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Khecheopalri Lake
About Khecheopalri Lake

Khecheopalri Lake, initially known as Kha-Chot-Palri (meaning the heaven of Padmasambhava), is a sacred Lake for both Hindus and Buddhists, which is considered to be a wish fulfilling lake. It is located near Khecheopalri village about 147 kilometres (91 mi) west of Gangtok and 34 kilometres (21 mi) to the northwest of Pelling town in the West Sikkim district of the Northeastern Indian state of Sikkim. The local name for the lake is Sho Dzo Sho, which means "Oh Lady, Sit Here". The popular known name of the lake, considering its location is Khecheopalri Lake, ensconced in the midst of the Khechoedpaldri hill, which is also considered as a sacred hill.

An interesting feature of Khecheopalri Lake is that leaves are not allowed to float on the lake, which is ensured by the birds which vigorously pick them up as soon as they drop into the lake surface.

The Khecheopalri Lake is also part of Buddhist religious pilgrimage circuit involving the Yuksom, the Dubdi Monastery in Yuksom, the Rabdentse ruins, Pemayangtse Monastery, the Tashiding Monastery and the Sanga Choeling Monastery. The Khecheopalri Lake and the Khangchendzonga National Park are conserved from the biodiversity perspective with ecotourism and pilgrimage as essential off shoots. As a result, their recreational and sacredness values are enhanced.

The lake is a vital part of the much honored valley of "Demazong" meaning valley of rice. This landscape is also known as a land of hidden treasures blessed by Guru Padmasambhava.The climate prevailing in the lake region is monsoonal. The maximum and minimum temperatures recorded are 24 °C (75 °F) and 4 °C (39 °F).

 
Flora and fauna

Vegetation
The lake is enclosed by a broad-leaved mixed temperate forest. However, the vegetation in the lake comprises Phytoplankton, Macrophytes and Zooplankton.The Phytoplankton species are a composition of different families namely, Chlorophyceae which is the foremost group, Chrysophyceae, Cyanophyceae and one species each of Euglenophyceae, Dinophyceae, Charophyceae and Cryptophyceae.Macrophytes comprised Aponogeton monostachyon, Scirpus sp.,Ceratophyllum sp., Monocharia vaginalis. The Zooplanktons recorded are: 7 rotifers, 5 protozoans, 2 each of copepods and cladocerans, and 1 each of ostracods andisopods.

Avifauna
The avifauna recorded in the lake, particularly in the festive season when they gather in the early hours of the morning (dispersed with human presence) at the middle of the lake are: White-breasted waterhen (Amaurornis phoenicurus), common teal (Anascrecca), grebe (Podiceps ruficollis), little cormorant (phalacrocorax niger), common merganser– Mergus merganser, large cormorant (phalacrocorax carbo), tufted duck (Aythya fuligula), moorhen (gallimlachorophy) and crane brown Amaurornisbi colour. The lake is also a resting-place for Trans-Himalayan migratory birds and supports commercial and recreational tourism. Trans Himalayan migratory birds visit the lake.

Aquatic fauna
The fish species recorded in the lake are: Danio aequipinnatus, Schziothoraxsp, Cyprinus carpio, Garra sp, and Schistura sp.

 
Topography of Khecheopalri Lake

Khecheopalri Lake lake is located amidst the pristine forest at an elevation of 1,700 metres (5,600 ft) near Tsozo village. The formation of the lake is estimated to be 3500 years old. The lake drains a catchment area of the Ramam watershed (Ramam mountain gives its name to the valley) and has a drainage area of square kilometres (4.6 sq mi) (including area of bog of 70,100 square metres (755,000 sq ft). The periphery of lake has the shape of a foot. The surface water spread area of the lake is 3.79 hectares (9.4 acres). The depth of water in the lake varies from 3.2–11.2 metres (10–37 ft) with an average depth of 7.2 metres (24 ft).

The lake was the original névé (term used to define formation of a glacier from compact granular snow) region of ancient precipitous glaciers. The depression where the lake is situated was formed by the scooping action of the glacier. It forms the southern bank of the Lethang valley.

It is also inferred from a visual observation of the lake that it has undergone changes in its size due to encroachment due to peripheral vegetation and eutrophication, and its original size could have been three times of its present size. The lake's water spread, which was 7.4 hectares (18 acres) in 1963 which reduced to 3.8 hectares (9.4 acres) in 1997 and thus the peatland (bog) increased from 3.4–7 hectares (8.4–17 acres). Inflow into the lake is through two persistent and five non persistent streams, while the outflow is from one outlet. In addition, during the monsoon season two streams are also diverted temporarily into the lake to supplement its storage capacity. The geological setting in the lake and its adjacent hills consist of granite gneiss, schist and phyllites.

The lake is enveloped in a dense forest cover of temperate vegetation and bamboo. 72 households and 440 people live in villages around the lake periphery. The Lepchas are the main ethnic group of the place. Traditional agriculture is the main livelihood and recently some households have become involved in tourism. Pelling–Yuksom road leads to the lake, which is enclosed by densely forested hills. There is also a monastery above the lake.

Facilities

Now, there is a lake Jetty that leads to the front of the lake and from where prayers and incense are offered. Prayer wheels are fixed along the jetty with prayer flags and Tibetan inscriptions, adding to the holiness of the place.Annual Buddhist rituals from the readings of the Naysul prayer book, which describes the origin of Sikkim and has several tantric secret prayers, are chanted at the lake.

Etymology of Khecheopalri Lake

According to folklore morphometry, Khecheopalri is made up of two words, Kheecheo and palri. 'Khecheo' means "flyingyoginis" or "Taras" (female manifestations of Avalokiteshvara, the Bodhisattva of Compassion) and 'palri' means "palace".

Legends associated with Khecheopalri Lake
According to folklore legend related to Sikkim topography, the Khecheopalri is said to represent one of the four plexus of the human body namely, the thorax; the other three plexes are said to be represented by Yuksom (the third eye), Tashiding (head) and Pemayangtse (the heart).

The mythological links to the origin of all the lakes in Sikkim make them sacred and so is the case with the Khecheopalri Lake. Various legends are narrated such as: Guru Padmasambahava preached to sixty-four yoginis here; it is the residing place of the Goddess Tara Jetsun Dolma and the Khecheopalri Lake is her footprint; the lake indicates the Goddess Chho Pema; footprints of Macha Zemu Rinpoche are on a stone near the chorten (stupa) near the lake; Hindu god Lord Shiva meditated in Dupukney Cave that is situated above the lake and hence worshipped on "Nag Panchami" day at the lake; a Lepcha girl named Nenjo Asha Lham was blessed by the lake goddess and was gifted with a precious gem which was lost, and it is the belief of the local people that the gem is hidden in the lake; the lake water has remedial properties and hence permitted to be used only for performing rites and rituals; and with all these legends, the lake is called a "wish fulfilling lake".

This lake was also identified as the footprints of Goddess Tara, as from a high vantage point the contours of the lake appear like a footprint. Another belief is that the foot prints are of Hindu god Lord Shiva. The lake because of its high religious significance has been declared as a protected lake.The sacredness of the lake is represented by another legend, which says that the shape of the lake is in the form of foot that symbolizes the foot of Lord Buddha, which could be seen from the surrounding hills.

Another folk legend narrated (a plaque erected at the entrance to the lake by the Department of Ecclesiastical Affairs, Government of Sikkim gives some details of the legend) is that long time back this place was used to be a grazing ground, troubled by nettle. Then, on a particular day, a Lepcha couple were peeling off the bark of the nettle when they saw a pair of conch shields falling from air on the ground. This was followed by cruel shaking of the ground and spring water emerged from below and thus the lake was formed. Based on the holy Nesol text, the lake was interpreted as the abode of "Tshomen Gyalmo or chief protective nymph of the Dharma as blessed by Goddess Tara".

 
Festival and Religiosity

As the sacred Khecheopalri Lake is known as a "wish fulfilling lake", folklore and legends associated with it are many. The folk lore has generated deep religious interest and as a result lake's waters are permitted to be used only for performing customs and traditions. Consequently, a religious fair, one of the largest festivals, is held here every year for two days in Maghe purne (March/April), which is attended by a large number of pilgrims from all parts of Sikkim, Nepal, Bhutan, and India. They offer food material to the lake and carry waters of the lake as Prasad (substance that is first offered to a deity and then consumed). People consider that Lord Shiva exists in "solemn meditation inside the lake". During this festival, pilgrims float butter lamps in the lake on bamboo boats tied with khadas (scared scarves), in the evenings chanting prayers as mark of reverence, along with many other food offerings.

Chho-Tsho, is another festival that is observed here in the month of October after the cardamom harvest to offer gratitude for providing people with food.

The serene waters of the lake are visited by many pilgrims and tourists. From the main gate, where there are small shops and road ends to the lake is about a ten to fifteen minutes walk through a lovely tropical forest.

How To Reach There

Most tourists visit Khecheoplari as part of the full day sightseeing of Pelling. The tour starts at Pelling and continues through Darap Village and Rimbi falls before reaching Khecheoplari. The lake can also be reached through Yuksom through Singshore bridge and Kanchenjunga falls.

Safety Tips
On September 2011 one woman got food poisoned (and need hospitalization) by a woman (with daughters) who lives in the village, who has a small kitchen in the small village before the lake and sells momo to tourists and also has some rooms to rent for sleep. So please tourists be careful of what you eat there!

 

 


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