Location- 28 km from Pelling, (Pelling to Yuksom)
Fee - INR 10
Timings - Dawn - Dusk
Positioned at an altitude of 6000 feet above the sea level, Khecheopalri Lake is a serene natural reservoir, which is a sacred entity for Sikkimese Buddhists and Lepcha animists. They believe that the shape of the lake is similar to the footprint of Goddess Tara. The locals say that the birds pick every leave falling from the surrounding trees from the lake’s surface and keep it absolutely clean, all round the year. The lake is believed to be wish fulfilling.
According to Buddhists belief Khecheopalri Lake is the production of Goddess Tara who was blessed by Guru Rempoche. As per local legends, the original location of the Lake was somewhere else and it came to its present location on this own. One day, the villagers saw it, named it, Lake Chojoo, after that it stayed. Though, there are different stories related to this.
At the time of Khecheopalri Mela (March/April) (1st month of lunar calendar), butter lamps are set afloat in the lake. This fair is attended by a huge number of devotees who come here to pay their home and offerings. Prayer wheels dot the side of the jetty, along with fluttering prayer flags that have Tibetan writings. If you walk for around an hour from the lake, you arrive at Khecheopalri Monastery on the hill, which is placed on the top of a hill.
