Mansarovar Lake is a freshwater high-altitude lake perched at an altitude of 4,600 meters. It is situated near Mount Kailash’s base in the Tibet Autonomous Region. It covers around 320 square kilometers and is one of the highest freshwater lakes in the world. It overflows into the adjacent Rakshastal Lake via the Ganga Chhu. Among all the Chinese lakes, it has the most transparent water. The lake is considered sacred in many religions including Hinduism, Bon, Buddhism, and Jainism. People from all around the world undertake a pilgrimage to this sacred region. The unique characteristic of this lake is the purity of its water which is believed to be as pure as a sapphire. The water of this lake is so clear that visitors can easily look at this lake’s deepest points.
It also changes color around the shores from a clear blue to an emerald green in the center. The sources of four rivers: Brahmaputra, Karnali, Indus, and Sutlej lie near this region.
Geography
- Location: Ngari Prefecture, Tibet, near Nepal, India, and China.
- Altitude: 4,600 meters, Asia’s highest freshwater lake.
- Size: 88 km circumference, 100 meters deep.
- Rivers: Source of Brahmaputra, Indus, Karnali, and Sutlej.
Manasarovar Lake is located in Ngari Prefecture, Tibet Autonomous Region of China. It is situated in Tibet’s southwest region north of the western tripoint of the border between Nepal, India, and China. Above the Limi Valley in Nepal from the Lapcha La pass this lake is visible on a clear day. It lies at 4,600 m above sea level on the mostly lake-studded saline Tibetan Plateau and is Asia’s highest freshwater lake.
The shape of Lake Manasarovar is round with around 88 km circumference and around 100 m (330 ft) maximum depth. Manasarovar overflows into the saltwater Rakshastal Lake via the natural Ganga Chhu channel. The major rivers that arise from this region include Yarlung Tsangpo (which is also known as the Brahmaputra), the Indus, the Karnali, and the Sutlej.
Climate
- Climate: Dry and cold with large day-night temperature differences.
- Summer (May-August): Pleasant, average temperature around 15℃.
- Monsoon (July-August): Heavy rainfall, making travel difficult.
- Winter (December-April): Coldest, temperatures range from 5℃ to -15℃, with snow and ice.
Kailash Mansarovar has a dry and cold climate. Like most Tibetan areas, the Kailash Manasarovar has a large difference in temperature between night and daytime. From May to August the climate is pleasant and mild. In summer, the average temperature is around 15℃, making it ideal for outdoor activities, like visiting nearby temples and going to kora. From July to August, heavy rainfall makes it difficult to pass through the challenging paths in this area. From September to November, the average temperature is less than 10℃ with a limited amount of rainfall. In the entire year, December to April have the coldest days. The temperatures in winter range from 5℃ to minus 15℃. During this time, Mount Kailash’s surrounding areas often get covered by ice and snow, and Lake Manasarovar gets frozen at this time, making it very challenging to get there.
- Suggested Tour: Kailash Mansarovar Yatra Helicopter Packages
Spiritual Prominence
Mansarovar Lake holds immense prominence for followers of various religions including Hindus, Jains, Bon, and Buddhists.
- Hinduism: Manasarovar created by Brahma, linked to Shiva and swans.
- Jainism: Sacred to Rishabhanatha, first Tirthankara.
- Buddhism: Manasarovar symbolizes the mother, Kailash the father.
- Bon: Sacred to Tonpa Shenrab and the Zhang Zhung empire.
Hindus
According to Hindu mythology, Mansarovar Lake was first created in Lord Brahma’s mind. Therefore, it is called “Manasarovar” in the Sanskrit language. The name of this sacred lake is a combination of two words Manas and Sarovar. In Hindu mythology, Mansarovar Lake is considered to be the summer abode of swans. Swan is Goddess Saraswati’s vahan. According to the sculptures, Devas descend between 3 and 5 am known as Brahma Muhurta to bathe in the lake. In the Ramayana, Rama was told by Vishvamitra that Brahma created a lake out of his consciousness and hence it was named Manas Sarovar, and out of that lake a river was born called Sarayu, which flowed through the Ayodhya kingdom.
Mount Kailash is situated on the banks of Manasarovar Lake. It is considered to be Lord Shiva’s sacred abode. This is where Shiva tamed the holy river Ganges and sent it to nourish the Himalayas valleys.
Jainism
In Jainism, Manasarovar Lake has an association with its first Tirthankara and the founder of this religion, Rishabhanatha. According to Jain scriptures, nirvana was attained by Rishabhanatha on the Ashtapad Mountain. Jains believe that after nirvana was attained by Rishabhanatha, his son emperor Bharata constructed twenty-four shrines and three stupas of the 24 Tirthankaras in the region. Other stories are also related to this region that relate to Tapas Kher Parna, Mahavira, Kumar, Sagar, Mandodari, and Ravana.
Bon and Buddhism
Mount Kailash and Lake Manasarovar are considered to be a prime pilgrimage site for a few Buddhist traditions. They are also considered to be central to Buddhist cosmology. The other name of Kailash is the mythological Mount Meru. Lake Mansarovar symbolizes the mother and Kailash represents the world’s father in Buddhism. As per mythology, before Buddha entered Maya’s womb she bathed at Manasarovar Lake to purify herself. Many sites in this region are closely associated with Padmasambhava, who is known for establishing Tantric Buddhism in the 8th century CE in Tibet. It is believed by Vajrayana Buddhists that saint Milarepa (c. 1052 – c. 1135) challenged Naro Böncham, Bön religion’s follower on the banks of the Lake Manasarovar.
For the Bon people, this area is believed to be the ancient Bon empire of Zhang Zhung’s center and is associated with the Zhang Zhung Meri deity. According to Tibetan beliefs, this area was the source of the Peacock, mythical Lion, Horse, and Elephant Rivers. When Tonpa Shenrab, Bon religion’s founder, visited Tibet he bathed in this lake to purify his soul.
- Also Read: Kailash Mansarovar Yatra Travel Tips
Pilgrimage
- Sacred Site: Manasarovar is a pilgrimage destination for Hindus, Buddhists, and Jains.
- Historical Pilgrimage: Mentioned in Tibetan records by the 12th century.
- Access Restrictions: Pilgrimages halted after 1959, resumed in 1981.
- Recent Changes: Pilgrimage suspended in 2020, reopened in 2023 with new rules.
Mansarovar is one of the most sacred lakes that has been mentioned in various Buddhist and Hindu religious literature. It is believed that Lake Manasarovar’s circumambulation by the pilgrims belonging to different regions is believed to be an act of wish fulfillment and also helps the devotees get rid of the sins they have committed. Though it has been stated in modern texts that the lake is among the most sacred sites, its explicit mention can’t be found in early literature as a pilgrimage site. Typically, historic pilgrimage sites visited by Jains, Buddhists, and Hindus have been mentioned in their respective texts.
Various infrastructures have been indicated by Hindu Puranas including temples, pilgrimage facilities, Dharamshalas, and ashrams at such sites. But there was no mention of such structures at least until the 1930s in the Kailash-Manasarovar region. As per Luciano Petech, it has been indicated by Tibetan records that by the late twelfth century the region was hailed to be their sacred geography, with reports of Buddhist monks circumambulating the mountain and meditating in Kailash’s Go-zul cave. According to Alex McKay, Shaivism, and the esoteric Buddhism’s possible synthesis may have expanded and brought Manasarovar and Kailash into the shared sacred geography for Hindus and Buddhists. The Mahanirvana Tantra, a 13th-century text dedicates its first chapter to Manasarovar Lake and Kailash as a pilgrimage site.
Due to the sacredness of this region, people of different religions undertake a pilgrimage to the Kailash-Manasarovar. In the 1930s pilgrimage to the Kailash Mountain increased but was later affected due to both the British Empire and China claiming the region. China permitted religious pilgrimages to Manasarovar and Mount Kailash after it occupied Tibet in 1950-51. While pilgrimage was guaranteed from India by the 1954 Sino-Indian Agreement, after the subsequent 1959 Tibetan uprising access was restricted, and after the Sino-Indian War the borders were closed in 1962. After two decades, in 1981 pilgrimage from India was allowed after an agreement between the governments of China and India. For three years since 2020, the pilgrimage was suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2023, the route was re-opened with new regulations. Since the pilgrimage route’s reopening in 1981 from India, the number of pilgrims embarking on this yatra has grown considerably.
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