Chiu Gompa built into the cliffs on a hill on the shores of Lake Manasarovar in Tibet

Lake Manasarovar is near the source of the Sutlej River which is the easternmost large tributary of the Indus. Nearby are the sources of the Brahmaputra River, the Indus River, and the Karnali River (Ghaghara), an important tributary of the Ganges River.

The word “Manasarovara” originates from Sanskrit language, which is a combination of the words “Manas” “sarovara” manas meaning mind and sarovara meaning lake. According to the Hindu religion, the lake was first created in the mind of the Lord Brahma after which it manifested on Earth.

A monk stands on the shore of Lake Manasarovar