Gurudongmar Lake
Mangan District, North Sikkim, near China border
One of the highest alpine lakes in the world, Gurudongmar sits at an astounding 5,430 meters surrounded by snow-capped peaks in the Tibetan plateau transition. Revered by Buddhists, Sikhs, and Hindus, legend tells that Guru Padmasambhava touched part of the water so it never freezes even in extreme sub-zero winter temperatures.