Have you ever heard of a floating lake?
“What’s that?” is a very natural response to this question.
The iconic lake of Loktak, located in Manipur is world-famous for its circular floating swamps (called phumdis in the local language). Phumdis are heterogeneous mass of vegetation, soil, and organic matters at various stages of decomposition that has been thickened into a solid form.
Resembling miniature islands, these phumdis are found in various forms floating on the lake covering a substantial part of the lake area and creates an illusion of a floating lake.
Spread over an area of 286 sq.km, Loktak lake has earned the laurel of being ‘The Wetland of International Importance‘
The uniqueness of Loktak lake goes beyond this. The largest single mass of phumdi in the lake covers an area of 40 sq.km and has the world’s one and only floating National Park, the Keibul Lam Jao National Park.
This park is the last natural refuge of the endangered Sangai or the Manipur brown-antlered deer which is indigenous to this area. The lake seems like an ecosystem in itself, hosting rich biodiversity with around 230 species of aquatic plants, more than 100 species of birds and 425 species of animals. The sparkling lake in the crimson evening haze will make your heart skip a beat! The tranquil ambiance during the dusk makes this place a Zion! The blend of rich biodiversity with delightful landscape makes it a must-go place for any travel enthusiast.
