NAMTSO LAKE

Namtso Lake (Tengri nor in Mongolian) means "the lake of the sky" in Tibetan, a name predestined to draw on its hermits shores and pilgrims. Extending to 4 680 m above sea level, it is 2 000 km ², with an area of 113 km ², the second salé lake in Tibet, more northerly.

To the west of Namtso Chu is the sanctuary of migratory birds, a bay which can be observed from April to November, gulls, wild ducks, cormorants, grues and bruyère. It is a landscape of walking steppe strewn with nomadic pastors, where you can encounter marmots and pikas, kinds of little pigs of wild India.

One hour walk to the west, you arrive at Tashi Do (rock of Merit). The track departs from the lake to avoid the marshes and then to the shore on the right until the sight of two pillars of limestone which appear to mark the entrance of the small Tashi Do (Tashi Do tchoung-tchoung). It is the guardians of this amazing cave and cave sanctuaries complex. Polychrome frescoes still appear on the walls of the caves and the fumée ceilings show that they were inhabited. Some abandoned kitchen utensils report a recent human presence. It is possible to take the tour (kora) of this place in two hours. More to the east is the Tashi Do of recognition (Tashi Do thoudjé), with caves, but fewer.