Lake Manasarovar, Sacred lake in Ngari Prefecture, Tibet, China

Lake Manasarovar is a freshwater lake at 4,600 m in Burang County, Ngari Prefecture, western Tibet, north of the tripoint between China, India and Nepal. It covers 320 km2, is roughly round with an 88 km circumference and reaches a maximum depth of 100 m. It overflows through the Ganga Chhu channel into the salt lake Rakshastal.

The lake appears in ancient Hindu and Buddhist texts, and pilgrims have visited it for centuries. Monasteries along the shore were built over time to host spiritual travelers and support their rituals.

The lake holds spiritual importance for Buddhists and Hindus, and believers walk around its shores on pilgrimages lasting several days. Visitors see prayer flags fluttering in the wind and meet worshippers at the temple shrines along the lakeshore.

The lake sits above 4,500 meters, and visitors should take time to adjust to the thin air. Warm clothing and sun protection are necessary, as weather can shift quickly and the sun shines intensely.

The Ganga Chhu channel carries overflow from Manasarovar into the salt-water lake Rakshastal, which has no outlet. The two lakes lie close together but differ in water type, and the channel is the only link between them.