Loktak Lake, near Imphal, is the largest freshwater lake in Northeast India and home to one of the most unusual protected ecosystems anywhere in the world.
Top Attractions
- Floating Phumdis: Loktak's surface is dotted with phumdis — floating masses of vegetation and soil — some large enough to support entire fishing villages built on stilts above them.
- Keibul Lamjao National Park: The only floating national park in the world, situated on the lake's phumdis, and the last natural habitat of the endangered Sangai deer, found nowhere else on Earth.
- Sendra Island: A viewpoint island within the lake offering panoramic views over the water and surrounding hills.
- Fishing Villages: Communities living on the floating phumdis practice a unique form of fishing, using circular enclosures called "athaphums" — a way of life found almost nowhere else.
Best Time to Visit
November to March for the clearest weather and best chances of spotting the Sangai deer.
How to Reach
Loktak Lake is about 48 km from Imphal, reached by road.
