Tsomgo Lake, April 23: Sikkim received heavy snowfall on April 23, causing temporary roadblocks to Tsomgo Lake, Baba Mandir, and Nathula. Despite the challenges, tourists have been flocking to the region to witness the stunning scenery.
Due to safety concerns following the avalanche that claimed the lives of seven people, including one child, the district administration is only providing permits to tourists up to the 15th Mile.
Sikkim’s Tsomgo Lake has become a winter wonderland, attracting tourists to the hill paradise in Northeast India after images of the region went viral on social media. The lake is now covered in a beautiful white blanket of snow, making it look straight out of a fairy tale.
The recent snowfall has added to the beauty of the already picturesque state of Sikkim, which is known for its stunning landscapes and natural wonders. Tourists are advised to exercise caution when visiting the area and to follow all safety guidelines issued by the authorities.
Overall, the snowfall has brought joy and excitement to both locals and tourists in the region, showcasing the natural beauty of Sikkim in all its glory.
The Tsomgo Lake should be seen for its stunning natural beauty alone. Elegant silver firs and pine trees tower over the nearly kilometer-long glacier lake. The lake waters take on different hues as the seasons change, ranging from a sapphire blue in the spring to a dark inky green as winter draws near.
The lake is shrouded in mist during the monsoons, adding to its eerie ambiance. With a variety of blooms, springtime brings a riot of colour to the lake’s beautiful surroundings.
Rose finches, yellow-bellied fantail flycatchers, golden eagles, and a variety of migratory birds like tufted pochards, brown-headed gulls, and the renowned brahminy ducks are
among the abundant birdlife in the area.
Despite being present, animals are difficult to find. However, in the higher range of Tsomgo, one can be fortunate enough to see musk deers, gorals, or red pandas. Leopard and Himalayan black bear sightings have also been documented.
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Tourists were drawn to this highland paradise in the Northeast when images of the area went popular on social media. The lake appeared to be straight out of a fairy tale, completely coated with white wonder.
It should be noted that on April 4th, in the early hours, a massive avalanche swept away as many as 20 tourists who were playing in snowdrifts at the 13th mile along the JN Road, leading to Sikkim’s Nathu La (Indo-China border) area. Seven tourists were killed, and 13 others were injured and taken to the hospital.
Three of the seven people who passed away were from Nepal, two were from Uttar Pradesh, and two were from West Bengal, according to DC Gangtok Tushar G. Nikhare, IAS.
The Sikkimese culture, like that of every other area in the northeast, is strongly influenced by its natural environment. Each mountain, lake, and waterfall has a unique folktale linked with it, and Lake Tsomgo is no different. Tso-lake and go-head are two Bhutia terms that make up the name Tsomgo. Where the lake is now located was once the site of a yak
stable, according to mythology.
A yak herder who resided there one day had a dream in which she was told to leave the area because it would soon be underwater. She followed the dream, but her fellow herder pals didn’t accept her explanation.
As soon as she left, the other herdsmen who had remained in the valley were drowned by water as she observed an elderly woman with long, snow-white hair enter the area. The guardian deity of the lake that later became known as Tsomgo is thought to be the woman with white hair.
In the past, lamas used the lake’s constantly shifting colour to forecast the future. The lake is still regarded as a holy site by the villagers today, who go there to pray each year around Gurupurnima with shamans.
