Namtso Lake is located north east 215 kilometer from Lhasa city.Namtso Lake is 4718 metres above the sea level, 70 kilometers in lenghth, 30 kilometers in wideth and 1940 square kilometers in size. It is both the highest and biggest salt water lake in the world.
Meaning Heavenly Lake in Tibetan, Namtso is respected as one of the four holiest lakes and the seat of Paramasukha Chakrasamvara by Buddhist pilgrims. Buddhists believe Buddhas, Bodhisattvas and Vajras will assemble to hold religious meeting at Namtso in the year of sheep on Tibetan calendar. Circumambulation around the lake at the right moment equals 100 thousand times of that in normal years. Hence thousands of pilgrims from every corner in the 5th & 6th month of the Tibetan calendar each year, many Buddhists come to the lakeside on pilgrimage to pay homage and pray. Deep tracks are worn into the lakeshore due to this activity. In history, monasteries stood like trees in a forest around Lake Namtso attracting large numbers of pilgrims with eminent monks in Buddhist temples developing body and character and extending Buddhism. On the four sides of the lake stand four monasteries, which have Buddhist meanings.