Key Information

Photographer

Hugh E. Richardson

Collection

Hugh Richardson

Date of Photo

1950

Region

Lhodrag Region > Phuma Tso Lake

Accession number

2001.59.4.95.1

Image Dimensions

54 X 43 mm

Phuma Tso Lake with snow-covered mountain range in the distance.

Further Information

Photographic Process

Negative film nitrate

Date Acquired

Donated August 2001

Donated by

The executors of the estate of Hugh E. Richardson

Expedition

Richardson's 1950 Lhodrag tour

Manual Catalogues -

Manual Catalogues - Notes on negative album - '4 LHOBRAG 1950' 'Gongkar. Dzaring La. Lha khang Dzong. Sras. Pemaling Tso. Ku la kangri.' written in white in Richardson's hand.

Manual Catalogues -

Manual Catalogues - Notes in negative album '4' - Folio 95. 'do.' [Po mo tsho].

Manual Catalogues -

Manual Catalogues - Richardson Handlist- Album 4. 'Journey starting at Gong-dkar rdzong on Gtsang-po, 29. 18. N 90. 48 E', '[nos.] 92-6. 'Pho-mo mtsho'.

Other Information - Background: Richardson mentions this lake in High Peaks, Pure Earth , London, Serindia Publications, 1998, p. 324, "Across the Smon-mda' La out of upper Lho-brag is the Phu-ma-mtsho (or Pho-mo-mtsho) lake with the little Thag (1950) monastery at its north-east end."

Other Information - Dates

Other Information - Dates: The date is derived from Richardson’s negative album No.4, the cover of which is marked with ‘Lhobrag 1950’. These images seem mainly to have been developed as part of a batch arising from a trip to Mug, Lhobrag etc in 1950, as well as images taken on other trips during this year (eg: Talung/Reting). The batch development numbers 608-615 on the back of the contact prints run sequentially and the images seem all to have been developed at the same time, and must therefore have been taken in or around this date. In addition, 2001.59.4.83.2, one of this batch, has also been identified on the back as having been taken in 1950 [MS 22/12/2005]

Other Information - History: This saltwater lake is known as phu ma g.yu mtsho, (flying turquoise lake). It is an important pilgrimage site and devotees circle it in April-May which takes seven days to complete. The legend is that the lake flew here from the oceans at the end of universe. Padmasambhava blessed the lake and endowed benevolent power to the it. [TS 20/6/2005]

For Citation use:
The Tibet Album. "Phuma Tso Lake" 05 Dec. 2006. The Pitt Rivers Museum. <http://tibet.prm.ox.ac.uk/photo_2001.59.4.95.1.html>.

For more information about photographic usage or to order prints, please visit the The Pitt Rivers Museum.