Lake Mapam Yumco + Lake Rakshastal (Sacred Lake & Ghost Lake) Guide

Lake Mapam Yumco + Lake Rakshastal (Sacred Lake & Ghost Lake) Guide

At the foot of Mount Kailash lie two adjacent lakes — Lake Mapam Yumco and Lake Rakshastal. One is the king of sacred lakes, the other called the "ghost lake" — one sacred and one ghostly, one blue and one deep, Ngari's most mysterious lake wonder.

This guide covers both.

💧 Lake Mapam Yumco (Sacred Lake)

• Status: the king of sacred lakes, revered by Tibetan Buddhism, Hinduism, and more
• Water: clear, azure — one of China's most transparent freshwater lakes
• Sights: sacred lake + Mount Kailash in one frame, holy and beautiful
• Kora: circumambulating the lake is an important pilgrimage

🌑 Lake Rakshastal (Ghost Lake)

• Status: separated from Mapam Yumco by a levee; called the "ghost lake" for its salt water, dark color, and water-monster legends
• Water: salty, dark, less transparent than the sacred lake
• Sights: side by side with the sacred lake — one blue, one deep; hauntingly beautiful at sunset

🏔️ Location

• Position: Burang County, Ngari, south of Mount Kailash
• Together: the two lakes are close, key nodes on the kora circuits

📷 Best Spots & Timing

• Sacred lake + snow peaks: high lakeside spot, Mount Kailash and lake together
• Sunrise/sunset: sacred lake bathed in gold, ghost lake reflecting dusk
• Lakeside prayer flags: flags + lake + snow peaks, a classic frame
• Shooting: wide-angle for panorama, telephoto for snow reflection

🚗 How to Get There

• Transport: Burang County, Ngari; self-drive/charter, border permit required
• Route: often combined with the Kailash kora or Ngari Grand Loop
• Roads: some dirt roads; 4WD recommended

📌 Practical Tips

1. High altitude (~4,500 m+), prevent altitude sickness
2. Plateau windy and dry; sunscreen and warmth
3. On the sacred-lake kora, respect pilgrims; keep order
4. Lakeside lodging is limited; plan ahead
5. Protect the sacred lake; don't pollute it

Lake Mapam Yumco and Lake Rakshastal, one sacred and one ghostly, one blue and one deep, are the most mysterious lakes beneath Mount Kailash. Do a kora, look at the ghost lake, and you'll find a timeless peace in Ngari.