Pangong Tso, Leh – History

Pangong Tso, Leh – History

There are different interpretations of the meanings of both Pangong Tso and Tsomo Nganglha Ringpo. As per Indian definition, Pangong Tso means high grassland lake in Tibetan. However, Pangong also means hollow. Tsomo Nganglha Ringpo means long, narrow, enchanted lake in Tibetan by Chinese, female narrow very long lake by early European explorers and long-necked swan lake by other modern sources. Pangong Tso is disputed territory between India and China.

The Line of Actual Control (LAC) passes through the lake. A section of the lake approximately 20 km east from the LAC is controlled by China but claimed by India. To the south is the smaller Spanggur Tso lake. The eastern end of the lake is in Tibet. After the mid-19th century, Pangong Tso was at the southern end of Johnson Line, an early attempt at demarcation between India and China in the Aksai Chin region.

Khurnak Fort lies on the northern bank of the lake, about halfway up Pangong Tso. The dispute over the fort was discussed in a 1924 conference, which remained inconclusive. After the conference, the British government decided that Tibetans had a better case and not only Khurnak Fort but also Dokpo Karpo and Nyagzu were part of Tibet. In 1929, following the protests of Kashmir Durbar, they decided to drop the British claims made on behalf of Kashmir state.

The Chinese established their military presence in the Khurnak Fort by 1958. On 20 October 1962, Pangong Tso saw military action during the Sino-Indian War, successful for the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA). The area remains a sensitive border point along the LAC. Incursions from the Chinese side are common. In August 2017, Indian and Chinese forces near Pangong Tso engaged in a melee involving kicking, punching, rock throwing, and use of makeshift weapons such as sticks and rods. 

On 11 September 2019, PLA troops confronted Indian troops on the northern bank. On 5–6 May 2020, a face-off between about 250 Indian and Chinese troops near the lake resulted in casualties on both sides. On 29–30 August 2020, Indian troops occupied many heights on the south bank of Pangong Tso. The heights included Rezang La, Reqin La, Black Top, Hanan, Helmet, Gurung Hill, Gorkha Hill and Magar Hill. Some of these heights are in the grey zone of the LAC and overlook Chinese camps.

India chose to pull back from these positions as leverage for larger disengagement. Both the Chinese and Indian militaries have vessels stationed on the lake. Since 2022, China built a bridge across the lake near the Khurnak Fort. The construction of the 400-meter bridge was completed in July 2024. The lake is in the process of being identified under the Ramsar Convention as a wetland of international importance. This will be the first trans-boundary wetland in South Asia under the convention.