Tibet's holy lake: Yamdrok Lake (4)

Yamdrok Lake is one of Tibet's three holy lakes, along with Nam Co and Mapam Yum Co. It's the largest freshwater lake at the foot of the Himalayas. The 638-sq-km body of water is situated about 4,441 meters above sea level and is believed to be the woman guardian of Buddhism in Tibet.

A constant flow of pilgrims streams to the three lakes. The breathtaking Yamdrok Lake enjoys the advantage of being closest to Lhasa and the airport. Likewise, the road to reach Yamdrok is arguably in better condition than those leading to the other two holy lakes.

In addition, the drive along the two-lane road that wraps around the 4,800-meter-high Gampa-la Mountain is riddled with U-turns, offering views of changing landscapes and different seasons created by the varying altitudes.