picture. When you visit the Yamdrok Lake, you will feel like staying in paradise. The Yamdrok Lake is a special natural scenery area integrating plateau lake, snow mountain, island, pasture, hot spring, wild animals, monastery and other landscapes. Near Yamdrok Lake, there is snow covered mountains. The highest altitude of these mountains reached over 7000 meters. The lakes, snow mountains and blue sky fully inosculate as a whole, making people reluctant to leave.

Yamdrok Lake – Legend

The Yamdrok Lake means "jade lake", "swan pool" in Tibetan language. It is one of Tibetan three holy lakes. According to legends, Yamdrok Lake changed from a fairy maiden from heaven.

Based on record, the shape of Yamdrok Lake was like scorpion. It is said that there were nine small lakes. The Dakini Yixi Cuojie worried about that the living creatures in lakes may die for dry. So she threw 350 grams of gold into sky and prayed and recited Mantra. She also connected some small lakes together. The shape of Yamdrok Lake was like the portable iron scorpion of Padmasambhava. There are place names in the basin of Yamdrok Lake related with scorpion, such as Reye Baibiwu, Reyu Qulong Reye on upper stream of the lake. The Reyu is left and right tentacles of scorpion. The Yubuduo Island, which is on the heart place of the scorpion, is with ruins of a small monastery of Nyingma Sect which was built by Renzeng Duoe Jiongnai in middle of 16th century. There is handprint of Padmasambhava near the monastery. On southwest of Yamdrok Lake, there is Samding Monastery. Hence, it is named one of Tibetan three holy lakes.