Lake Manasarovar

Mountain reflections in Lake Manasarovar. Photo Saumil Shah.

Tent

Pilgrim tent on the shores of the sacred lake. Photo Ans Deblauwe.

The beautiful blue waters of Lake Manasarovar. Photo Prateek.

Tibetan Monk at Kailash

A Tibetan monk walking Lake Manasarovar, with the south face of Kailash in the background. Photo Saumil Shah.

Tibetan Buddhist prayer flags on the shore. Photo Saumil Shah.

Lake shore with a glimpse of Mount Kailash. Photo Ans Deblauwe.

Mansarovar Lake

View of the lake from Chiu Gompa. Photo Axel Ebert.

Lake Manasarovar under stormy skies. Photo Vijay Duvvuri.

Lake Manasarovar (also spelled Mansarovar and Mansarowar; Sanskrit: मानस सरोवर; Tibetan: མ་ཕམ་གཡུ་མཚོ Mapham Yutso; Chinese: 玛旁雍错) is the highest freshwater lake in the world, located at the foot of Mount Kailash in Tibet. It is the holiest lake in Asis and an important pilgrimage destination for Hindus and Buddhists alike.

Myth & Mystery

According to Hindu tradition, Manasarovar was created by Brahma, god of creation, to provide an appropriate place for religious rituals. It is said that he had 12 sons, who were holy men and performed rituals and austerities on the dry land at the site. To give them a more suitable place to earn merit, Brahma created the beautiful Lake Mansarovar.

The lake's Indian name derives from this legend: Brahma had a mind (manas) to create a lake (sarowar). For Hindus, a circumambulation of Mount Kailash and a dip in the cold waters of Lake Mansarowar removes the sins of all lifetimes, bringing salvation from reincarnation.

Buddhists associate Manasarovar with Anotatta Lake, where the Buddha was mystically conceived. According to Buddhist legend, the Buddha's mother was transported here by the gods, where she bathed in the sacred waters of Manasarovar until her body was purified. She then saw a white elephant running to her from Mount Kailash, as the Buddha entered her womb.

History

There were once eight Buddhist monasteries around the lake, symbolizing the Wheel of Life. Pilgrims circumambulated the lake, visiting each of the monasteries along the way, representing a turn of the wheel. Most of the monasteries have now disappeared (the most notable survivor being Chiu Gompa), but Buddhists still make the pilgrimage around the sacred lake.

What to See

Located at the southern base of Mount Kailash, Lake Manasarovar is famed for its exceptional beauty. Its color changes from a clear blue around the shores to a deep emerald green in the center; it looks positively magical in the moonlight. The lake is 55 miles (88 km) in circumference, 330 feet (90m) deep, and 120 sq mi (320 sq km) in total area.

The journey around the lake is 64 miles long and usually takes four days. Many travelers opt to pitch a tent by the lake for a couple days instead, recuperating from the strenuous journey around Mount Kailash.

Quick Facts

Site Information

Names:	Lake Manasarovar; Lake Mansarovar; Lake Mansarowar; Mapam; Mapham Yutso
Location:	Tibet
Category:	Sacred Waters
Faiths:	Original/Primary: Hinduism Current/Secondary: Buddhism
Status:	active

Visitor Information

Coordinates:

30.688707° N, 81.46637° E (view on Google Maps)

Note: This information was accurate when published and we do our best to keep it updated, but details such as opening hours can change without notice. To avoid disappointment, please check with the site directly before making a special trip.

Location Map

Below is a location map and aerial view of Lake Manasarovar. Using the buttons on the left, zoom in for a closer look or zoom out to get your bearings. Click and drag the map to move around. For a larger view, see our Tibet Map.

Article Sources

Article written by Holly Hayes with reference to the following sources:

Lake Mansarowar - StateMaster (accessed June 2009)
Mount Kailash & Mansarowar Yatra - Travel Himalayas (accessed June 2009)
Mount Kailash and around - Rough Guide to China (accessed June 2009)
Lake Manasarovar - Wikipedia (accessed June 2009)

Article last updated: 06/17/2009.