Burning Lake
Burning Lake
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.0
149 reviews
Excellent
52
Very good
48
Average
39
Poor
9
Terrible
1
Biswa Mukherjee
India903 contributions
Aug 2023 • Solo
A half hour drive from Chamkhar town in Bumthang lies the sacred Membartsho or Mebar Tsho. Located near the Tang valley, it is more a gorge than a lake and has a very interesting history.
Sometime in the 15th century the saint and 'treasure revealer' Pema Lingpa discovered holy relics hidden here by Guru Rinpoche and thus received his divine mission to propagate religion. To silence skeptical minds, he plunged into the river with a burning lamp and declared: "If I am a demon, I shall die! If I am not, and I am the true spiritual son of Guru Rinpoche, this lamp will continue to burn and I will recover hidden treasures!" After a while he came out of the water holding a statue, a treasure chest and the lamp in his hands was still alight. Since then the place took the name of the Burning Lake.
The lake is renowned as a 'Ney' - a term explained by the locals as 'supernatural energies and vibes flow from the landscape of such powerful spots, making them conducive environments for a spiritual experience'. It is said that enlightened beings can see a temple at the bottom of the lake.
The hike to the lake takes 20-30 mins and is pretty easy. However once you get to the end the rocks become slippery with a fast current flowing below and can be dangerous. Five people have drowned here since 2011, including a French tourist and his Bhutanese guide in 2015.
Sometime in the 15th century the saint and 'treasure revealer' Pema Lingpa discovered holy relics hidden here by Guru Rinpoche and thus received his divine mission to propagate religion. To silence skeptical minds, he plunged into the river with a burning lamp and declared: "If I am a demon, I shall die! If I am not, and I am the true spiritual son of Guru Rinpoche, this lamp will continue to burn and I will recover hidden treasures!" After a while he came out of the water holding a statue, a treasure chest and the lamp in his hands was still alight. Since then the place took the name of the Burning Lake.
The lake is renowned as a 'Ney' - a term explained by the locals as 'supernatural energies and vibes flow from the landscape of such powerful spots, making them conducive environments for a spiritual experience'. It is said that enlightened beings can see a temple at the bottom of the lake.
The hike to the lake takes 20-30 mins and is pretty easy. However once you get to the end the rocks become slippery with a fast current flowing below and can be dangerous. Five people have drowned here since 2011, including a French tourist and his Bhutanese guide in 2015.
Written 9 November 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
bangkok_tattoo
Thimphu, Bhutan7 contributions
Sept 2020
If you are heading east from Bumthang, stop at this site at the entrance to the Tang Valley. Your tour guide will tell you the story of Pema Lingpa - but aside from the spiritual significance, it's a place of amazing natural beauty.
Then head further up the Tang Valley to stay at Ogyen Choeling Heritage House.
Then head further up the Tang Valley to stay at Ogyen Choeling Heritage House.
Written 28 September 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Morocco_2013_Irene
Taipei, Taiwan3 contributions
Feb 2015 • Solo
Have you ever been the Master of tibetan buddhism, Guru Rinpoche's meditation place? You shouldn't miss this cave! When sitting inside this cave, looking the tiger shape rock and the deep burning lake, part of your spirit will have been cleaned.
Written 9 March 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
David James
California9 contributions
Mar 2020 • Friends
it is around 15 minutes walk from the nearest road point. It is a must visit site for a spiritual tour in Bhutan.
Written 5 May 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Mrloughton
Oxshott, UK192 contributions
Mar 2017 • Friends
Not far from the town center, guess around 20/30 minutes drive. It's a low waterfall and a lake inside a forest. The place is very sacred for Bhutanese people so please respect.
Written 3 March 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
udruk
Thimphu, Bhutan22 contributions
Dec 2016 • Business
This lake is on a running stream of Tang valley. This is the site where Terton Pema Lingpa had jumped into the lake with a burning butter lamp in his hand and emerged back after an hour or so with the lamp still burning in his right hand and a statue in the other hand. This act had happened in 1476.
Written 10 February 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
IT-Michael
Bangkok155 contributions
Feb 2015 • Solo
Terton Pema Lingpa found a terma and returned to the surface with a burning lamp, this is how the story goes.
I found it a nice little walk, not spectacular nor dramatic, it scenic so being a Buddhist I should have rated this much higher, but simple my conviction is not what counts, it really only a worth a visit is if it is on the route of the day, or if you wish to pay respect to Terton Pema Lingpa.
I found it a nice little walk, not spectacular nor dramatic, it scenic so being a Buddhist I should have rated this much higher, but simple my conviction is not what counts, it really only a worth a visit is if it is on the route of the day, or if you wish to pay respect to Terton Pema Lingpa.
Written 17 February 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
waalitjkoort
Alice Springs, Australia96 contributions
Feb 2015 • Couples
We visited Burning Lake in conjuction with a hike up to Pema Lingpa's monastery , Kuzangdra, which when combined made the day special and interesting.
The Burning Lake is the holy site where Pema LIngpa dived into the river gorge and retrieved holy treasures. The site is 5 minutes from the main road up a farm road which leads to the hike to Kuzangdra monastery which Pema LIngpa created with the help of angels.
A visit to Burning Lake combined with the hike is definately recommended.
The Burning Lake is the holy site where Pema LIngpa dived into the river gorge and retrieved holy treasures. The site is 5 minutes from the main road up a farm road which leads to the hike to Kuzangdra monastery which Pema LIngpa created with the help of angels.
A visit to Burning Lake combined with the hike is definately recommended.
Written 9 February 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
gentlejourneys
Geneva, Switzerland82 contributions
Aug 2013 • Couples
Mebar Tsho or burning lake is a spritual place and many make pilgrimmages here. Hundreds of prayer flags are strung through the trees and thousands of tiny stupas are crammed into the rocks. A buddhist saint,Terton Pima Lingpa, known for finding treasures went down into the lake with a butter candle looking for a treasure. Miraculously his candle did not go out while he was under water. You have to go down some steep steps to get to this rushing lake and the little rocky outcrop over the lake may be unsettling for some, however, the sound of the rushing water and the woodsy vegetation along with all the spiritual artifacts left by others, make it a nice place to stop and reflect.
Written 20 August 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Explore10X Tours & Travels
Thimphu District, Bhutan100 contributions
Jan 2024 • Business
Burning Lake in Bumthang is a beautiful place. It's known for its sacredness and natural beauty. Many people visit to enjoy the peaceful surroundings and witness the lake.
Written 31 January 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi
Which is the nearest city from Bumthang? We are visiting Paro Thimphu Punakha and Phobjika, so which of these place is best to go to Bumthang from?
Thanks
Written 25 September 2016
Hi
Closest is Punakha. Road from Punakha to Bumathang is quite bad.
Written 4 October 2016
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