When we talk about Lachen, the first things come to our mind are pristine Himalayas, mesmeric scenery and beautifully crafted wooden houses. Lachen is a small picturesque village located in the lap of Himalaya and the gateway to some of the most spectacular tourist places in North Sikkim.
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- Lachen
The main attraction on Lachen is the Nyingma Monastery, one of the oldest major schools of Tibetan Buddhism. Situated on top of a hill, this place serves as a vantage point to witness panoramic view of the village Lachen Chu and the majestic Himalayan ranges. For the adventure seekers, Lachen serves as a trail head for some of the most thrilling treks like the trek to the famous Green Lake or Kunchenjunga National Park along with the other trekking trails to Yumthang Valley, Thangu Valley, Chopta Valley and Tso Lhamu Lake. It also serves as the starting point for the famous and majestic Gurudongmar Lake
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- Gurudongmar Lake
Gurudongmar Lake: Spread out over 290 acres and is surrounded by snow-covered mountain ranges all around Gurudongmar Lake is one of the highest altitude natural lakes in the world (17,800 feet).
One of the most amazing facts about this lake is the whole water of this lake never freezes completely even though the temperature goes down below -20° celcius. There is a religious belief around this lake that explains this phenomenon. Hindu’s, Buddhists and Sikhs come together to consider this lake to be a sacred place.
The water of Gurudongmar Lake is believed to have healing powers, locals believe that drinking this water could resolve fertility issues of women. Many tourists bring the water with them. There are many brightly coloured prayer flags all around the lake offered by the people who visited the lake. These flags add up to the mystic stories about the lake and making it a “Wish Lake” for thousands of visitors.
The Gurudongmar Lake is form by the glacial waters. It is a source stream for the Tso Lahmu Lake that later forms the source of the Teesta River. The area around the lake is extremely windy and that makes the place feel a lot more freezing than the temperature itself. Wind speed keeps going up as the day progresses. It is believed that afternoon wind in Gurudongmar Lake can even lift stones.
