Main Info
Tso Moriri
Tso Moriri is one part of the twin lakes of Pangong Lake and Tso Moriri. The lakes are located in the Changthang Wildlife sanctuary. The environment at the lake is known for its serenity and calmness. The long is 28 km long when measured from north to south and almost 100 feet in depth. The Tso Moriri lake hosts a stunning view in the background with hill and snow-capped mountain ranges. Tso Moriri, however, is the lesser-known of the two lakes. Due to its comparative lack of popularity, Tso Moriri does not attract major tourism. So it is never really crowded. The lake is located in a fairly remote part of the state of Jammu and Kashmir. Hence, Tso Moriri is the perfect spot to lie down on the lush green land and gaze at the stars at night.
Tso Moriri is also known as the ‘Mountain Lake’ because of the many mountain ranges around it, reaching an altitude as high as 2000 metres. It has also been declared as a wetland reserve. The reserve is home to many bird species. These species include bare-headed goose, the great-crested grebe, the Brahmin duck and the brown-headed gull. Another animal that can be amply found at Tso Moriri is the Himalayan hare.
Best Time to Visit Tso Moriri
The months from January to March bring in extremely cold conditions that cause the lake to freeze. You may also not find any places around Tso Moriri at this time to stay at. It is only during April that the lake starts to melt. The melting of ice makes the lake turn many shades of blue. And this is a sight to behold. The months from May to August see the most number of tourists. But still, most tourists move to Pangong Tso as compared to Tso Moriri.
Flora and Fauna at Tso Moriri
Flora: Much vegetation will not be found in the deeper parts of the lake. The shallower parts are home to multiple varieties of flora that may not be found anywhere else. These include Caragana and Astragalus, Potamogeton species, Carex, Primula and Pedicularis.
Fauna: Many birds, mammals and a few carnivorous animals call Tso Moriri their home. These include 34 species of birds, comprising of 14 vulnerable water bird species. Some famous birds include Black-Necked Crane, Bar-Headed Geese, Brown-Headed Gulls, Tibetan Gazelle, Goa Antelope, Tibetan Ass, the Great Tibetan Sheep, snow leopard and the Tibetan wolf among others.
How to Reach Tso Moriri
Leh to Tso Moriri
You can opt for the bus services available from Leh to Tso Moriri, powered by the State Road Transportation of Jammu and Kashmir (JKSRTC). Other than buses, cabs, private cars and bikes are also available for hire. Many tourists prefer taking a bike ride up to Leh. From Leh, Tso Moriri is at a travel distance of 6 hours. The popular routes include Leh-Upshi-Debring-Puga-Tso Moriri and Leh-Upshi-Chumathang-Mahe-Puga-Tso Moriri.
Pagong to Tso Moriri
Direct Route
A direct route is available from Pagong to Tso Moriri. The route starts from Man and passes through Changthang to reach Tso Moriri. The route, however, is only available for Indian citizens and can only be reached by private services.
The route goes as: Pangong-Man-Merak-Khaltse-Chusul-Tsaga La-Tsaga Village-Loma-Nyoma-Mahe-Sumdo-Tso Moriri
Indirect Route
Another route can be taken up to go to Tso Moriri. This path goes from Pangong and is a comparatively longer route as compared to the direct route. This route, also, can only be reached by private cars and taxis. This route is especially recommended for foreign tourists as they are not allowed on the direct route.
The route goes as: Pangong-Lukung-Tangtse-Durbuk-Chang La-Sakti-Karu-Upshi-Kumdok-Kere-Chumathang-Mahe-Sumdo-Tso Moriri
Tips
- You may need a lot of copies of your permit, so keep them handy.
- The weather can get extremely cold in Ladakh, hence, it is recommended to carry a lot of warm clothes for your trip.
- Public transport does not travel up to Tso Moriri. It is better to contact a local tour operator who will get the essentials up for you, including the permit. You will also need copies of your passport and visa. You cannot travel to this lake without a permit and once you have those, permits are, at max, only valid for seven days from the date of issue. Make up to 6 copies of the permit before you leave because you will need to submit them at multiple checkpoints on your way.
- Almost no network is detected at the lake.
Conservation Efforts
Authorities have declared Tso Moriri as a wetland reserve. The State Government of Jammu and Kashmir has been working hard to conserve the lake of Tso Moriri. One of the steps that were taken in the process was the prohibition of hunting of endangered species in the area. To make sure that rules are being followed, checkpoints have also been set up at the entrance of the lake by the State Department of Wildlife.
The World Wide Fund-India (WWF-India) have a field office set up in the northwest shore of the lake. The office is set up in the area of Korzok. The main purpose of setting up this office is to make sure that High Altitude Wetlands are being conserved in Ladakh. The officials interact with the locals, tour guides and tourists. They conduct surveys and also provide required information to those seeking the same along with organising education awareness programmes. These programmes are directed towards making people aware of the endangerment of the lake.
Many other programs are also directed towards conserving the lake. Regular garbage-cleaning practices are carried out by the Indo Tibetan Border Petrol (ITBP) along with tour operators and local people. These movements are carried out to keep the area clean and green. Traditional fences have also been built to keep the traffic away from the greenery of the lake. The parking area has been moved and camping has also been restricted around the lake.