A lake that floats
About 50 km south-west of Imphal lies Loktak Lake, the largest freshwater lake in northeastern India. Its defining feature is the phumdi — circular islands of matted vegetation, soil and organic matter that float freely on the water, shifting with the wind and seasons.
Some phumdis are large enough to support fishing huts and even entire villages. The result is a landscape that feels almost otherworldly: a vast sheet of water dotted with green islands that drift and turn.
Loktak is also the lifeblood of the region — home to fishing communities, a Ramsar wetland of international importance, and the only habitat of the endangered Sangai deer, which lives in the floating park at its south-eastern edge.
What to do
Sendra Island
The classic Loktak experience. Sendra is a small island with a tourist lodge and a viewpoint offering sweeping panoramas of the lake and its phumdis. It's the easiest place to appreciate the scale of the lake.
Boat rides
Hire a local boat to glide through the channels between phumdis. Fishermen are often happy to show you their world — negotiate a fair price before setting off.
Sunrise & sunset
The lake is at its most magical at dawn and dusk, when the light turns the water gold and the fishing boats return home.
Practical details
⚠ Responsible tourism
Loktak's ecosystem is fragile. Don't litter, avoid single-use plastics, and support local boatmen and guides. Never disturb wildlife or feed the deer.
Photography tips
- Arrive for sunrise — the mist over the phumdis is unforgettable.
- Sendra's viewpoint is best in the morning, before the haze builds.
- A telephoto lens captures fishermen and birds across the water.
Combine your visit
Loktak is usually paired with Keibul Lamjao National Park and the INA Memorial at Moirang — all three sit on the same route and make a rewarding full day. See our itineraries.
