Loktak Lake Lake

Loktak Lake is in the northeastern Indian state of Manipur and is the largest freshwater lake in northeastern India. The lake is best known for its floating phumdis and for supporting unique wetland ecology.

Floating vegetation mats create a distinctive landscape of islands and channels; boat trips around the phumdis are the usual way to view the lake and its wildlife. The nearby Keibul Lamjao National Park is situated on the phumdis and offers wildlife viewing, particularly of the endangered Sangai deer.

Local communities have traditionally used the lake for fishing and floating-island agriculture, with the phumdis playing a central role in livelihoods and ecology. Conservation and management of the lake and its floating biomass have been ongoing concerns in recent decades.

The lake lies in the central valley of Manipur and is surrounded by agricultural land and small settlements, with the state capital Imphal to the east of the lake area.

• Phumdis: The lake is renowned for its phumdis-thick floating mats of vegetation that support unique habitats and local livelihoods.
• Sangai deer: Home to the Sangai (Manipur brow-antlered deer), an endangered species conserved within the lake’s floating wildlife park.

What to See#

• Keibul Lamjao National Park: A protected area of floating biomass known as Keibul Lamjao National Park, designated as a national park and located on the lake’s phumdis, is the only floating national park in the world and supports the endangered brow-antlered deer (Sangai).

Loktak Lake (Manipur) is reached from Imphal, the state capital - by road the lake is roughly 50-60 km from Imphal and typically takes about 1.5-2 hours by car via the main Imphal-Moirang road (NH route connections). Regular state-run and private buses or hired taxis run from Imphal to towns and villages on the lake’s edge (Moirang and northern shore villages); once at a lakeside village, short boat trips or walks bring you to the main viewing points and islands.

• Base yourself in Moirang or Imphal and organize an early-morning boat trip onto the lake to see the phumdis (floating vegetation islands) and local fishermen when activity is highest.
• Combine a lake boat trip with a visit to Keibul Lamjao National Park (the floating national park) to see wildlife and floating turf; arrange boats and guides locally in Moirang to ensure access and up-to-date conditions.