Lake Manasarovar

Lake Manasarovar Overview

Chinese Name: 玛旁雍错湖 English IPA: Lake Manasarovar Location: Burang County of Ngari Prefecture in Tibet, South of Mount Kailash Population (city): Language: Zip code: Tel code: Time zone:

Covering more than 400 square kilometers of waters, Lake Manasarovar is the world’s highest freshwater lake which is revered a sacred place in four religions: Bön, Buddhism, Hinduism and Jainism. With 4587 meters above sea level and the average water depth of 46 meters. In the Buddhist scriptures, only a lake is called “mother of the World Rivers”, and that refers to Lake Manasarovar. It means is “invincible lake” in the Tibetan words. According to legend, Lake Manasarovar is the lake in which a great Tibetan monk saw the letters “Aha”, ” Kha”, ” Mha”. These three initials helped the search team to locate the current the 14th Dalai Lama of Tibet. The three initials stand for the province, the district, and the monastery in which the current Dalai Lama was born, i.e. Ahamdho, Khunbum, and Taktser respectively.

Highlights of Lake Manasarovar

Gossul Monastery: On the shore of Lake Manasarovar, this charming 16th-century monastery has been part of the Manasarovar for a long time and can now be reached by road. In the meanwhile, it’s worth visiting the upstairs chapel with its painted stone carvings depicting of Bardo. The monastery was completely destroyed during the Cultural Revolution. Pilgrims stock up on packets of holy Manasarovar sand, incense and natural soap here.

Chiu Monastery: Located in the south of Darchen, Chiu (Sparrow) Monastery enjoys a fabulous location atop a craggy hill overlooking Lake Manasarovar. The main chapel contains the meditation cave and stone footprint of Guru Rinpoche, but most people focus on the lake views and the winding stone staircases of this fairy tale. 

Chiu Hot Springs: If you fancy a relaxing post-Kailash soak, the small hot springs beside Chiu village are piped into clean, private wooden tubs, making this a fine way which spend an hour.

Monasteries: Around the Lake Manasarovar, except Gossul Monastery and Chiu Monastery, there are also other 3 monasteries, Langbona Monastery, Seralung Monastery and Trupo Monastery.

Other Destinations in Lake Manasarovar

    Lake Manasarovar Attractions

    Manasarovar Lake is 35 kilometers east of Burang County, Ngari region, Tibet, south of Mount Kailash. The natural scenery around the lake is very beautiful. Lake Manasarovar is called the "Holy Lake" in Buddhism. Every summer and autumn, Buddhists come to the lake for pilgrimage and bath themselves in the holy water to prolong life. When circumambulating Lake Manasarovar, you will pass 5 Buddhist monasteries along the way: Chiu Monastery, Langbona Monastery, Seralung Monastery, Trupo Monastery, and Gossul Monastery. Tibetan pilgrims always set out from the [...]

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    Lake Manasarovar Tours

    Lake Manasarovar Tour is one of the attractive tours in Tibet, which can provide tourists of stunning views in Tibet. Lake Manasarovar tours are usually include Mount Kailash, Dolma La Pass, Chuku Monastery, Diraphuk Monastery and Zutrulphuk Monastery, as well as are in relation to other Shigatse highlight attractions like Mount Everest and Lhasa highlight attractions like Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple, Drepung Monastery, Barkhor street and the like. Lake Manasarovar is one of famous holy lakes and Buddhist shrines in the world. There are some monasteries like Chiu [...]

    Climate & When to Go

    Manasarovar Lake is 35 kilometers east of Burang County, Ngari region, Tibet, south of Mount Kailash. The natural scenery around the lake is very beautiful.  Geography Manasarovar is the most transparent freshwater lake and the second largest natural freshwater lake in China. It means "undefeated, victorious" in Tibetan Language, known as "Holy Lake." It is located between the main peaks of the Gangdise Mountains-Mount Kailash and Namunani Peak of Himalayas, in Burang County of Tibet Autonomous region. The lake is in the [...]

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    Transportation

    Located in the west part of Tibet, in the Ngari Prefecture, it is a long journey to drive to Lake Manasarovar. Generally speaking, it takes at least 4 days departing from Lhasa to Lake Manasarovar in Ngari, and usually longer. Located in the south of Mount Kailash, Lake Manasarovar is not far from Mount Kailash. Therefore, Lake Manasarovar transportation can use Mount Kailash Transportation for reference. How to Get to Lake Manasarovar For those travelling from Lhasa to Mount Kailash and Lake Manasarovar, [...]

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    Festivals and Activities

    Most Tibetan festivals are full of the color of religion. In addition to annual large-scale worship rituals to Buddha and Buddhist masters, Tibetan people will also hold a series of festivities associated with religious life and agricultural production consisting of religious festivals and folk ones. There are almost a hundred festivals in a year, some of which even last for ten days. Festivals in the Areas Around Lake Manasarovar 1. Saga Dawa festival(萨嘎达瓦节) The Saga Dawa Festival hold on April 15 in the [...]

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    Travel Tips

    Lake Manasarovar travel tips provide some considerations when traveling at Lake Manasarovar, which can help you to prepare a trip. General Numbers in Tibet Fire: 119 Police: 110 Ambulance: 120 Weather Broadcast: 121  Area code of Ngari: 0897 Consumer Complaint: 12315 Local Phone Number Inquiries: 114 Tourist complaint Center: 0891-6833476 Long-distance Phone Number Inquiries: 113 Read More: Useful Numbers for Travelers in Tibet Features of Lake Manasarovar 1. Geography Manasarovar is the most transparent freshwater lake and the second largest natural freshwater lake in China. It means "undefeated, victorious" in Tibetan Language, known as "Holy [...]

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    Useful Maps

    The maps give tourists an overview of Lake Manasarovar. Lake Manasarovar located between the main peaks of the Gangdise Mountains-Mount Kailash and Namunani Peak of Himalayas, in Burang County of Tibet Autonomous region. To help you have a better understanding of Lake Manasarovar, we provide you different Ngari Lake Manasarovar maps including Lake Manasarovar transportation map, Lake Manasarovar tourist attractions map, Lake Manasarovar region map and Lake Manasarovar location map, etc, through which tourists can get a clear idea about where they are [...]

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    Lake Manasarovar Accommodation

    When you are travelling in the area of Mount Kailash and Lake Manasarovar, you can stay overnight at the guesthouses around the area or stay at the hotels in Burang County.  Accommodation in Lake Manasarovar Area The choice of accommodation around Lake Manasarovar is also limited. There are several nameless guesthouse in the village at the foot of Ji Wu temple. The conditions are tough, 30 yuan per bed. The price of some hotels with the same conditions is 35 yuan per [...]

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