Drakey Pangtsho Hike| 2025| Paro| Bhutan 🇧🇹

Описание: High on the northern edge of Paro Dzongkhag, nestled against the rugged cliffs, lies Drakey Pangtsho (also known as Drakey Phamtsho or Dragay Phangtsho) – one of Bhutan’s holiest lakes. Steeped in legend and Buddhist lore, it is believed to be the resting place of hidden treasures left by great saints.
The hike usually begins at Bjana Goenpa, a monastery about an hour and a half’s drive from Drukgyel Dzong. From the Goenpa, the trail to Drakey Pangtsho stretches roughly 6 km. Experienced hikers can reach the lake in 4–5 hours, while those walking at a gentler pace may take 6–7 hours. The descent back to the monastery generally takes 3–4 hours. The path rises steadily through rocky slopes and alpine shrubs until it reaches a mountain pass, where hikers are rewarded with their first view of Yumtsho Lake before continuing onward to the main Treasure Lake.
The name of the lake translates to “the lake on the lap of Jowo Drake,” the guardian deity of Paro Valley. According to legend, Jowo Drake offered the lake to Guru Rinpoche (Padmasambhava) in the 8th century as a safe place to conceal his sacred termas (hidden treasures), giving it its revered status as a Treasure Lake. Another explanation of the name, “lake on the lap (Pham) of a cliff (Drak),” reflects the lake’s dramatic position amid towering rocks.
Drakey Pangtsho is woven with stories of extraordinary spiritual feats. It is said that Yongdra Gyatsho, the fifth Dharma Master of Shaladrago, once entered the lake with a lit butter lamp balanced on his head, meditated beneath its waters for seven days, and emerged with sacred treasures—his clothes still dry and the lamp still burning. This tale recalls the famous leap of Terton Pema Lingpa into Mebartsho in Bumthang with a burning lamp. Even today, devoted pilgrims believe they may glimpse flashes of hidden treasures or hear mystical sounds on auspicious days, depending on their karmic merit.
Though the climb is demanding, it is deeply rewarding. As you leave the last traces of human settlement behind, cool mountain air, birdsong, and fluttering alpine flowers accompany your steps. Each stride feels like a small act of pilgrimage. When at last the teal-blue waters of Drakey Pangtsho come into view, its stillness and dramatic backdrop are breathtaking. On clear days, the sweeping panorama of Paro’s highlands unfolds below, with distant glimpses of Jele Dzong and monasteries like Dongkola, Chidu Goemba, and Mendrup Goemba.
The lake’s appearance shifts with the light—sometimes a deep jade green, at other times a shimmering turquoise. In the evening, ripples reflect the orange glow of the setting sun, while the surrounding cliffs cast long shadows across its glassy surface. Many visitors linger, praying, meditating, or simply soaking in the quiet energy of the place before starting the descent back to the Goenpa.
A hike to Drakey Pangtsho is more than a trek; it is an immersion into Bhutan’s living spiritual heritage. Every legend, every footstep on the stony path, and every gust of wind over the ridges speaks of the sacredness of these mountains and waters. Standing at the edge of this Treasure Lake is not only to witness a landscape of striking beauty, but also to feel the heartbeat of Bhutanese faith itself.