Frozen Kshama Lake stuns Mustang visitors

By Harikrishna Sharma,Muktinath (Mustang), Jan. 14: Due to extreme cold, Kshama Lake, located in Gharapjhong Rural Municipality-5 of Mustang, has frozen. 

The lake, which recently emerged as an attractive new tourist destination, lies at an altitude of 3,750 metres above sea level at the foothills of the Nilgiri range.

Known for its clear blue colour resembling the surrounding mountains, the lake is now completely covered in ice. Despite the harsh winter, tourists and officials visiting Mustang have begun travelling to the site to take photographs of the frozen lake.

The lake can be reached via the Thini-Kaishang road, followed by about an hour’s walk through the Nepal Army’s Kaishang Camp. From Jomsom, the district headquarters, it takes around one and a half hours on foot to reach the lake.

Mohan Singh Lalchan, Chairperson of Gharapjhong Rural Municipality, said efforts have been made to improve infrastructure and promote the lake so that both domestic and foreign tourists visiting lower Mustang can easily reach Kshama Lake and enjoy the scenery. 

He added that the lake also holds religious significance, but many religious tourists have not yet visited due to a lack of awareness. Tourist Prakash Paudel said the lake, which appears lively during summer, feels as if it is in deep slumber during winter. “The lake is completely frozen, and one can take a photograph standing in the middle of the lake,” he said. Visitors have been amazed by the sight of the frozen lake.

According to religious legends, Kshama Lake is believed to be the place where a Yaksha questioned Yudhishthira as the Pandavas’ period of exile was coming to an end. The lake is also linked to the 12 years of exile and the subsequent year of incognito living of the Pandavas.

The area where a Nepal Army camp now stands was once a shelter for Tibetan Khampa rebels. Because of its religious and strategic importance, Kshama Lake is regarded as a significant site. The recent increase in tourist arrivals has delighted the locals. 

Meanwhile, due to the severe cold, small streams, wells, drinking water taps, irrigation canals and even household water tanks in both lower and upper Mustang have frozen.