Tsomgo (Changu) Lake

Tsomgo Lake (called Changu Lake by Hindi speakers) sits at 3,753 metres in the Sikkim Himalayas, 40 km from Gangtok on the road to the Nathula Pass. The lake's name means 'source of the lakes' in the Bhutia language; it is fed entirely by snowmelt from the surrounding peaks and freezes solid from November through May. Local Buddhist tradition considers the lake sacred — Lamas observe its colour and read seasonal omens from its surface. The site requires a permit (issued by the Sikkim Tourism Department in Gangtok, processed in 1 day) since it lies in the protected zone close to the Indo-China border. Visitors typically combine Tsomgo with the Baba Mandir (a memorial-temple to soldier Harbhajan Singh, 13 km further up) and Nathula Pass (only on Wed-Sun, additional permit). Yak rides on the frozen lake surface in winter are an iconic Tsomgo experience. Bring warm layers — even in May the lakeside temperature can drop below 5 °C.