Gurudongmar Lake - All you need to know

Gurudongmar Lake in Sikkim, located at a height of 17,800 ft is one of the highest lakes in the world. Named after Guru Padmasambhava who is famously known as Guru Rinpoche, the lake is considered to be sacred. One of the unexplored and uncharted attractions of Sikkim, this lake is just a few kilometres away from the Chinese Tibetan border. It is a pristine beauty with breathtaking environs. The terrain of the way to this lake is quite rugged but has beautiful alpine pastures and lovely rhoderons which add to the scenic delight here. Read on to know more about the lake.

About Gurudongmar Lake

Named after the noted Guru Padmasambhava, Gurudongmar Lake holds much significance. The lake is believed to be sacred by the Hindus, Sikhs and Buddhists. Legends say that the lake was blessed by Guru Padmasambhava due to the appeal by the local people. Owing to its high altitude location, the lake remained frozen most of the year. So, the local people asked for help from Padmasambhava who placed his hands on a part of the lake which stopped freezing even during the winters and thus offered drinking water to the people. Since this incident, the lake was believed to be sacred and pilgrims began to carry the sacred water back in containers.

Another tale goes like this Sikh Guru Nanak Dev passed through the lake in the 15th century and when the people prayed to him to help them, he touched a part of this lake with his walking stick and that portion of this lake stopped freezing throughout the year. He is also believed to have blessed the water with strength and virility.

Best time to visit Gurudongmar Lake

If one wants to enjoy the snow, then the best time to visit Gurudongmar Lake is during the winters which extend from November to February but it is subject to whether the roads are open or not. The Gurudongmar Lake weather ranges from 5°C to -27°C. The lake is totally frozen during this period of time. One can also head here during the months of April and May when the rhododendrons bloom and add to the beauty of this already beautiful landscape.