Sharada Prasad CS · Commons · CC BY 2.0Loktak Lake is the largest freshwater lake in Northeast India, about 48 km south of Imphal near Moirang. It is famous for phumdis, floating mats of vegetation, and Keibul Lamjao, the world's only floating national park, home of the sangai deer. Take a boat among the phumdis. Check current advisories before planning; we confirm conditions before booking.
From the hill at Sendra, Loktak looks less like a lake than a green-and-silver puzzle. Circular rings of floating vegetation, called phumdis, drift across the water, some natural and some built by fishing families as round enclosures called athaphums. The lake covers roughly 250 to 500 sq km depending on the season, about 287 sq km on average, and is a Ramsar wetland of international importance since 1990.
At the southern end, the largest phumdi forms Keibul Lamjao National Park, about 40 sq km and the only floating national park in the world. It is the last natural home of the sangai, Manipur's brow-antlered deer, whose numbers had fallen to 14 in 1975 and recovered to around 260 by the 2016 count. The deer are shy; the best chance is at dawn from the park watchtower.
Moirang, on the western shore, is where the Indian National Army raised its flag on Indian soil in April 1944, and the INA memorial museum is here. Manipur has seen ethnic violence since 2023, and some foreign governments advise against travel to the state. Check current advisories before planning; we confirm conditions before booking.
What makes it worth the trip
Phumdis and athaphums
Floating mats of soil and vegetation, some thick enough to support huts. Fishing families build ring-shaped athaphums to trap fish.
Keibul Lamjao National Park
About 40 sq km of floating grassland and the home of the sangai deer. Watch from the park watchtower at sunrise, when deer are most active.
Sendra island
A hillock on the lake with a tourist lodge, cafeteria and the best view over the phumdis. Linked to the shore by a road.
Boat rides
Small wooden boats take you out among the phumdis from Sendra and near Keibul Lamjao, usually for a modest fee per person.
INA Memorial, Moirang
A museum and memorial where the Indian National Army hoisted its flag in April 1944, with letters, photographs and uniforms.
Things to do
- Watch sunrise over the phumdis from Sendra
- Look for sangai deer from the Keibul Lamjao watchtower at dawn
- Take a small boat out among the phumdis and athaphums
- Visit the INA memorial museum at Moirang
- Watch fishing families at work on the lake from a respectful distance
- Try fresh fish and local rice at a lakeside eatery
- Spend a night at Sendra for sunset and sunrise over the water
Getting there
Loktak is about 45 to 50 km south of Imphal by road, around 1.5 hours via Bishnupur and Moirang. Keibul Lamjao is about 53 km from Imphal and 10 km from Moirang. There is no regular tourist transport, so hire a car with a local driver from Imphal for the day. Imphal airport, 8 km from the city, has flights from Kolkata, Guwahati and Delhi. Road conditions and movement between districts can change; check current advisories before planning; we confirm conditions before booking.
Where to stay
Most visitors stay in central Imphal and come for the day. The Sendra tourist lodge on the hill above the lake has simple rooms and a cafeteria with lake views, and is the best choice if you want sunset and sunrise at Loktak; confirm it is operating before you go. There are a few basic guest houses in Moirang. Facilities around the lake are limited, so carry water and snacks, and confirm bookings and local conditions directly before you set off.
Local tips
- Check current advisories before planning; we confirm conditions before booking
- Carry your Manipur ILP and photo ID; there may be checks on the road
- Arrive at Keibul Lamjao at dawn for the best chance of sangai sightings
- Carry binoculars; the deer often stay far out on the phumdi
- Ask before photographing fishing families and their huts
- Carry cash for boat rides, entry fees and food
Rain and weather
Source: IMD 1991–2020 normals
October to March for calm water, clear mornings and sangai sightings, subject to current advisories.
