Loktak Lake (Manipur)

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 Loktak Lake (Manipur)

(Read also this - (PDF) Visiting unique places as a tourist: a case study of Loktak Lake (researchgate.net)


Loktak Lake is situated in Bishnupur District of Manipur state, 48 kms from the State capital Imphal City. Loktak Lake is a massive freshwater lake that roughly covers an area of 230 sq km, with the maximum length of 32 km and breadth 13 km (Loktak Dev. Authority, 2022). The lake extends to 500sq km during rainy season. It is a beautiful stretch of water resembling a miniature inland sea. The lake is known for its floating swamps, locally called phumdis. Phumdis are biomass mainly consists of masses of vegetation, soil and organic matter, in different stages of decay. They float on the water in the whole part of the lake. This biomass form both islands and vegetation growth and fishes to thrive. A good number of fishermen live in floating huts known as Phumsangs. Keibul Lamjao National Park, the only floating National Park in the world exists in this lake. This national park is the natural habitat of Sangai, an endemic and endangered subspecies of Eld’s deer. Sangai deer was declared extinct in the year 1951 and, later rediscovered in this National Park. Loktak Lake is a symbol of Manipur State’s environment, influencing the socio-economic, cultural life of the people.

The trip from Dimapur started this way. 

It was a 260Km ride from Indisen Dimapur to Loktak lake. We were three, in two motorcycles (one Himalayan RE & Benelli Imperiale 400). We were planning to visit Japan War Memorial also while going. Originally, we planned to visit the Myanmar border Town Moreh and have a free ride to Myanmar (which is permitted in the daytime) and come back. Due to pandemic the Myanmar border was temporarily closed that halted our Moreh trip. Majuli island, Sivasagar Ahom memorials and the Bogibeel Bridge was an alternative, however, Loktak lake came as a rescuer for few of us to take a long trip. So, we decided to go to Loktak Lake during Holi festival.

Holi festival was celebrated on the evening of Purnima or full moon day, in the Hindu calendar month of Phalguna that falls around the middle of March. The trip stared swiftly on Holi holidays in March 19 & 20 (Saturday & Sunday) 2022. 

We packed some breakfast items with us and started the journey at 630 am. It was an interesting journey till Kohima and Vishwema (around 90 km from Indisen). The roads were good; once bad road started (when I say bad road, it means there were tar paved roads some 10, 12 years back and now broken, absolutely hopeless with dust and mud), we stopped somewhere for the breakfast. We took a break, found out some mountainside and took breakfast in a natural setting. It was enjoyable.

The roads, supposed to be International Highway Connecting Myanmar and New Delhi was in such a bad shape it gave enormous pain in the motorcycle. We took it like an off-road motorcycle experience in the international – National Highway (thanks to all Naga Politicians) and reached the border check post between Nagaland and Manipur (Moa Town). It took nearly 45 minutes to cross 8 to 10 kms in that Roadless Roads. Once we entered Manipur state, the roads were wonderful till we reached our destination. 

Once we approach Manipur town, the signs of Holi Festival appeared. Roads were blocked by youth, mainly girls to collect money. We took Lunch at Manipur. Most shops were closed due to Holi Festival. Once we continued our journey, we reached India Peace Memorial at Lokpaching.  Though at first the gatekeeper was very hesitant to open the memorial for us, he opened it when some Japanese tourists came. He allowed us to enter the memorial after paying some money to him. 

Let me say something about this memorial. It is situated 16 km away from Imphal, Manipur. The Battle of Red Hill was fought in 1944. The invading Japanese Army and the Netaji’s Indian National Army (INA) joined together captured a British camp. The British halted the INA and Japanese. More than 200 Japanese soldiers died and after the independence in 1974 Japanese War Veteran Lt. General Iwaichi Fujiwara visited Manipur and suggested the building of a memorial. 

We reached Loktak lake in the afternoon and waited for the pickup.



The lake is one of the largest lakes in India, known for its floating island-like swamps known locally as Phumdis. Some of the phumdis are natural and some are man-made for fishing and tourism purposes. The chilly evening with beautiful bloody skyline, the cool night of the moon lit sky in the floating home and the magnificent sunrise sipping a cup of tea was a lifetime experience for us. Since we booked our stay online, we were taken to the stay there and enjoy the evening and moon filled night.

The second day, Sunday we spend the morning chatting with the other guests who came there to visit from different parts of India. Tourists come to Loktak for various reasons Mainly, leisure and relaxation, adventure in visiting unique place and, non-articulated desire fulfilment. People came as couples, in groups, or as family. Majority of the tourists stayed overnight and those who did not stay in their first visit want to visit the place again in order to stay overnight. At an average, tourists spent 3,500 rupees to 10, 000 rupees for one visit and stay in the lake. Some come from Delhi, Mumbai and faraway places and few from nearby places like Senapti in Manipur or Dimapur in Nagaland or Guwahati in Assam. Some tourists spend huge amount of money for flight and travel tickets for a day or night relaxation. Almost all the tourists who stayed in the lake came to the lake in the afternoon, spend the night there, and left the place after breakfast. It is amazing to hear and see people feel relaxed in a short span of time, living one with the nature.  

Tourists who travelled by flight to Imphal and from their hometowns reached Loktak Lake by taxis either by tour guides or by themselves, were very happy about the trip. Tourists who came from Guwahati via road mentioned about the poor road conditions in Nagaland and told that they cautioned their friend taking that route. Though none of the tourists mentioned any untoward incidents happened to them, they were very apprehensive of extortions other insurgency in Nagaland. They were cautioned by their friends not to travel at night in the hilly areas of Nagaland that connects Manipur. As a rule, tourists were aware of the dangers in Indian travel locations and take enough precautions in advance.

While returning on the Sunday, first we took a boat ride and came back to our motorcycles and completed our journey in style. It was a relaxing, enjoyable trip.