Yamdrok Yumtso and Samding Monastery

Yamdrok Yumtso and Samding Monastery – Brief Introduction of Yamdrok Yumtso

Yamdrok Yumtso is also noted as Yamdrok Lake. It is located between the Gangpara Mountain and the Karela Mountain. With an altitude of 4446 meters, Yamdrok Lake covers an area of nearly 700 square kilometers. It is the largest inland lake at the northern foot of the Himalayas. Yamdrok Yumtso is a salt lake with low concentration and the water depth in the lake is 30-40 meters. Noted as one of the three holy lakes on Tibet Plateau, Yamdrok Yumtso enjoys the same status with the Lake Manasarovar in Ngari Prefecture and Namtso Lake in Ngaqu Prefecture. Yamdrok Lake is a closed lake, its amazing balance between the snow melt water and evaporation capacity leave scientists deep impression.

The water in Yamdrok Yumtso is pretty clear and many species of fish living in the lake, including the precious brachymystax lenok and the Tibetan achizopygopsis. The flourishing pasture decorated with running sheep by Yamdrok Yumtso is always the scenery in visitors' camera. The highest pumped storage power plant above the sea level – Yamdrok Power Plant is located at here. This power plant plays important role in providing energy for Tibetans in southern Tibet.

Tourists planning to pay a visit to Yamdrok Lake from Lhasa during the Tibet Tour have to climb over the Gangpara Mountain Pass with an altitude of 5030 meters. That mountain pass is the best point to take an overview of the beautiful holy lake and also the best photographing site. The blue water will present different colors in different hours of a day under the sunshine. Tourists who've visited both Namtso Lake and Yamdrok Lake said that visitors would always get impressed by the magnificence of Namtso Lake and surprised by the grace of Yamdrok Yumtso.

Yamdrok Yumtso and Samding Monastery – Brief Introduction of Samding Monastery

In addition to enjoying the breathtaking natural scenery of Yamdrok Lake, tourists making a Tibet tour here could also pay a visit to the ancient Samding Monastery which is located on the rare-visited peninsula on the southeastern bank of Yamdrok Lake. Samding Monastery is about 10 kilometers away from the Langkatze County Seat. According to historical record, Samding Monastery has a history of more than 300 years. The living Buddha incarnation system in this monastery has succeeded for 12 generations.

Be different from the other monasteries in Tibet, Samding Monastery is a monastery for both lamas and nuns. It should be noted that Samding Monastery is the sole monastery which is managed by female living Buddha in Tibet.

Transportation to Yamdrok Lake and Samding Monastery

Yamdrok Yumtso belongs to Shannan Prefecture geologically. But most tourists would like to visit the holy lake on their way to Shigatse. There is no shuttle bus between Lhasa and Yamdrok Lake Scenic Spot. It would be an intelligent decision to rent a vehicle from Lhasa. There are two roads between Lhasa and Shigatse. Mostly, tourists will choose the southern route for sightseeing at Yamdrok Lake on the way to Shigatse and choose the northern route on the way back to Lhasa so as to save time.