 Tsongo
Lake is 38 kilometers from Gangtok
the capital of Sikkim and takes about
2½ hours to reach by hired car. The word Tsongo in
Bhutia language means source of the lake. The lake is about
one kilometer long, 50ft deep, oval in shape and is situated
at an altitude of 3780 meters.
The lake remains frozen throughout the winter
up to April end. Snowfall is also common in this area even
during the summer months.
The Tsongo Lake is considered extremely
sacred by the local people. The place is a paradise for bird
lovers with large number of Blue Whistling Thrush, Redstarts
and Forktails around.
The Tsongo lake is host to a number of migratory
birds prominent among which is the Brahminy ducks. The migratory
birds use the lake as a stop over on their way to the Indian
plains from as far as Siberia during the winter months.
About 26 kilometers from Gangtok en-route
to Tsongo is the Kyongnosla Alpine Sanctuary. The sanctuary
with an area of 4 square kms has wide variety of flora and
fauna.
The Rhododendron flowers remain in full
bloom during the months of April and May allowing breathtaking
views to the visitors. The way to the Tsongo Lake is famous
for a number of beautiful waterfalls. |
The
Tsongo Lake was originally situated several kilometers away.