Nature · Kupup
Look down on Elephant Lake
Stop on the road above Bitang Tso, the small glacial lake known as Elephant Lake, and see if you can trace the trunk. In winter it freezes white; in autumn it is steel blue under bare ridges.
Photo: W. J. Turner, RGS (W. & A. K. Johnston, Edinbu… · Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
Bitang Tso lies southeast of the Kupup watershed ridge and is regarded as the source of the Dichu. The army and tour drivers call it Elephant Lake because, seen from the road above, its outline is said to resemble an elephant with a trunk. Whether you see it depends on the light and your imagination; most people do.
Wikipedia lists several spellings, from Bithang Tso to Bidantso, and gives the meaning of the name as the lake of the cow-yak. In October and November the water is dark blue and the surrounding slopes brown and gold. From December it begins to freeze, and by January it is often a white sheet among snowfields.
Stop where your driver indicates; parts of the valley are military and you should not walk down to the shore without permission. Keep the visit short if you have come straight up from Gangtok. Indian nationals only. Check current status before you travel.
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Questions travellers ask
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Why is it called Elephant Lake?
Because its outline, seen from the road above, is said to resemble an elephant with its trunk stretched out. The older name is Bitang Tso, which Wikipedia translates as the lake of the cow-yak. Several spellings are used, including Bithang Tso and Bedang Tso.
Can we walk down to Elephant Lake?
Usually not. The lake lies in a valley with army presence, and visitors normally view it from the road. If soldiers or your driver say a short walk is allowed, keep to the track and stay away from the ice in winter. Never go onto a frozen lake.
Is Elephant Lake frozen in winter?
Usually from around late December to March it is partly or fully frozen and often surrounded by snow. The road may close after heavy snowfall, so a winter visit is never certain. Check current status before you travel.
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