Membar Tsho (Burning Lake)
མེ་འབར་མཚོ
A deep pool in the Tang Chhu gorge. Legend says Pema Lingpa held a lamp and plunged into the lake to retrieve a treasure, and the flame never went out. It is one of Bhutan's famous sacred lakes.
Membar Tso is in fact a deep pool on the Tang Chhu River, in a gorge with cliffs hung with prayer flags and tsa-tsa shrines. In 1475, Pema Lingpa, doubted by the crowd, leapt into the lake holding a lamp. When he emerged holding a treasure box, the lamp was still burning, hence the name, the Burning Lake. From Jakar it's about 30 minutes by car to the parking area, then a few minutes on foot. You can view the lake from a wooden bridge. The rocks are slippery, so stay away from the water's edge. Swimming is prohibited.
Opening hours
All day
Nearby sights
- Lhodrak Kharchu Monastery
- Jakar Town
- Swiss Farm Bumthang
- Wangdicholing Palace
- Jakar Dzong
- Konchogsum Lhakhang
- Jambay Lhakhang
- Tamshing Lhakhang