Tora Lake near Muktinath awaits tourists

By Harikrishna Sharma,Mustang, may.1: Tora Lake, a tranquil natural pond located in Ward No. 1 of Varagung Muktichhetra Rural Municipality, Mustang, remains an overlooked treasure, despite lying just a two-minute walk away from the road leading to the famous Muktinath Temple. 

Surrounded by rugged hills and majestic Himalayan peaks such as Dhaulagiri, Thorong La Peak, and Hongde West, the lake offers stunning mirror-like reflections of the snow-capped mountains.

Situated at an altitude of 3,500 metres above sea level, the lake boasts natural beauty along with ecological and cultural significance. However, due to a lack of conservation efforts, the lake’s original charm is gradually diminishing.

Locals, including Palgen Gurung, say the natural shape of the lake and its annual Nag Puja (serpent worship) ritual captivate visitors. The surrounding scenery is so vividly reflected in the lake that it feels like looking into a perfect mirror. Gurung believes that better promotion and infrastructure could draw many more tourists.

Pramesh Gurung, spokesperson of the rural municipality and ward chairperson, shared that there are plans to allocate budget in the upcoming fiscal year to develop essential infrastructure for visitors. The local community has also shown interest in preserving the lake, he added.

However, the absence of permanent settlements near the lake poses challenges for regular maintenance. A community committee is being formed to ensure its protection and sustainable promotion.

Jharkot village has about 50 households, and in recent times, young visitors—especially those filming TikToks and taking selfies—have brought some buzz to the area. 

Still, the ward chairperson emphasised the need for proper signage and information boards to guide the hundreds of daily pilgrims heading to Muktinath towards the lake.