Lake Rakshastal
ལག་ངར་མཚོ།
A salt lake separated from Lake Manasarovar by a single ridge, with barren shores and deep blue water, known as the “Ghost Lake” and viewable from the roadside on G219.
Lake Rakshastal lies west of Lake Manasarovar, separated from it by a low ridge and connected by a small river, the Ganga Chu. At about 4,573 meters above sea level and covering roughly 268 square kilometers, it is a salt lake with barren shores, in stark contrast to the gentle sacred lake. That is why it is called the “Ghost Lake,” said to be home to the demon king Rakshasa. On clear days the water appears a very deep blue, with small islands in the middle, and in the distance you can see Mount Kailash and Gurla Mandhata. The G219 National Highway runs along the lakeshore, with several roadside viewpoints where you can stop and take photos for free. Getting there: it is about 20 km from Darchen in the direction of Burang. Notes: local custom forbids drawing water from or bathing in this lake. The shore is windy, so keep warm when taking photos. Do not drive off the road onto the lake flats, as the sandy soil is soft and vehicles can get stuck.
Opening hours
All day
Nearby sights
- Gossul Gompa
- Chiu Gompa
- Lake Manasarovar
- Trugo Gompa
- Gurla Mandhata
- Darchen
- Gyangdrak Monastery
- Tarboche Flagpole