1. Gurudongmar Lake – Sikkim
Gurudongmar lake provides one of the source streams of the Teesta River. The source of Teesta, the Tso Lhamo Lake, lies some 5 km (3.1 mi) to the east. One can seek permission from the army to go to the Gurudongmar Lake but civilians are not permitted to go up to Tso Lhsmo Lake. The pristine blue glitter of the lake backed by huge snow-clad mountains is second to none.
At an attitude of 5,210 m, Gurudongmar is one of the highest lakes in the world. It lies in the North Sikkim and the terrain is pretty harsh. The lake remains frozen during the winter season and the temperature in winter drops to around minus thirty degrees (-30°C).
2. Chandrataal – Himachal
Chandrataal or the Moon Lake is an Alpine lake situated at an altitude of about 4,300 m in the Spiti district of Himachal Pradesh. It is considered to be source of Chandra River and is part of the Samudra Tapu plateau.
The lake is accessible by two routes, one from Manali side via Rohtang Pass and other from the Spiti side via Kunzum pass. Both the passes are closed for vehicles in the winter months due to heavy snowfall and the lake remain accessible only on foot. The lake is surrounded by lush green meadows which serves as perfect camp sites and the rugged colors of the surrounding mountains adds to the thrill.
The source of the lake seems to be underground because there is no visible source like a glacier feeding it.
3. Pangong Lake – Ladakh
At an altitude of 4,350 m and only about 160kms from Leh lies the Pangong Lake which can be called as the most glamorous lakes of all. It lies in the must visit list of almost every traveler. It is 134 kms long and approximately 60% of the lake lies in Tibet. It is long enough to be clearly seen in the map, crossing from India to Tibet.
Despite being saline in nature, the lake completely freezes in winter. The glamorous blue color of the lake can even be seen when it is frozen. The dramatic landscapes attracts thousands of bikers per year, even during extreme winters.
Pangong lies very near to the Line of Actual Control but from 2014, inner line permit is not required for Indian Nationals to visit the lake.
4. Tsomoriri Lake – Ladakh
Another pristine Alpine lake in the Ladakh region situated at an altitude of 4,595 m. Located near the 400 year old Korzok Monastery, it is the largest lake in the Trans-Himalayan region. The journey to Tsomoriri is mainly along the Indus river which takes you to the Changthang plateau. The enthralling landscapes tops the list of every traveler.
The lake is located to the southeast of Leh at a distance of about 240 kms and the road is in good condition for most of the part, with only few bad patches. It can also be reached from Pangong lake directly via Chushul.
During winters, the lake freezes completely and so does the Indus river along the journey. Temperature dips to as low as minus twenty five degrees (-25°C)
5. Suraj Taal - Himachal
Suraj Taal is located at the base of Baralacha pass in Lahaul Valley. At an altitude of 4,883 m, it is the third highest lake in India. In a location amid natural splendor, it is a lake that cannot be missed by any adventurer or traveler.
The lake can be reached from Manali side via the Rohtang pass and also from the Ladakh side crossing many passes like the Taglang La and Baralacha pass. There is also a trek route connecting Suraj Taal to Chandrataal. The lake remains inaccessible during winters because all the passes between Manali-Leh highway are closed for vehicular traffic due to heavy snowfall.
6. Tsongmo Lake
Image courtesy: http://envfor.nic.in/
Tsomgo means source of the water in Bhutia language. Also called as Changu Lake, it is associated with many myths and is of special significance for the Sikkimese. According to the legends, the monks living there used to predict the future based on color of the lake.
At an elevation of 3,780 m, the lake is situated on the eastern side of Sikkim, around 40 kms from the Gangtok city. Between the months of May and August, you can trace a variety of flowers including rhododendrons, primulas and blue & yellow poppies.
The lake remains frozen throughout the winter up to April end.
