SSC
Gurudongmar Lake, one of the highest lakes in the world, is located in:
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Answer: Option D — Sikkim
Detailed Solution
Gurudongmar Lake lies in North Sikkim, at an altitude of about 5,430 metres (17,800 feet), close to the border with Tibet (China). It is one of the highest lakes in the world and in India.
Features of the lake:
- It is a freshwater lake fed by glaciers.
- Except for a small part, the lake freezes completely in winter.
- It is considered a source stream of the Teesta river.
- The landscape around it is a cold, high-altitude desert, with snow-capped mountains.
Religious significance:
The lake is sacred to Buddhists, Sikhs and Hindus.
It is named after Guru Padmasambhava (Guru Rinpoche), who brought Buddhism to Tibet in the 8th century. According to legend, he blessed the lake so that a part of it would not freeze, providing drinking water for local people.
Sikh tradition associates the lake with Guru Nanak Dev, who is believed to have visited it during his travels.
Access:
- The lake is reached from Lachen, through the Thangu valley.
- Visitors need special permits, because the lake lies close to the international border.
- It is one of the most popular tourist destinations in North Sikkim, along with the Yumthang Valley.
Other important lakes of Sikkim:
- Khecheopalri Lake: a sacred "wish-fulfilling" lake in West Sikkim.
- Cholamu (Tso Lhamo) Lake: near Gurudongmar, also one of the highest lakes.
High-altitude lakes elsewhere in India:
Lakes in Ladakh, such as Tso Moriri and Tso Kar, are also very high.
About Sikkim:
- It is the least populous state of India, with Gangtok as its capital.
- It became the first fully organic state of India in 2016.
Why not the other options?
- ✗Uttarakhand, Arunachal Pradesh and Himachal Pradesh have high-altitude lakes, but Gurudongmar is in Sikkim.
Quick tip
Remember: Gurudongmar Lake = North Sikkim (about 5,430 m), named after Guru Padmasambhava; source stream of the Teesta.
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Indian States & Union Territories — Preparation
This question tests your understanding of Indian States & Union Territories, a key topic in the General Knowledge section. The detailed solution above uses a step-by-step approach to show the reasoning, and where available, a shortcut that helps you solve similar questions in under 90 seconds during the actual exam.
This topic covers state-wise GK for India: capitals, formation dates, high courts, state animals, birds and flowers, famous places, and the culture, dances and festivals that identify each state and union territory. Questions commonly ask about the newest state or union territory, the state formed on a particular date, the capitals of states, and which high court serves more than one state. Keep a single table per state with its capital, formation year and key facts. Reorganisations such as that of Jammu and Kashmir in 2019 change the answers, so make sure your notes are up to date. Practise the Indian states and union territories questions below, written in the style of the general awareness sections of exams such as SSC, banking, railways, CUET GAT, MAH CET and CLAT. Each question comes with a detailed explanation that adds related facts, so every question helps you revise more than one point.