Editing Lake Tsomgo

{{Short description|Glacial lake in Sikkim, India}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2019}}
{{Use Indian English|date=August 2019}}
{{Infobox lake
| name               = Lake Tsomgo<br>Changu Lake
| image              = Tsongmo_Lake_or_Changu_Lake_-_East_Sikkim.jpg
| caption            = Lake Tsomgo in Gangtok district (Sikkim)
| alt                = Lake Tsomgo
| pushpin_map        = India Sikkim
| pushpin_map_alt    = Location of Lake Tsomgo
| pushpin_label_position = bottom
| pushpin_map_caption = Location in Sikkim
| image_bathymetry   = 
| caption_bathymetry = 
| location           = Changu, [[Gangtok district]], [[Sikkim]]
| coords             = {{coord|27|22|31|N|88|45|50|E|type:waterbody_region:IN|display=inline,title}}
| type               = 
| inflow             = 
| outflow            = 
| catchment          = 
| basin_countries    = {{Flag|India}}
| length             = {{Convert|836|m}}
| width              = {{Convert|427|m}}
| area               = {{Convert|24.47|ha}}
| depth              = {{Convert|4.58| m}} (average)
| max-depth          = {{Convert|15| m}}
| volume             = 
| residence_time     = 
| shore              = 
| elevation          = {{convert|3753|m|ft}}
| frozen             = winter
| islands            = 
| cities             = 
}}

'''Tsomgo Lake'',''''' also known as '''Tsongmo Lake''' or '''Changgu Lake''', is a glacial lake in Changu in the [[Gangtok district]] of the [[India]]n state of [[Sikkim]], some {{convert|40|km}} from the capital [[Gangtok]]. Located at an elevation of {{convert|3753|m|abbr=on}}, the lake remains frozen during the winter season. The lake surface reflects different colours with change of seasons and is held in great reverence by the local Sikkimese people. [[Buddhist]] monks prognosticated after studying the changing colours of the lake.<ref name="Lake">{{Cite web|url=http://sikkimtourism.gov.in/Webforms/General/PlacesOfInterest/Tsomgo.aspx|title=Tsomgo (Changu) Lake|publisher=Sikkim Tourism:Government of Sikkim}}</ref><!-- This link behaves oddly, but was working in June 15. In case the direct link doesn't work, go to the main page & use the link there --><ref name="Tsomogo">{{Cite web|url=http://sikkim.nic.in/sws/lak_cha.htm|title=Tsomgo Lake|publisher=National Informatics Centre}}</ref>{{Sfn|Kar|2014|p=101}}

==Etymology==
In [[Sikkimese language]] the name Tsomgo is made of two words 'Tso' meaning "lake" and 'Mgo' meaning "head" which gives the literal meaning as "source of the lake".{{Sfn|Kar|2014|p=101}}

==Topography==
The lake is surrounded by steep mountains which are covered with snow during winter. During summer the snow cover melts and forms the source for the lake.<ref name=Lake/> The lake which remains frozen in winter season, sometimes extending up to May, receives an average [[annual precipitation]] of {{Convert|1183|mm}} with temperatures recorded in the range of {{Convert|0|-|25|C}}. {{Sfn|Kar|2014|p=101}}

The lake is about {{convert|40|km}} away from Gangtok on the Gangtok-Nathula highway.{{Sfn|Kar|2014|p=101}} Further, the road to [[Nathu La]] skirts the lake on the north side. The Chinese border crossing is only some {{Convert|5|km}} east-northeast in a straight line, but some {{Convert|18|km}} by road.<ref name="deBruyn">{{cite book |title=Frommer's India (Frommer's Complete) |last= deBruyn|first= Pippa |author2=Bain, Keith |author3=Venkatram, Niloufer |author4=Joshi, Shonar|date=4 March 2008|publisher= [[Frommer's]] |location=Hoboken, New Jersey, USA |isbn= 978-0-470-16908-7|page= 586 |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=qMqBvtL_nI0C&pg=PT596 |access-date=2009-11-29}}</ref>

==Features==
[[File:Tsomgo Lake - Elevation.jpg|right|thumb|Sign for Tsomgo Lake]]
The lake is formed in an oval shape and has a surface area of {{Convert|24.47|ha}}. The maximum length of the lake is {{Convert|836|m}} and has a maximum width of {{Convert|427|m}}. The maximum depth reported is {{Convert|15| m}} while the average depth is {{Convert|4.58| m}}. The lake water quality is of moderate [[turbidity]].{{Sfn|Kar|2014|p=101}}

The lake is the venue for the [[Guru Purnima]] festival which is also the [[Raksha Bandhan]] festival when the faith healers known as ''[[Jhakri]]s'' of Sikkim assemble at the lake area to derive benefits from the healing qualities of the lake waters.<ref name=Lake/>

Alpine forests cover the catchment of the lake.<ref name="O'Neill_2019">{{cite journal |last1=O'Neill |first1=A. R.| date=2019 |title=Evaluating high-altitude Ramsar wetlands in the Sikkim Eastern Himalayas |journal=Global Ecology and Conservation |volume=20 |issue=e00715 |pages=19 |doi=10.1016/j.gecco.2019.e00715 |doi-access=free }}</ref> After the winter season ends in middle of May, the periphery of lake has scenic blooms of flower species of [[rhododendrons]] (the state tree of Sikkim), [[primulas]], blue and yellow [[poppy|poppies]], [[iris (plant)|irises]] and so forth. Also seen in the precincts of the lake are several species of birds including [[Brahminy duck]]s. Wildlife seen includes the [[red panda]].<ref name=Tsomogo/>{{Sfn|Kar|2014|p=101}}

Tourist attractions at the lake site include joy rides on decorated [[yaks]] and [[mule]]s where kiosks offer variety of food and drinks.<ref name=Lake/> There is also a small [[Shiva]] temple on the bank of the lake.<ref name=Tsomogo/>

==Entry permits==
As the lake is located in a restricted area it is essential for all Indians visiting the area to obtain permits. In case of foreign nationals special permit is essential.<ref name=Tsomogo/>

[[Indian Postal Service]] released a commemorative stamp on the lake on 6 November 2006.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://sikkimphilatelicsociety.blogspot.com/2006/12/changu-lake-stamp-and-sikkim-philately.html|title=Changu Lake stamp and Sikkim Philately|publisher=Sikkimphilatelic Society}}</ref>

== Border trade market ==
The nearby habitation of Changgu was declared a [[border trade]] market in 2003.<ref>{{Cite web|date=23 June 2003|title=Documents signed between India and China during Prime Minister Vajpayee's visit to China|url=https://www.mea.gov.in/bilateral-documents.htm?dtl/7692/Documents+signed+between+India+and+China+during+Prime+Minister+Vajpayees+visit+to+China|access-date=27 March 2021|website=Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|last=Acharya|first=Alka|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=BoTyk8G8d2AC&q=Changgu+sikkim&pg=PA134|title=China & India: Politics of Incremental Engagement|date=2008|publisher=Har-Anand Publications|isbn=978-81-241-1442-1|pages=134|language=en}}</ref>{{OSM Location map|float=right|mark-coord5={{coord|27.37523|88.78776}}|label-size3=11|label-pos3=left|mark-size3=8|mark-title3=Jelep La|mark-description3=|mark-coord4={{coord|27.3832211|88.8096873}}|caption4=Manju Lake|label4=Manju Lake|label-size4=11|label-pos4=top|mark-size4=8|mark-title4=Manju Lake|mark-description4=|caption5=Thegu|caption3=Jelep La|label5=Thegu|label-size5=10|label-pos5=bottom|mark-size5=6|mark-title5=Thegu|mark-description5=|mark-coord6={{coord|27.37971|88.81906}}|caption6=Sherathang|label6=Sherathang|label-size6=10|label-pos6=bottom|mark-size6=6|mark-title6=Sherathang|label3=Jelep La|mark-coord3={{coord|27.367194|88.865747}}|height=350|mark-coord1={{coord|27.38681|88.83095}}|width=350|zoom=13|caption=Changgu|nolabels=2|coord={{coord|27.3744|88.7612}}|mark-coord={{coord|27.3187533|88.8206698}}|label=Gnathang|label-size=11|label-pos=left|mark-size=8|mark=Red pog.svg|mark-title=Gnathang|mark-description=Gnathang|caption1=Nathu La|mark-description2=|label1=Nathu La|label-size1=11|label-pos1=left|mark-size1=8|mark-title1=Nathu La|mark-description1=|mark-coord2={{coord|27.37795|88.77097}}|caption2=Changgu|label2=Changgu|label-size2=11|label-pos2=left|mark-size2=8|mark-title2=Changgu|mark-description6=}}

==Gallery==
<gallery>
File:Changu Lake, Gangtok.jpg|Tsongmo Lake, January 2014
File:Tsomgo Lake.jpg|Tsomgo Lake
File:Chsungo.jpg|Tsongmo Lake in Winter
File:Source of the Lakes "Sikkim".jpg|Tsomgo Lake in April 2017
File:Tsomgo Lake in October.jpg|Tsomgo Lake in October
File:Tsomgo Lake in April 2019.jpg|alt=Tsomgo Lake in April 2019|Tsomgo Lake in April 2019
</gallery>

==See also==
{{Commons category|Tsomgo Lake}}
* [[Tilicho Lake]]
* [[Gurudongmar Lake]]
*[[Nathu La]]

== Tourist Attraction ==
It is one of the biggest tourism draws in the Eastern Himalayan state of Sikkim receiving around 300,000 (3 lakh) tourists annually. The best time to visit the lake is January to March.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Darjeeling and Sikkim Tourism places have the most beautiful sights for 2021 trip|url=https://modernwisdom.in/blog/travel/darjeeling-and-sikkim-tourism-places/|access-date=2021-06-12|language=en-US}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}
[http://www.northeast-india.in/travel-guide/sikkim/tsomgo-lake/#permit Tsomgo Lake travel guide - Permit Regulations Climate Temperature]
==Bibliography==
* {{cite book|last= Kar |first=Devashish |title=Wetlands and Lakes of the World|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=mky9BAAAQBAJ&pg=PA101|date=28 January 2014|publisher=Springer Science & Business Media|isbn=978-81-322-1023-8}}

{{Hydrography of Sikkim}}

[[Category:Sacred lakes of Sikkim|Tsongmo]]
[[Category:Gangtok district]]
[[Category:Glacial lakes of India|Tsongmo]]