Tsomgo Lake
AN ELGIN EXCLUSIVE FEATURE By Ananya Sethi
Tsomgo also known as Changu, is an oval-shaped glacial lake which is a must on every visitor’s itinerary. A 1-hour drive from The Elgin Nor-Khill, Gangtok, the winding road treats you with a scenic natural area that features a lake surrounded with snow-capped mountains. At an elevation of 3753m, the placid lake remains frozen with the area covered in snow during winter and melts during the summer to form a water body.
Only mountains can feel the frozen warmth of the sun through snow’s gentle caress on their peaks. – Ankita
A Tibetan prayer flag is a colourful rectangular cloth, often found strung along trails and peaks in the Himalayas. They are used to bless the surrounding with a positive energy.
In Bhutia language ‘Tso’ refers to the lake and ‘Mgo’ means head, which literally translates to ‘Source of the lake’. Jhakris thus assemble at the lake during Guru Purnima (a festival celebrated in India) to offer prayers and derive benefits and healing qualities of the water. Prior to 1962, this was part of an old trade route between India and China. Mules used to carry loads along this route.
Situated 40kms from Gangtok, Tsomgo offers its famous and traditional yak rides and various eating stalls serving you snacks while you enjoy the scenic blooms of flowers and a variety of bird species which will leave you spellbound. Carry an extra layer to fight the cold, throw a snowball at your friends and take back a truckload of happy memories with you.
