Loktak Lake, Manipur: Home to World's Only Floating National Park

Being home to some of the most breathtaking scenery and views in the entire globe, Manipur is pretty well known as a tourist destination. One of the most well-known Manipur tourist attractions is Loktak Lake, which offers the globe a chance to witness and appreciate nature’s floating wonders.

Evergreen forests, stunning hills, and amazing valleys complete the world’s largest floating lake. Once you see it for yourself and appreciate its magnificence, it is a holiday landmark you will enjoy for years to come. Manipur is the location of Loktak Lake. For more than 57 rural families, it has long been regarded as the primary source of life and development.

Many people without formal education have been able to get access to excellent food, clean water, a reliable source of income, and safety from the wild, thanks to nature’s remarkable gift. While this location has countless amazing features, let’s concentrate on the elements that travellers adore. Here is all the information you need about Loktak Lake in Manipur.

Table of Contents

The Best Way To Reach Loktak Lake

Almost 49 kilometers from Imphal, Loktak Lake is a convenient place to visit. You can take a cab or even rent a car from Imphal to Moirang, which is around 32 kilometers away, for just INR 50 per person to get to Loktak. Most of the cab stalls are located close to Jiribam Market Road.

Also, a link nearby is ideal for shoppers and features a sizable portion known as Women’s Market. If you decide to travel from Moirang, you will have to pass through Thanga, which is made up of small villages on Loktak Lake. Frequently, the per-person cab fee is no more than INR 10. If the weather is nice, you can even find it handy to stroll around and tour the area to learn more about it.

Facts Regarding Loktak Lake

Over the years, Loktak Lake has provided the local settlements with a sustainable water source. It provides fish, clean water for drinking and irrigation, and later, a source of hydropower. This lake is absolutely gorgeous, even beyond these criteria. See the following details about this lake:

The biggest freshwater body of water in India is Loktak Lake.
Phumdis, or floating masses of landforms, are found on the lake’s surface in a variety of regular and atypical formations. Your thoughts will be blown away by the aerial vista.
There is just one floating national park in the world, located on the Phumdis.
The Sangai herd of deer, an endangered species thought to be one of the 3 subspecies of Eld’s deer, resides only in the national park, a startling revelation.
The annual Sangai Festival is held throughout the state as a conservative initiative to protect and conserve the Sangai Deer. The last week of November is often when the event occurs.
Manipur’s national animal, the Sangai Deer, is also acknowledged.
The top tourist destination in Manipur is Loktak Lake, combined with Keibul Lamjao National Park.

Loktak Lake And The Surroundings

1. Moirang (7km)

One of the key hubs of early Meitei folk culture in Manipur, Moirang is the largest town in the Bishnupur district and is located very close to Loktak lake. The town is well-known for its old temple dedicated to Lord Thangjing, a pre-Hindu god, and the wall carvings depict the mythical romance between Khamba and Thoibi.

From mid-May through June, the villagers honour their gods with a month-long dance festival known as Lai Haraoba on the temple grounds. Also, the town is home to an INA museum that features artifacts related to Subhash Chandra Bose’s battles against the British Empire and the Indian National Army. The INA veterans’ memorabilia includes pictures, letters, symbols, and other items.

2. Phubala (13km)

Loktak Lake is where Phubala is situated. Here, watersports and boating have been introduced. The account of an older man named Phubala Hanuba, after whom this settlement was named, is woven into the love story of Khamba and Thoibi.

3. Ukhrul (133km)

Northeast of Loktak Lake, in Manipur, is Ukhrul, the state’s highest hill station, which provides a sweeping view of the hills in the area. The Tangkhul Nagas, one of Manipur’s oldest and largest tribes, live there. They are a colorful warrior tribe.

While at Ukhrul, you should also check out the adjacent Siroi Hills. On the top of the slope, the rare Siroi Lily flourishes. The months of May through June are ideal for visiting this location because the blooms are at their peak. The Khangkui Limestone caverns are only around 15 kilometers to the east.

You should set out on your excursion early in the morning because the 2-kilometer trek through the jungle that leads to the caves is quite strenuous. There are a total of five caves, and each one varies in size and accessibility. Because there aren’t many signs, the Khangkui limestone caverns, which are comparatively less popular, are simple to overlook.

4. Moreh (123km)

The lovely hill village of Moreh is situated in the Chandel District, southeast of Loktak Lake, near the Indo-Myanmar border. It is said to as the Manipur state’s commercial capital. It also goes by the name “the entrance to Southeast Asia” due to its geographic location.

Shopaholics love the town because it has practically everything they could possibly need, from technology to designer clothing and accessories to almost all household essentials. A range of food items is also available here. Items are offered for incredibly low prices.

The sanctuary should be visited before exploring Moreh if you travel from Imphal. Bamboo trees are a common sight in the sanctuary’s vegetation. About 40 different kinds of mammals live here, including the Himalayan mountain bear, wild bear, hoolock gibbon, Indian civet cat, common otter, panther, pangolin, and so on.

5. Keibul Lamjao National Park

The world’s only “floating” national park is a well-liked stop for tourists travelling through the Northeast. In reality, the 40 square km park is situated on a phumdi in the lake’s southeast corner. The months of November through April are the ideal times to explore this national park.

This region’s native Sangai, an endangered brow-antlered deer, can be seen. Due to its graceful movement, it is jokingly referred to as Manipur’s dancing deer. The hog deer, sambar, and muntjac are other deer species that can be seen in this area. The slow loris, one of the earliest primates, is dispersed over the hills.

Hoolock gibbons, Assamese macaques, and stump-tailed macaques are only found in the western hills. The rhesus monkey can be seen all over the park. The national park is also home to wild boar, European otters, and Indian civets. The national park is home to rare birds, which may be seen gathering by the lake.

Waterfowl, the perennial winter visitors to the lake, is also present, although their numbers are declining due to an increase in phumdis. The hooded crane can frequently be seen in the park. You can also find green peafowl, bamboo partridge, and eastern white storks in this area. Black eagles and shaheen falcons are among the raptors observed here.

What To Do Loktak Lake

There are countless reasons to love Loktak Lake. You would crazily adore the drive there, the pleasant weather, the beautiful scenery, the clear blue sky, and the actual destination. This thriving lake and its surrounding landscape should be anything greener because they can continually amuse you. Do these activities in Loktak Lake if you want to create memories and remain there as long as you like:

Try the cafeterias that provide authentic Manipuri cuisine and other traditional meals.
For a truly spectacular experience, take a boat trip at sunrise, sunset, or in the middle of the day. The views of the sunrise and sunset, though, are the best.
Get stunning shots while sitting on a boat or wearing Manipuri costumes.
Visit Keibul Lamjao National Park to witness the stunning Sangai, a deer with brow antlers that is almost extinct.
Visit several Phumdis or floating Islands and try your hand at some native-style fishing.
Camp down close to the lake and take in the nightlife. Recline beneath a starry sky to experience nature reviving.
Explore additional local destinations like the INA Memorial Complex, Lakoi Pat, and native communities. Kangla Fort, Ima Market, and other intriguing locations are great places to start your exploration of the capital.

When To Visit Loktak Lake

One of the most popular places in Manipur is Loktak Lake, which offers a beautiful view of the lake scattered with little islets. Anyone can go there at any time of the year, although summer is the ideal time to go. However, the following breakdowns are for varied experiences according to the season:

Spring

In India, spring begins in mid-March and lasts until the end of May. The entire area is bursting with colour, and the roadway is painted crimson with Gulmohar in bloom. When you start travelling towards the lake on the highways, it will improve your spirits.

Summer and Monsoon

Early monsoons affect the majority of Northeastern states from mid-May to September. As a result, the summer and monsoon seasons nearly coincide.

You can visit this location for a singular experience, even if most people would venture to remark that it is not that safe during the monsoon season. Even so, you should follow safety precautions and refrain from doing anything that could endanger you or the environment.

Autumn

One of the greatest times to visit Loktak Lake has always been in the autumn. You will be able to tell that your excursion will be amazing as soon as the cool air touches your face.

Winter

The best time to visit Manipur’s Loktak Lake is probably from the beginning of winter in early November till the end of March. Most travellers plan their trips to this tourist destination during this period because it is also thought to be the driest season.

Boating, sightseeing, and other activities are enjoyable to do. Also, around the end of November, you can go to the Sangai Festival, the most stunning state celebration.

The Bottom Line

Northeast India has a number of unknown areas, including the lake and the park. As a result, they have tremendous tourism potential in the State, which would enhance the socioeconomic benefits and promote the development of Manipur and the Northeast. More options for villages to make a living will arise due to the potential of tourism.

North East India: Get to Know It:

Loktak Lake, Manipur: Home to World’s Only Floating National Park

The Best Way To Reach Loktak Lake

Facts Regarding Loktak Lake