Hokotsho
This sacred lake is a five hour trek from Punakha. Home to
Tshomem (lady of the lake) a local deity. The lake is at the
altitude of 2,000m and is surrounded by beautiful woods and
flowers. Pilgrims take a day to make the khora (circumambulation)
around the lake. In the past large crowds attended a three day
festival at Hokotsho which was ended by the Je Khenpo to protect
the sacred lake.
The trek starts at Sirigang which is 30
minutes by car from Punakha Dzong following the Mos Chhu (river)
upstream. After two hours on the steep and winding trail one
reaches Chorten Nyerbo Monastery where there is an ancient
sacred oak. The area was once dense forest where evil spirits
lived. The fifteenth century saint Drukpa Kunley arrived here
when the demons were together in conclave. Drukpa Kunley hurled
a burning log into the meeting and the demons were killed. The
oak tree with its dark brown bark grew from the blazing log.
Drukpa Kunley’s descendants lived here in the winter and at
Tango in the Thimpu Valley in the summer. The monastery of
Chorten Nyerbo was built in the eighteenth century and contains
a magnificent statue of Maitreya(the future Buddha) as well as
fine images of the great lamas of the Drukpa lineage. After
three hours of gradual climbing through paddy fields and
pastures leading to forests of magnolia and oak one rounds a
bend in the trail and the large dark green lake comes suddenly
into view. Pilgrims raise prayer flags and make offerings to
Tshomem upon arriving at the lake. The snow peaks of Lunana make
for a dramatic sunset.
