Basum Tso Lake

Basum Tso - a Heaven on the Ridge of the World. It is a stunning highland lake resting in the deep valley of the upper reaches of the Ba River, 50km northeast of Kongpo Gymdo in Nyingchi, 370km east of Lhasa.

Basum Tso was also named as Tsokou Lake, which means "green water" in Tibetan. It’s like a moon set in the high valley with an area of 26sqkm, the deepest part is about 60 meters from the surface. snow-capped peaks surrounding the lake are inversely reflected in the crystal-clear water.

Basum Tso is also a notable holy lake of Nyingmapa order of Tibetan Buddhism. Nyingmapa, the "school of the old persons", the so-called red caps, the oldest Tibetan buddistischen schools, find its beginnings of the Tibetan Buddhismus in 7th and 8th centuries on the shores of Basum Tso Lake.

Enchanting views aside, Basum Tso is also a notable holy lake of Nyingmapa of Tibetan Buddhism. A small Nyingmapa monastery of 1500 years' history is seated on the Zhaxi Islet, where Buddha Padmasambhava has been worshiped for centuries.

The blue, limpid lake water and the verdant mountain around the lake combine into a charming scene that can be compared with those in Switzerland. In summer and autumn, when flowers bloom and the air is filled with their fragrance, bees and butterflies are seen shuttling and fluttering among them. Bears, leopards, goats, musk deer, Tibetan snow roosters and other wild animals look for food and sport in the forest.

Going upstream from the Basum Tso Lake to the source of the mainstream and the tributaries, one can see large mountain glaciers. With abundant snow, the long tongues of the lakes often stretch into the lush and green forest, the white snow shining through green trees. The bank of the lake is dotted with small villas of unique shapes, making a beautiful and comfortable holiday village. In 1997, the Basum Tso Lake was listed by the World Tourist Organization as one of the world's best tourist spots.

Basum Tso is a notable holy lake of Nyingmapa order of Tibetan Buddhism. On the northwest bank of the lake, there is a gigantic stone, which has a hole allowing one person to pass. Passing through the hole is said capable of relieve diseases and misfortunes. As a result every year many people come to visit the lake.