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Lake Rakshastal (;Sanskrit: राक्षसताल; ) is a saltwater lake in Tibet Autonomous Region, China, lying just west of Lake Manasarovar and south of Mount Kailash. The Sutlej River (also known by the Tibetan name
Langqen Zangbo The Sutlej or Satluj River () is the longest of the five rivers that flow through the historic crossroads region of Punjab in northern India and Pakistan. The Sutlej River is also known as ''Satadru''. It is the easternmost tributary of the Ind ...
in this area) originates at Rakshastal's northwestern tip.


Etymology

The name of the lake literally means "lake of the demon" in Sanskrit. It is also known as Ravan Tal, as it is considered to be the place of severe penance by
Ravan Ravana (; , , ) is a rakshasa king of the island of Lanka, and the chief antagonist of the Hindu epic ''Ramayana'' and its adaptations. In the ''Ramayana'', Ravana is described to be the eldest son of sage Vishrava and rakshasi Kaikesi. He ab ...
, the demon-like King of
Lanka Lanka (, ) is the name given in Hindu epics to the island fortress capital of the legendary asura king Ravana in the epics of the ''Ramayana'' and the ''Mahabharata''. The fortress was situated on a plateau between three mountain peaks known ...
. In
Buddhism Buddhism ( , ), also known as Buddha Dharma and Dharmavinaya (), is an Indian religion or philosophical tradition based on teachings attributed to the Buddha. It originated in northern India as a -movement in the 5th century BCE, and gra ...
, Lake Manasarovar, which is round like the sun, and Rakshastal, shaped as a
crescent A crescent shape (, ) is a symbol or emblem used to represent the lunar phase in the first quarter (the "sickle moon"), or by extension a symbol representing the Moon itself. In Hinduism, Lord Shiva is often shown wearing a crescent moon on hi ...
, are respectively regarded as "brightness" and "darkness". Rakshastal is a saline lake. There is a short river named
Ganga Chhu Ganga Chhu is a river in the Tibet Autonomous Region, China. It is located between lake Manasarovar Lake Manasarovar (Sanskrit: मानसरोवर), also called Mapam Yutso (;) locally, is a high altitude freshwater lake fed by the Kailas ...
, which connects Lake Manasarovar with Rakshastal, believed to be created by
rishis ''Rishi'' () is a term for an accomplished and enlightened person. They find mentions in various Vedic texts. Rishis are believed to have composed hymns of the Vedas. The Post-Vedic tradition of Hinduism regards the rishis as "great yogis" or ...
to add pure water from Manasarovar. There are four islands in Rakshastal, named Topserma (Dose), Dola (the two biggest), Lachato (Nadzhado), and Dosharba. The islands are used by local people as winter pastures for their yaks. In the Tibetan language, the lake is known as Lagngar Cho or Lhanag Tso, which means "the dark lake of poison".


Religious significance

According to
Hindu scriptures Hindu texts are manuscripts and voluminous historical literature which are related to any of the diverse traditions within Hinduism. A few of these texts are shared across these traditions and they are broadly considered Hindu scriptures. These ...
, Rakshastal was created by Ravana for the express purpose of garnering superpowers through acts of
devotion Devotion or Devotions may refer to: Religion * Faith, confidence or trust in a person, thing, or concept * Anglican devotions, private prayers and practices used by Anglican Christians * Buddhist devotion, commitment to religious observance * C ...
and meditation to the god, Shiva, who resided on Mount Kailash. It was upon the banks of a special island in this lake that he would make a daily offering with one of his ten heads as a sacrifice to please Shiva. Finally, on the tenth day, Shiva was moved enough by his devotion to grant Ravana his wish to obtain superpowers. As there are no plants or wildlife around the lake, its lifeless surroundings caused the Tibetans to refer it as "the Ghost Lake". Visitors who approach the lake must be respectful to avoid inauspicious mishaps.


Geography

Rakshastal covers a total area of , at an altitude of . Though absent of nearby grasslands, the white cobbles, the hills and the island colored with dark red, and the deep blue lake water present another distinctive picture absent from many of the places more frequented by visitors. In 2004, Lake Manasarovar and Rakshastal were designated as a single
Ramsar Wetland The Ramsar Convention on Wetlands of International Importance Especially as Waterfowl Habitat is an international treaty for the conservation and sustainable use of Ramsar sites (wetlands). It is also known as the Convention on Wetlands. It ...
complex, under the name 'Mapangyong Cuo'.


Access

Lake Rakshartal lies right next to Lake Manasarovar, and is an integral part of the Kailash-Manasarovar pilgrimage. For knowing how to reach Lake Rakshastal, see the 'Access' section on the Mount Kailash page.


Climate


See also

* Lake Manasarovar * Mount Kailash *
Lakes of India This is a list of notable lakes in India. Andhra Pradesh * Kolleru Lake * Kondakarla Ava * Kaniairi Lake * Cumbum * Pulicat Lake Assam * Dora Beel * Urpad Beel * Samaguri Beel * Morikalang Beel * Haflong ...


References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Rakshastal (La'nga Co) Lakes of Tibet Hindu pilgrimage sites in China Indus basin