Location and Overview
Loktak Lake, near Moirang in Manipur, hosts Keibul Lamjao National Park, the Floating National Park, on its southwestern part. It’s about an hour’s drive from Imphal, making it accessible for visitors. The park is part of Loktak Lake, known for its floating phumdis, and is a significant ecological site.
Uniqueness
The park is unique as the world’s only floating national park, with phumdis supporting large mammals like the Sangai deer. It includes three hills for wildlife refuge during monsoons and is a tentative UNESCO World Heritage Site under “Keibul Lamjao Conservation Area,” highlighting its global importance.
Unexpected Detail: Cultural and Ecological Balance
An unexpected aspect is the local fishermen’s use of artificial phumdis for fish farming, which, while providing livelihood, poses ecological challenges, affecting the lake’s balance and the park’s conservation efforts.
Survey Note: Detailed Exploration of Loktak Lake’s Floating National Park
Loktak Lake, located in Bishnupur district, Manipur, India, is a fascinating natural wonder, and its Floating National Park, Keibul Lamjao National Park, adds to its allure. This section provides a comprehensive overview, drawing from recent sources to ensure a thorough understanding for travelers and nature enthusiasts. The analysis is based on multiple credible sources, including Wikipedia, official tourism websites, and travel guides, ensuring relevance for current visitors as of April 2025.
Methodology and Sources
The information was gathered from a range of online resources, including encyclopedic entries and government tourism sites, to identify key facts about location, uniqueness, and visitor information. Key sources include Wikipedia – Keibul Lamjao National Park, Incredible India – Keibul Lamjao National Park, and The Better India – Loktak Lake, among others. These were chosen for their recency and detailed descriptions, ensuring accuracy for 2025 travelers. The selection process involved identifying commonalities across these sources, focusing on location, biodiversity, and visitor FAQs, while also considering unique ecological and cultural aspects.
Location and Geographical Details
Loktak Lake is situated near Moirang, about 48-53 km from Imphal, the capital of Manipur, in Northeast India. Keibul Lamjao National Park, the Floating National Park, is located on the southwestern part of this lake, covering an area of 40 km² (15.4 sq mi). It is an integral part of Loktak Lake, which varies in surface area from 250 km² to 500 km² during the rainy season, with a typical area of 287 km². The park is accessible via a roughly one-hour drive from Imphal, with Manipur Tourism arranging day tours for visitors.
The park’s hydro-meteorological conditions include an average annual rainfall of 1,183 mm (46.6 in), with wettest months in July-August and driest in February-March, temperatures ranging from 1.7°C (35.1°F) to 34.4°C (93.9°F), and humidity varying from 49% (March) to 81% (August). This makes it a year-round destination, though certain times are better for wildlife viewing.
Uniqueness and Ecological Significance
Keibul Lamjao National Park is often cited as the world’s only floating national park, characterized by phumdis—floating biomass composed of vegetation, soil, and organic matter, with thicknesses ranging from 1 ft (0.3 m) to 4 ft (1.2 m), and only 20% floating above water. These phumdis support large mammals, making it a unique wetland ecosystem. The park is part of Loktak Lake, a Ramsar site since 1990 and listed under the Montreux Record in 1993, underscoring its international importance.
The park is the last natural habitat of the endangered Sangai (brow-antlered deer, Rucervus eldii eldii), Manipur’s state animal, with population estimates showing recovery from 14 in 1975 to 260 in the March 2016 census. It also includes three hills—Pabot, Toya, and Chingjao—which serve as refuges during monsoons when water levels rise. Additionally, it is under tentative lists for UNESCO World Heritage Sites under “Keibul Lamjao Conservation Area (KLCA),” covering the buffer of Loktak Lake (140 sq km) and Pumlen Pat (43 sq km), highlighting its global conservation value.
The ecosystem combines moist semi-evergreen forests, aquatic, wetland, and terrestrial zones, with grassland zones numbering three. Aquatic flora includes Zizania latifolia (wild rice, ishing kambong), Tripidium bengalense, Eiranthus procerus (singnang), Dioscorea bulbifera (phumha), Cynodon dactylon (tinthou), Alpinia galanga (pullei), Eichhornia crassipes (kabokang), Hedychium coronarium (loklei), Nelumbo nucifera (thambal), and Phragmites karka (tou). Phumdi vegetation, as estimated in 1960, comprises 45% Phragmites karka, 25% Erianthus ravennae (elephant grass), 15% Saccharum munja, 5% S. latifolium, 5% Alpinia allughas, 2% Saccharum procerum, and 3% other species, including Zizania latifolia, relished by Sangai deer.
Fauna includes flagship species like the Sangai, with other mammals such as wild boar, hog deer, common otter, large Indian jungle cat, fox, bay bamboo rat, and golden cat. Avifauna, both migratory and resident, includes East Himalayan pied kingfisher, black kite, lesser skylark, northern hill myna, Indian pied myna, North Indian black drongos, lesser eastern jungle crow, yellow-headed wagtail, spotbill duck, blue-winged teal, ruddy shellduck, threatened hooded crane, Burmese sarus crane, Indian white-breasted waterhen, and crimson-breasted pied woodpecker. Reptiles like the blue-crested lizard (Calotes mystaceus) and light phase Asian rock python (Python molurus molurus) are also present.
Cultural and Ecological Balance: An Unexpected Insight
An unexpected aspect is the interaction between local communities and the park’s ecosystem. Fishermen living around Loktak Lake build huts on phumdis, known as phumsangs, and use them for fishing, growing vegetables, and collecting straw. In recent times, artificial phumdis (athapums) have been created for fish farming, which, while providing livelihood, has led to ecological pressures. Sources like Stamped Moments – Loktak Lake note that these artificial phumdis, now filling the lake, are not good for ecological balance, posing challenges to conservation efforts. This balance between human activity and nature is a critical aspect for visitors to understand.
Visitor Information and FAQs
For visitors, the park offers unique experiences, such as boat trips through labyrinthine routes to see colorful water plants and wildlife, especially the Sangai deer, which are most active between 0600-1000 and 1530-1800. The Forest Department of Manipur maintains watch towers and two rest houses within the park, enhancing visitor facilities. Shooting game is prohibited, ensuring conservation.
Below is a detailed table of visitor information and FAQs, derived from sources like Wikipedia – Keibul Lamjao National Park and Incredible India – Keibul Lamjao National Park:
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| What is the best time to visit? | Ideal between 0600-1000 and 1530-1800 for Sangai viewing; November-March for migratory birds. |
| Do foreigners need a permit? | No, but must register at Imphal Airport or road checkpoints (Mao, Jiribam). |
| How do I get there? | About 1-hour drive from Imphal; Manipur Tourism arranges day tours. |
| Are there entry fees? | Specific fees not found; contact Manipur Tourism for details. |
| Can I walk on the phumdis? | Yes, but unstable; boat trips recommended for safety and better wildlife viewing. |
| What wildlife can I see? | Sangai deer, wild boar, hog deer, otters, waterfowl, migratory birds (November-March). |
| Are there facilities for tourists? | Yes, watch towers, two rest houses, and boat trips available; Sendra Tourist Home nearby. |
| Is photography allowed? | Yes, but respect wildlife and park rules; no shooting game allowed. |
Additional tips include checking weather conditions, as monsoons can affect accessibility, and engaging with local guides for cultural insights, as noted in Travel with a Bong – Loktak Lake. The park’s sensitivity as a border state area means visitors should follow registration norms, especially for foreigners, ensuring a smooth visit.
Threats and Conservation Challenges
The park faces threats due to permanent flooding from the Ithai Barrage, part of the Loktak Multi-Purpose Project since 1983, maintaining high water levels (768-768.5 m) during dry months, disrupting the natural cycle of phumdi floating and sinking. This affects vegetation and wildlife, as detailed in Wikipedia – Keibul Lamjao National Park, and is a concern for long-term conservation.
Conclusion
Loktak Lake’s Floating National Park, Keibul Lamjao National Park, is a unique destination in India, offering a blend of natural beauty, biodiversity, and cultural interaction. Its floating phumdis, endangered Sangai deer, and tentative UNESCO status make it a must-visit for nature lovers. By following visitor guidelines and understanding local ecological challenges, travelers can enjoy a memorable experience while contributing to conservation efforts.