Yamdrok Lake

ཡར་འབྲོག་གཡུ་མཚོ་ 羊卓雍错湖 Yamdrok Lake is known as Yamdrok Yutso Lake in the local language. The word Yamdrok has a connection with Nomads and Yutso means Turquoise which has a connection with its color.

Located around 90 km from Lhasa, 180 km from Gyantse town at an elevation of 4, 440 meters ( 14, 566ft ), and a driving duration of 2 hours from Lhasa. Yamdrok Lake is one of the three largest salt lakes in the Tibet Autonomous Region including Namtso Lake and Manasarovar Lake.  

All the tours towards the Mount Everest base camp, western Tibet, and Nepal border will pass by the surface of the Yamdrok Lake making it one of the most popular Lakes in Tibet.Yamdrok Lake is also one of the best day trips from Lhasa. Travelers can travel early in the morning to see the sunrise from Gambala Pass 4, 900 meters ( 16, 076 ft ) 

Nearby Yamdrok Lake 

1. Samding nunnery

Located 20 km from Yamdrok Lake.  Samding nunnery is founded during the 14th - 15th century.

2. Nagartse town

One of the larger towns near Yamdrok Lake is Nagartse town. Located around 30 km from Yamdrok Lake at an elevation of 4, 450 meters. The town is popular for the Lunch break for Travelers traveling to Gyantse and Shigatse. 

3. Mount Nojin Kangtsen and Karo La Glacier

From the summit of Gambala Pass, Travelers can see the stunning view of Mount Nojin Kangtsen.  The spectacular view of the Glacier can be seen near the highway. There is a short hike to a small Lake opposite Nojin Kangtsang Glacier.

Photo: Karo La Glacier

4. Ralung monastery

Ralung is the main monastery of the Drukpa Kagyu school of Tibetan Buddhism. Ralung monastery is located around 18 km from the highway to Gyantse town. The monastery was founded during the 12th century by a great Tibetan Yogi Jetsun Tsangpa Gyare. 

5. Nomads

Yamdrok Lake is the home of Nomads. The medicine grass grown near the Lake might be one of the reasons for the growth of the nomadic culture.

Conclusion

Yamdrok Lake is the nearest Lake to Lhasa. The color of the Lake changes often. Most of the time the color of the Lake is Turquoise. 

For Travelers having a short time in Tibet, we highly recommend traveling to Yamdrok Lake as a day trip. 

While traveling to Yamdrok Lake from Lhasa, Travelers can also witness the beauties of the Yarlung Tsangpo River, villages, and landscape. Travelers can send us an email regarding traveling to Yamdrok Lake. info@tibettravelers.com