Tsomgo Lake, Sikkim
The Gangtok Lake Tsomgo is basically a glacial lake that gets the water when snow melts down from the mountains located around it. Tsomgo Lake is known for its changing colour of water. During the monsoon season, this lake appears to be a bright aquamarine lake; however, in winter season, the water of the lake freezes in the translucent layer of ice. When summer comes during the mid of May, the edges of this lake gets sprinkled with numerous blossoming flowers that gives the lake a beautiful appearance in stunning colours.
Spanning a valley at a height of 3780m, Tsomgo Lake cuts a pretty picture against a backdrop of rugged mountains rising towards the Tibetan Plateau. The outing (a four-hour return journey from state capital Gangtok) is particularly enjoyable in early spring and late autumn, when parts of the lake are frozen over and the stalls by the lake serve piping hot tea and momos (meat-filled dumplings) to fight the numbing chill. A lakeside joyride on a friendly yak? It's got that too!
As the Gangtok Lake Tsomgo is available in the restricted zone of Sikkim, it is must for all tourists to get permit before stepping in this region. For tourists coming from foreign countries are mandated to get special visitors’ permit. These permits are not available online, but can be obtained only by visiting the certified tour operator who can get it for you. Though the permits can be obtained free of cost, but your agent may ask you for a fee. For getting permit, tourists are required to furnish a valid ID proof with 2 passport size pictures. It takes 1 or 2 days of time to get permit.