Mapam Yutso (Tibetan: ma-pham-gyu-mtsho), also known by various names such as Mapham Yumtso, Mabang Yongcuo, Mafan Lake, and Mapinmudalai Pond, is one of Tibet’s three great sacred lakes and one of the highest freshwater lakes in the world. It lies in Bangre Township, Hor region, northeast of Purang County, in western Tibet’s Ngari Prefecture.
Sitting at an elevation of 4,588 meters (15,052 feet), the lake is not only a geographical wonder but a spiritual centerpiece revered across multiple religions.
Lake Dimensions & Geography
Mapam Yutso stretches 26 kilometers long and 21 kilometers wide, with an average width of 15.9 km, covering an area of 412 square kilometers. It holds around 20 billion cubic meters of fresh water, with a mineral content of just 400 mg/liter, making it one of the purest freshwater lakes in the world.
The average depth of the lake is 46 meters, and at its deepest point, it reaches 81.8 meters. Six rivers flow into the lake, including the Zhazangbo River and Samo River, feeding from a catchment area of around 4,560 square kilometers.
Every year, the lake freezes in December and thaws by May, creating dramatic seasonal beauty.
Origin of the Name and Ancient Legend
In Tibetan, “Mapam Yutso” means “unconquerable” or “undefeated lake.” According to the scholar Chönyi Dorje in his Overview of Mapam Yutso, the lake’s formation is linked to a compassionate ancient king named Mubeng.
One day, while journeying through a forest, the king witnessed the suffering of people—birth, aging, illness, and death—and asked his teacher, “Do such pains also trouble the wise and virtuous?” The teacher replied, “These sufferings belong to all living beings.”
The king then asked, “How can these sufferings be removed?” The answer was simple: through generosity. So the king built shelters and provided food for the poor and sick for 12 years. The rice-washing water used for cooking slowly accumulated, and over time, it formed a vast lake — the Mapam Yutso we see today.
A Lake Revered by Many Religions
Mapam Yutso has long been known as the King of Sacred Lakes. It is a holy site for Hindus, Buddhists, Jains, and Bön practitioners, and holds a unique place among the world’s spiritual landmarks.
Long before Buddhism arrived in Tibet, the Tang Dynasty monk Xuanzang referred to this lake in his Great Tang Records on the Western Regions, describing it as the “Heavenly Lake of the Queen Mother of the West,” a divine playground in the mystical Western Paradise.
Since it lies in the westernmost part of Tibet’s holy lake region, many also refer to it as “The Western Sea” (Xi Hai).
Folk Song Tribute: A Tibetan Praise to the Western Sea
A well-known Tibetan folk song beautifully describes this sacred lake:
“A hill like a golden vase,
Though it has no temple,
Its beauty alone brings me joy.
A mirror-like western sea,
Though it holds no dragon,
Its emerald waters keep me longing…”
In the song, the “Western Sea” clearly refers to Mapam Yutso.
In Hindu Belief: The Creation of Lake Manasarovar
In Hinduism, the lake is believed to have been created by the god Brahma, and is known as Manasarovar — meaning “Lake of the Mind” or “Lake Born of the Mind”.
Legend says that after Mount Kailash (Gangdise) was completed, the divine mind (manas) descended to create a bathing place. There, Brahma and the Snow Mountain Goddess had been practicing austerities for 12 years but longed for a pure site to bathe. That’s when the sacred waters of Manasarovar came into being…
Divine Creation and Sacred Significance
According to Hindu legends, after encountering Brahma through a messenger named Rishis, the gods pleaded for a pure, sacred lake where they could bathe and cleanse themselves. Brahma agreed, and with divine power, created Mapam Yutso.
As the gods gathered to celebrate this sacred gift, Brahma’s son Rishisri suddenly noticed something extraordinary — a massive phallic pillar (lingam) rising from the center of the lake. Overwhelmed with joy and awe, the deities prostrated and worshipped it, viewing it as a symbol of fertility and divine energy.
In Hindu scriptures, bathing in Lake Manasarovar is said to wash away all sins and grant the soul a path to Brahma’s paradise. Drinking its water is believed to cleanse the karma of a hundred lifetimes and lead one to Shiva’s heavenly realm. Even today, many Indians deeply revere the lake — some of Mahatma Gandhi’s ashes were scattered here as a final tribute.
💎 Tibetan Bön Beliefs: The Mother’s Embrace
In Tibetan Bön, the lake is known as “Mapam Yungyi Tso’mu”, meaning “Jewel Lake in the Mother’s Embrace.” It is considered the source of life, a soul lake, and a reservoir of limitless merit and prosperity. Bathing in its waters or simply drinking from it is believed to bring immeasurable spiritual benefit.
🧘♀️ Tibetan Buddhism: A Lake of Eight Blessings
According to Tibetan Buddhism, the waters of Mapam Yutso are infused with eight sacred qualities. Devotees believe that bathing and drinking from the lake offers great merit, purifies negative karma, and extends life.
Tantric practitioners believe the lake is home to the Vajra Dakinis, female wisdom deities revered across multiple Buddhist sects. As a result, temples representing different traditions have been built around the lake. Notable monasteries include:
- Seralung Monastery (Drikung Kagyu lineage)
- Langna Monastery (Drukpa Kagyu tradition)
- Jiu Monastery (Nyingma school)
- Chugu Monastery (Gelug school)
Buddhists also believe the lake water can wash away spiritual defilements — greed, anger, ignorance, and laziness — bringing inner clarity and even longevity.
🌕 Sacred Bathing Gates and Pilgrimage
Shaped like a full moon, Mapam Yutso is encircled by four sacred bathing gates, each facing a cardinal direction:
- East: Lotus Gate (symbolizing purity)
- South: Sweet Scent Gate (symbolizing joy)
- West: Cleansing Gate (removing pollution)
- North: Faith Gate (strengthening devotion)
Pilgrims circumambulate the lake, stopping at each gate to bathe and purify themselves. It’s believed that bathing here removes all spiritual stains, eliminates misfortune, and leads to the fulfillment of one’s aspirations.
Despite the freezing winds and remote altitude, pilgrims still immerse themselves in the lake — trusting its untainted purity, untouched by industrial pollution. Many collect lake water in plastic containers to take home, offering it as a precious gift to loved ones.
🐉 Tibetan Myth: The Dragon King’s Lake
In Tibetan folklore, Mapam Yutso is said to be the dwelling place of the Dragon King Nāga, a powerful serpent spirit. This Nāga king and his followers feed on the fruits of a sacred tree growing within the lake. Some of these fruits are said to sink to the lakebed and transform into gold.
Near the Jiu Monastery on the lake’s western shore, people have reportedly found chunks of gold, a coincidence that fuels the legend.
⚠️ A Warning Against Greed
Historically, it’s said that King Jangchup Wo of Ali found gold here, which he used to ransom his brother from enemies by paying a body’s weight in gold.
Locals firmly believe that mining gold from the lake angers the lake spirit, bringing misfortune. Some say it can lead to plagues, illness, or even family ruin.
There’s a tale of a man who once found a gold nugget shaped like a dog — as large as an actual dog. Fearing the curse, he immediately offered the “golden dog” to the Dalai Lama in Lhasa. To commemorate this event, locals later built a chorten (stupa) on the site, naming it Ser-gu Quiro, meaning “Golden Dog Relic Stupa.”
A Divine Dream and the Buddha’s Birth
According to Buddhist scriptures, on the night before Buddha Shakyamuni’s conception, Queen Maya dreamt that the gods carried her to a sacred lake for purification. After she bathed and cleansed herself, she was ready to receive the divine child. In her dream, the Buddha appeared from the direction of Mount Gangdise, riding a white elephant, which transformed into a rainbow beam of light and entered her womb.
Surrounding the lake, it’s said, grow countless healing herbs — a belief that still holds today. Many pilgrims and locals trust that the plants and springs around the lake possess powerful medicinal properties.
🐉 The Dragon King’s Treasure Palace
In the ancient Tibetan text Gangdise Mountain and Lake Chronicles, it is written that beneath Mapam Yutso lie 108 sacred springs. Above them is the Palace of the Great Wealth Dragon King, where countless treasures from the world are stored.
In front of the dragon palace grows a towering sacred wish-fulfilling tree, called Zambuja Zashi, said to stretch its branches across all realms of existence, spreading fortune, happiness, and protection to humanity.
🌍 Four Miraculous Gifts of the Lake
Local legends speak of four divine elements found around the lake:
- South: Flows Holy Water, called Chukyi Zangpo
- West: Grows Fragrant Herbs, called Tsopa
- North: Produces Five-colored Stones, known as Diwunei’a
- East: Yields Five-colored Sand, called Qimai Ne’a, which melts in your mouth
It’s believed that anyone who finds even a tiny fish, a pebble, or a feather from a lake bird while walking the pilgrimage circuit around the lake has received a gift from the Dragon King — and will be blessed with wealth and abundance for life.
🔁 Name Change Through Faith and Victory
Over 900 years ago, this lake was known as “Machu Tso”, named after the Dragon King of Wealth. But in the 11th century, after a fierce religious conflict between the White Sect (Kagyu school) and the Black Sect (Bön religion), the Kagyu emerged victorious.
To honor this triumph, the lake’s name was changed to “Mapam Yutso”, meaning “The Lake of Eternal Victory” — a name that has endured to this day.
🌄 A Landscape Beyond Imagination
Mapam Yutso captivates not just for its sacred stories, but also for its breathtaking natural beauty. Over 2,000 years ago, the Indian poet Kalidasa described this place with vivid affection in his lyrical epic Meghaduta (The Cloud Messenger), painting scenes filled with living birds, animals, and pristine landscapes.
Standing by the lake, you see a mirror-like surface suspended among towering mountains, reflecting blue skies, white clouds, and snow-capped peaks. Wild ducks, cranes, and waterfowl glide and dive across the lake, sending out endless ripples on the water.
When the sun sets behind the clouds, golden light scatters across the waves, shimmering like dancing golden serpents. The reflected snow peaks and clouds sway on the rippling surface, appearing and disappearing like a dream. In such a serene and magical setting, one can’t help but be swept into a realm of divine imagination.
🛕 Sacred Temples and Ruins Around the Lake
There are eight monasteries and sacred sites dotted around Mapam Yutso’s shores:
- East: Seralung Monastery
- South: Chugu Monastery
- West: Guozu Monastery
- Northwest: Jiu Monastery
- North: Langna Monastery
There is also Zijie Monastery, where it’s said that the Buddha once preached to 500 arhats. Built by the Kagyu master Sangjie Jianzang, the monastery was later destroyed during conflicts, but meditation caves and ruins still remain.
Highlights and Travel Tips
① Historical Figure: Xuanzang (c. 602–664)
- Known as the “Tripitaka Master” or “Tang Monk,” Xuanzang was a famous Chinese monk, traveler, and founder of the Faxiang school of Buddhism.
- In 629, he traveled west from Chang’an (now Xi’an), journeying through 138 countries over 17 years, visiting places such as Dunhuang and Central Asia.
- He studied in India at Nalanda University and brought back 657 Buddhist scriptures.
- After returning to China, he translated 750 scriptures over 20 years at the Daci’en Temple.
- His journey inspired many legends and literary works, including the famous novel Journey to the West.
② Mythological Figure: Dragon King of Wealth (Guangcai Longwang)
- One of the eight great Dragon Kings in Buddhist cosmology.
- Dragons (Nāgas) are mythical beings living in water or underground; some are benevolent, others harmful.
- The Dragon Kings control rain and clouds and protect the Dharma.
- Mapam Yutso was once named after the Dragon King of Wealth, emphasizing its sacred connection to prosperity and protection.
③ Practical Travel Tips
Tickets
- You can purchase tickets for Mapam Yutso alone or combined tickets for both Mapam Yutso and Mount Kailash.
- Staying near Jiu Monastery usually does not require a ticket unless officials check.
Transportation
- From Pulan County, drive north 104 km to Kangsa, then east 28 km to the Hol Township area.
- Roads are generally good.
- If you don’t have a private car, you can hitchhike at Dajin or the Baga checkpoint for about 30–100 yuan.
④ Pilgrimage Route Around the Lake
- The full circuit is about 110 km and typically takes 4 days, traveling clockwise:
| Day | From | To | Distance | Duration | Notes |
|——|————-|————-|———-|———-|——————-|
| 1 | Jiu Monastery | Hol | 30 km | ~8 hours | Longest day |
| 2 | Hol | Seralung Monastery | 13 km | ~3 hours | Includes wetlands |
| 3 | Seralung | Chugu Monastery | 27 km | ~7 hours | Best photography spot |
| 4 | Chugu | Jiu Monastery | 40 km | ~9 hours | Return to start | - If performing full prostrations (kora), it can take about 28 days.
⑤ Accommodation and Food
- Shenhu Hotel by the lake offers lodging, meals, and hot springs.
- Villages behind Jiu Monastery offer Tibetan-style guesthouses and hot springs.
- There is also accommodation and meals at the local armed police base, but prices are higher.
⑥ Photography Tips
- Best shooting times: early morning and evening.
- Good locations:
- The hillside about 1 km north of Jiu Monastery — great views of the lake and holy mountain.
- The rocky hill east of Jiu village — use prayer flags, mani piles, and yak skulls as foregrounds.
- Chugu Monastery area — the best spot to capture the sacred lake and mountain.
⑦ Nature Reserve Information
- The Mapam Yutso Wetland Nature Reserve covers 99,340.1 hectares, including Mapam Yutso, Laong Tso, and surrounding wetlands.
- It has been upgraded to a national nature reserve.
- Visitors are urged to protect the environment and not pollute or collect items around the lake.