The Demon lake (commonly known as Rakshas Taal) in Tibet, offers a mind blowing experience of a ferocious water body, that appears no less than an ocean in the grip of a hurricane. At an altitude of 15,000 feet one would never imagine being on the shores of an ocean. The beach has shells and the water is salty, thus providing evidence that this region was once under the sea.

This lake is at a short distance of 10 kilometers from Mansarovar lake, and in close proximity to Mount Kailash. In the Hindu and Buddhist spiritual beliefs, Mansarovar represents the positive energy through it’s calm fresh waters. On the other hand, Rakshas Taal through its ferociousness and salt water, represents negative energy.

Hindu and Buddhists while look forward to visiting Mansarovar, they seldom make a small extension to visit Rakshas Taal. That’s an irony because it offers no less of a beauty.

Rakshas Taal is also associated with King Ravana of Sri Lanka, probably as a representation of negativity. While the abode of Lord Shiva, the Kailash mountain lies close to Mansarovar, on the other hand the wife of Mount Kailash, the mountain known as Namo Nangi, lies on the shores of Rakshas Taal. Probably the ferociousness of the lake represents the gripping of Namo Nangi, the wife of Kailash. This is similar to gripping of Sita, the wife of Lord Rama by Ravana.

Whatever be the reality behind these religious beliefs, I was just wonder struck by the beauty of this lake. While my hand is pretty stable with camera but the high velocity winds around Rakshas Taal made it really tough for me to get stable shots with hand held camera.

Click first photo below to view entire series in slide show.