"The only lake in the world with a national park floating on it."
Loktak Lake is not just a body of water; it is a living, breathing ecosystem and the spiritual mirror of Manipur. According to Meitei folklore, the lake is the abode of the goddess Loktak Lairembi, who oversees the fertility of the waters. It is also the setting for the immortal epic of Khamba and Thoibi—Manipur’s "Romeo and Juliet"—whose legendary romance played out among these very reeds.
The "phumdis" (floating islands) are unique heterogeneous masses of vegetation, soil, and organic matter. They have been forming naturally for centuries, but for the fishing communities who live here, they are "Phumsang" (floating homes). These fishermen follow an ancient lifestyle, navigating the water in traditional "hiras" (long dugout canoes), harvesting edible plants and fish as their ancestors did for millennia.
The thickest concentration of phumdis forms the Keibul Lamjao National Park. Here, the phumdi is thick enough to support the weight of the rare Sangai deer, creating a landscape that shifts and pulses with the wind—the only place on Earth where a forest literally walks on water.
At dawn, when the morning prayer bells ring from the lakeshore temples and the mist clings to the circular phumdis, Loktak feels like a divine Sea gifted to the people by the gods themselves.
By the Numbers
Other Wonders
These Wonders Need Your Visit to Survive
Responsible tourism directly funds conservation of the Sangai deer, protection of Loktak's phumdis, and preservation of the Shirui lily's habitat. Every traveler who comes to Manipur becomes part of the story of saving these irreplaceable natural wonders for future generations.