Burning lake or Membartsho is a Buddhist holy site in Central Bhutan under the Bumthang district. It is in Tang Village of Tang Chhu river. From Bumthang main town it takes nearly 30-45 minutes to drive on the national highway to Eastern Bhutan. From the main road, you have to walk nearly 5-7 minutes to reach the spot. You will find the noticeboard which clearly pinpoints the holy site regulations and their importance. While you want to visit Ura Valley you can visit the site because you have to pass the site. The national highway to eastern Bhutan can bypass Ura and take other routes but those who want to visit the burning lake and Ura Valley can take the old route.
According to legend Terton Pema Lingpa had a dream of the sacred treasures that Guru Rimpoche had hidden on the particular site. Guru Rimpoche who came to Bumthang during visited Bhutan in 810 AD. He was invited by King Sindhu Raja of Bumthang,who was seriouly ill. He came Bumthang from Nepal. He entered Bumthang enroute Nabji Korphug of Zhemgang District. He came to Bumthang, subdued the local deity, and the King was recovered from illness.
Latter the people of Tang and the local ruler were very much concern about the sacred religious items hidden in the the river of Tang.Pema Lingpa had vision which he saw in his dreams that the sacred items hidden in the the deep gorge of Tang river. He held a butter lamp in his hand and he jumped into the deep gorge. After remaining under water for long period of time he finnaly land up with holding a chest and a scroll of Buddhist paper. He was still holding the butter lamp held in his hand lit. Thereafter, the lake came to be known as Mebartsho or burning Lake. He discovered several of Guru Rinpoche’s terma or treasurer during 15th century.
The beauty of the burning lake is serenity and spiritual significance to the people of Bhutan and called as a “Ney”. It is located as the Tang river with prestine environment. The site is maintained by the nuns of nearby Pema Tekchok Choling Nunnery. It was established in 2000. It is also Bhutan’s first shedra or university for women. The university was started by famous Gangey Tulku Rinpoche, the ninth reincarnation of Pema Lingpa.
Once you walk from the road side to the burning lake you can see fluttering of prayer flags hung everywehere. The sound of the prayers will provide you spirittuality and clamneness of the site. Latter on you will feel the sound of running water.
You will find bridge where nuns of the university built a small cupboard to store the store butter lamps to make offerings for the the holy site. You will find lot of little sculptures offered as a part of religious practices of Buddhism. They are dedicated to either the living or dead.
For tourist visiting the site should be aware of the site to maintain silence and should take care of slippery way. It can be dangerous for people and avoide rush. Five people have drowned there since 2011, including a French tourist and his Bhutanese guide in 2015. Indian Couple also died of drowning in the burning lake or Membertsho in 2013.