About Sangetsar Lake
Sangetsar Lake, also known as Madhuri Lake, is a high-altitude natural lake located about 35 kilometres from Tawang town in Tawang district, Arunachal Pradesh, at an elevation of around 3,650 metres. Formed after the 1950 Assam-Tibet earthquake flooded the valley, it is known for its clear waters, submerged dead tree trunks and surrounding snow-covered mountains. The lake gained popularity after featuring in a Bollywood film and is a prominent sightseeing stop en route to Bum La Pass.
Visitors guide
Visitors can expect a remote high-altitude lake surrounded by snow-capped mountains and rugged terrain, with clear water featuring distinctive submerged dead tree trunks. The setting is open and windswept with limited vegetation. Visitors can walk along the lakeside, take photographs, enjoy mountain views, and visit a small cafeteria run by the Indian Army near the parking area. Access is via a mountain road from Tawang with army checkpoints en route.
Key highlights
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High-altitude natural lake at approximately 3,650 metres elevation
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Submerged dead tree trunks visible in clear lake water
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Surrounded by snow-covered mountains and alpine landscape
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Popularly known as Madhuri Lake after filming of Bollywood film Koyla
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Located on the route from Tawang to Bum La Pass
History of Sangetsar Lake
The lake was formed following the 1950 Assam-Tibet earthquake, when landslides and flooding created a natural basin that submerged the existing valley and trees, leaving dead tree trunks still visible in the water
Culture & Context
Locally known as Sangetsar Tso, the lake is popularly called Madhuri Lake after Bollywood actress Madhuri Dixit, following the shooting of the film Koyla (1997) at the location, which increased its recognition among visitors
Route
| By air | Nearest airports are Salonibari Airport, Tezpur and Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport, Guwahati; onward journey to Tawang and the lake is by road |
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