Tilicho Lake

Tilicho is the largest size situated in highest altitude in the world at 4,919 meters (16,138 ft) in the Annapurna range of the Nepal Himalayas. Glacial lake right at the pass of Mesokanta pass connecting Manang side of Annapurna circuit to Jomsom Bazzar, Tilicho has dimension of length 4 km (2.5 mi) & width 1.2 km (0.75 mi) making Surface area 4.8 km2 (1.9 sq mi) with an average depth 85 m (279 ft). The fresh water of Tilicho has Water volume of 156×106 liter.

Variation, Famous & Selected treks in Tilicho Lake are – Annapurna Circuit with Tilicho trek/ Tilicho Lake Base Camp Trek/

According to the Department of Hydrology & Meteorology (2003), Nepal, no aquatic life has been discovered in Tilicho Lake by far.

The beauty of Tilicho Lake has been attracting people to its sore for couple of years. People doing Annapurna circuit started to extend their trip for 2 to 4 days to get to this glacial lake for the best view of the lake, reflection of mountains on the blue water of the lake and for the crowd free peaceful environment in Annapurna trekking.

After splitting the trail to Tilicho from Manang there are plenty of accommodation stops in between Tilicho Lake and the Annapurna circuit trekking route. However, Tilicho Lake is accessible from Tilicho basecamp which has a basic accommodation in a small hut. After visiting the lake people trek down to meet Annapurna circuit trekking trail at Yak Kharka or Ledar village. From here trekkers need to cross 5416 meters or 17778 feet tall Thorong la pass to get to Muktinath. Muktinath is village on the other side of the circuit trek of Annapurna. Muktinath is also famous as a religious site and in Tilicho Lake it presents as the ending point of the trek by far. However, Muktinath is an inseparable part of Jomsom Muktinath trekking and citation is done during Upper or Lower mustang trekking package.

Tilicho Lake is also illustrated as the ancient Kak Bhusundi Lake mentioned in the epic Ramayana. In Ramayan it is illustrated that the first happenings of Ramayana was told by crow to “King of Birds” Garuda, by this lake. The lake is named after the crow as kak Bhusudi in the Ramayana.

Tilicho Lake is overwhelmingly surrounded but the mountains as Khangsar Khang also known as Rock Noir meaning black rock, Muktinath peak, Nilgiri, and Tilicho peak: very near in the surrounding. And to the north from Khangsar Kang leads to Annapurna I, the highest mountain in the Annapurna Range and the east side offers views of Manaslu and massif of Ngada Chullu. The lake is source of Kangsar River which then connects with marsyangdi. Marsyandi and Manag is the river by the side of which Tilicho lake trekking trail is carved.