The black pool
Deep water under rock.
Christopher J. Fynn — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Christopher J. Fynn — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Christopher J. Fynn — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Gerd Eichmann — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Gerd Eichmann — CC BY-SA 4.0
Mebar Tsho, the «Burning Lake», is a deep pool in the Tang River of the Bumthang valley, surrounded by large rocks and prayer flags. It is not a lake in the usual sense but a dark widening of the stream. Yet it is among Bhutan's most sacred places, and it draws visitors with its calm and its strange story. Legend says Pema Lingpa, the 15th-century revealer of religious treasures, was doubted by the people, so he dived into the pool holding a lit butter lamp. He came up with a treasure chest and a scroll, with the lamp still burning, and so the place was named the Burning Lake. It is a religious tale passed down by local people and remains part of the site's standing. You walk down from the road among thick trees to grey rocks overhanging black water, with coloured prayer flags above and a white stream running between the boulders. Small clay stupas sit on the rocks, and there is a simple shrine. Early morning mist adds to the mystery, when vapour rises above the water. It is about 7 km in a straight line from Jakar, and sources give about 20 to 30 minutes by car, then a five-minute walk. Take care: the rocks are slippery and unprotected in several places, so do not swim and keep children close. Do not touch the offerings, and respect worshippers. Foreign visitors also pay a Sustainable Development Fee of about 100 US dollars a night, and entry is usually arranged through a company with a licensed guide.
Deep water under rock.
Colour above the river.
Vapour above the water.
Tang Valley, east of Jakar, Bumthang, Bhutan
It is a deep pool in the Tang River, though its common name is the Burning Lake.
It needs care, as the rocks are slippery and many spots have no barriers.