Tsomgo Lake Frozen after Temperature Drops to Minus 2 Degrees Celsius in East Sikkim

Gangtok, January 3, 2019:

With temperature dropping to -2 degrees Celsius, the Tsomgo (Changu) Lake in East Sikkim has turned into a winter paradise. Located at an altitude of 12,400 ft and 38 km from the state capital Gangtok, the popular tourist destination got frozen on Friday with the area around it covered in snow.

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Tsomgo Lake is associated with many myths and legends and is revered by the Sikkimese people. It is believed that in olden times, Buddhist monks would study the colour of the water of the lake to forecast the future.

It takes about 2 hours by car from Gangtok to reach the lake. The lake is filled with water of melting snow coming from the surrounding mountains. It's a one kilometer long oval shaped lake. The average depth is about 50-feet.

During summer and autumn, you will find Primula flowers and other Alpine vegetation around the lake. And during winter the lake becomes frozen and a snowfield. You can not litter the lake. Installation of prayer wheels and a small temple of Lord Shiva by the lakeside denotes that the lake is considered sacred by the locals. Tsomgo lake is a stop over place for many different migratory ducks like the Brahmini ducks.

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