Pangong Tso

Pangong Tso is a soda lake sitting at the India-China border high in the mountains at about 4250 meters elevation. The water shifts in color throughout the day depending on light and angle, ranging from blue to green, and the lake stretches for over 100 kilometers across the landscape.

The region has been used by different peoples for centuries, but in the 1900s the lake became the center of border disputes between two nations. A military outpost was established in 1958 marking the start of a new phase in how this place was controlled and contested.

Shepherds have lived in this region for generations, moving their herds across the high grasslands with the seasons and maintaining a lifestyle adapted to extreme altitude. The presence of these pastoral communities shapes how the landscape is used and perceived today.

To visit this place, travelers need special permits which are usually only available during the warmer months when roads are open and safe. The best time to travel is from May to September when winter has passed and roads are clear of snow and ice.

The water in this lake is not equally salty everywhere, becoming progressively saltier from east to west, which creates different colors and properties across its surface. This variation is unusual for a single body of water and makes each zone distinct from the others.