THE BAGGAGE TAG: THE HIMALAYAS..MAGNANIMOUS, SPIRITUAL,AND YET INTIMIDATING....

GURUDONGMAT LAKE...A PANORAMIC VIEW

THE GURUDONGMAR LAKE AT AN ALTITUDE OF 18000 FEET... IT IS ONE OF THE HIGHEST FRESHWATER LAKE IN THE WORLD AT AN ALTITUDE OF OF APPROX 18000 FEET.

I VISITED THIS LAKE TWICE IN THIS YEAR ONCE IN APRIL AND ONCE IN OCTOBER AND I FOUND THAT THE LAKE PRESENTS ITSELF IN COMPLETE DIFFERENT CHARACTER BETWEEN THESE TWO MONTHS. I HAVE CAPTURED THE CHARACTERISTICS OF THIS LAKE DURING THIS TWO VISITS AND PRESENTED YOU WITH THE PHOTOGRAPHS THAT I HAVE TAKEN DURING THESE TWO EXTENDED periods

I visited this lake in Aprill 2017 and when I reached this place the lake was frozen completely except for one patch, The locals and the driver told me that this patch of the lake never freezes even in the harshest of the winter when the temperature plummets to minus 20-degree centigrade.

THIS IS THE PATCH OF THE LAKE THAT DOES NOR FREEZES EVEN DURING THE HARSHEST WINTER.
THIS IS A MYSTERY AS TO WHY IT HAPPENS THIS WAY WHICH IS STILL UNSOLVED.

It is said that Guru Padmasambhava also known as Guru Rinpoche visited this lake on his way to Bhutan when he was on a mission to spread Buddhism. He rested at this place and drank its pure clean water and from then on this particular part of the lake does not freeze offering weary travelers some respite in dire straits

Gurudongmar Lake is one of the highest lakes in the world and highest lakes in India, located at an altitude of 17,800 ft (5,430 m)[1] in the Indian state of Sikkim. It is a lake which is considered sacred by both Buddhists and Hindus. The lake is named after Guru Padmasambhava, also known as Guru Rinpoche, founder of Tibetan Buddhism who visited the lake in the 8th century.
The high altitude lake which remains frozen during winter months is located in the region of northern Sikkim, is in the district of North Sikkim. When I first visited this lake in April I was not aware that the winter was still on at this altitude and the latent temperature was minus five degrees centigrade

It is about 5 kilometers (3.1 mi) south of the Chinese border. The lake can be reached by road from Lachen via Thangu. It is 190 kilometers (120 mi) away from Gangtok, the capital city of Sikkim. The approach road from Thangu to Gurudongmar passes through a rugged and enchanting terrain with "stony moraine"

ONE CAN SEE THE LATERAL STONY MORAINES IN THIS SHOT. THE MORAINES ARE A TELL TELL SIGN OF A PAST GEOLOGICAL ACTIVITY WHICH INVOLVED GLACIERS MOVING AT A PERCEPTIBLE SPEED CREATING THE FOLDS ALONG THE WAY ON THE SIDES...

THE TRACTS ARE MADE BY THE CONSTANT MOVEMENT OF INDIAN ARMY VEHICLES. THERE IS A GOOD PRESENCE OF INDIAN ARMY AS JUST A THOUSAND FEET ABOVE GURUDONGMAR LAKE LIES THE BORDER OF CHINA, BHUTAN, AND NEPAL

AT THIS ALTITUDE THERE IS PRACTICALLY NO VEGETATION EXCEPT FOR LICHENS. IN THIS SHOT ONE CAN SEE THE HORIZONTAL MORAINES A LEFT OVER

AT THIS ALTITUDE ONLY YAKS CAN BE SEEN. THE DOKMAS ARE THE BREED OF PEOPLE WHO TENDS TO THIS YAKS AND HERD THEM THROUGH THIS ROUGH TERRAIN. THESE DOKMAS ARE VERY WELL ADAPTED TO THE LOW LEVEL OF OXYGEN AT THIS ALTITUDE

The lake fed by glaciers is located to the north of the Kangchengyao range in a high plateau area connected with the Tibetan Plateau. The lake provides one of the source streams which joins the Tso Lahmu and then form the source of Teesta River. China is 5 km (3.1 mi) to the border on the east. The lake remains completely frozen in the winter months from November to Mid-May.

The lake has an area of 118 hectares (290 acres) and its peripheral length is 5.34 kilometers (3.32 mi). However, the size of the lake appears small at the place where the devotees offer worship but the larger part of the lake is not visible due to hilly topography obstructing the complete view at this location.The area surrounding the lake, also known as Gurudongmar, is inhabited by Yaks, blue sheep and other wildlife of high altitude.

I visited the lake again in October and the lake was absolutely divine in its form and character. It was not frozen and the clear blue water with the blue sky above and the brown terrain with snow-capped peaks and mountains around presented a complete spiritual experience. Only HE the power that is, whom we call the divine or GOD or refer to by any other name, can create such a beautiful spiritual sight. It was a sight to behold. It was a sight to take back with you as the most precious memory