Yamdrok Lake is one of the four holy lakes in Tibet, besides Lhamo Lha Tso, Namtso, Manasarovar. These Lakes are as the Great Wrathful Lakes” guarded by the goddess Dorje Gegkyi Tso. Yamdrok consider very holy, and every human being in southern and central Tibet would make the pilgrimage here once in their lifetime. According to our belief, the lake is considered the lifeline of the inhabitants of Tibet. We believe that if the lake dries up, Tibet would become an inhabitable place.
As you will drive from Lhasa, you can see the Lake from the summit of Kampa-la pass (4700 m). Yamdrok lake lies several hundred meters below the peak. If the weather is clear during your visit, you will see a deep turquoise shape of the lake from the top. Lake is surrounded by many snow-capped mountains, more particularly the Mount Nojin Kangtsang (7191 meters). The deep shape of the lake plus the surrounding mountains makes it very beautiful for the photograph and the onlookers.
Yamdrok has located 100 km from Lhasa and about 90 km from Gyantse. From Gyantse to Lhasa road you will be driving on the shore of the lake for about half an hours. It is good ideas to tell your tour operator about visiting the Yamdrok Lake. Some agency trend to avoid covering extra kilometers by taking you from the direct route to Lhasa.it is worth to stop at the Kampa la pass and look back to the lake. It’s breath-taking to seeing the lake in it geographical set-up surrounded by the chain of snow-capped mountains.
If you are starting the tour from Lhasa. You will start off very early in the morning to avoid being late for the Gyantse site seeing. By midday, you will reach the lake. Before the lake you will reach the Kampa-la pass, it is worth to stop for a picture and seeing the lake in it geographical setup. The panoramic view from the Kamba la is breath-taking. Then gradually you will descend to the lakeshore, followed by Karola glacier. Please note it very crowded at the traditional stops for tourist. If you want to avoid the crowd, you can ask the guide to stop somewhere else.
After the stop, you will drive along the lakeshore for about half an hours. If you are traveling in winter. Don’t miss the opportunity to take a look at the wild birds around the lake. After the lake, you will stop at Nangartse for lunch.
You can also visit the Samding ling monastery, one very unique thing about the monastery is the main abbot of the monastery is a female lama. Dorje Pakmo is reincarnated and She is the only female Lama in Tibet and Tibetan Buddhism. The lake is closely associate the Padmasambhava. Yamdrok Lake is the must-visit places in Tibet.