Loktak Lake - World’s Floating National Park or Floating Island

Loktak Lake is tremendous and largest freshwater island is called Phumdis, located at northeast, Moirang in Manipur. However, Keibul Lamjao is only floating National Park in the World. In this lake, there are thousands of circles of water. Phumdis or swamps are a series of floating islands, and it changes as seasons and shape. Well, this island is called “a lifeline of Manipur” as it is highly productive as well as huge source of livelihood for rural fishermen, who live in around areas and on Phumdis as well. Livelihood of people dependent on the sale of edible fruits and rhizome of Lotus plant production. This freshwater lake has become home to a first of its floating elementary school, with the support of an NGO, People Resource Development Association (PRDA). 

Moreover, it is important Bird Area as it is potential breeding site for waterfowl and staging site for migratory bird.  Though it is significant source of hydropower generation, irrigation and drinking water. This kind of beauty, seems in other places in world which is manmade, but there is special about this, as it is pure natural. This island is like spongy, such as there is 80% part in water. Here, there are many floating houses that called Khangpok and there approx. 4000 people are live in this island. This park, which was initially declared as a sanctuary in 1966 and national park declared in 1977. Sangai is the state animal of Manipur and it hooves are adapted to walk on the Phumdis.

Keibul Lamjao National Park is spread 40 km in the lake, as it is world’s largest and floating national park. Here, it is home of 233 species of aquatic plants and more than 100 species of birds as well as 425 species of animals including Indian python and sambhar. In middle of the lake on Phumdi, the Sandra Tourist home which is floating resort, and famous tourist place. A part from this, there is one café and rooms available for tourists. February and march is driest months where an average annual rainfall of 1183 mm tropical monsoon climate in the valley.

Nearest airport is lmphal, where fights are coming from Delhi, Kolkata, Guwahati, Mumbai and many more. There is no railway station in Imphal, so you have to reach Dimapur which is far from 215 km from the place.  Here, there are popular trains such as Rajdhani express, Guwahati Rajdhani and Delhi Dibrugarh. But, as road trip, there are easily find out buses, private and public transportation available here. Loktak Lake is 39 km far from Imphal, and drive from Imphal is very safe and easily.