Lhangtso Lake, or Lake Rakashas, is an alpine lake located in west Tibet. It lies in Burang county, Ngari region, right next to holy sites Mt. Kailash and Lake Manasarovar. Lhangtso Lake has an altitude of 4725m.
Lhangtso and Manasarovar used to be one lake and was separated later due to earth plate movement. Unlike Manasarovar, Lhangtso is a salt water lake. The water is not drinkable and very few creatures live in it. Because of this, locals have told mythological stories for thousands of years that deem Lhangtso inauspicious. It also has the nickname “Ghost Lake” because of its dark blue colored water.
Nevertheless, Lhangtso has become a unique attraction for modern travelers. It is also famous for the surrounding red mountains. Today, Lhangtso Lake enjoys increasing popularity among domestic and foreign travelers alike and is a must-stop spot for people on their way to Mt. Kailash and Lake Manasarovar.
