The Burning Lake

Bhutanese consider Burning Lake to be one of their most important pilgrimage locations. It is locally known as Mebar Tsho and has religious roots dating back to the 15th century. Terton Pema Lingpa had a vision of the spiritual treasures that Guru Rimpoche had concealed decades before in the lake, according to folklore. The inhabitants of Tang, as well as the local monarch, were skeptical of his assertions. Pema Lingpa leaped into the lake with a butter light in his hand to substantiate his assertions. He resurfaced after a long period beneath the water, holding a chest and a scroll of parchment, and the butter light in his palm was still burning brightly. Mebartsho was the name given to the lake after that (the Burning Lake).

The Burning Lake, Mebar Tsho known as one of the most beautiful historical sites in Bhutan, is located along the feeder route under Bumthang valley on the way to Tang village. From Chamkhar town, the Mebar Tsho is about a thirty-minute drive away.

Because it is linked to the famed religious treasurer (Terton) Terton Pema Lingpa, Mebar Tsho is considered one of the most sacred locations in the region. In the late 15th century, Pema Lingpa, an incarnated pupil of Padmasambhava, discovered riches within the lake.

Today, this small freshwater lake is a significant pilgrimage spot for Bhutanese, surrounded by vivid rainbow prayer flags and a small altar dedicated to Terton Pema Lingpa. People light butter lights at the lake on auspicious days. Many travelers come to see the breathtaking splendor of this significant historical and religious site.

Location: Bumthang, Bhutan