Loktak Lake & Sendra
The only floating lake in the world
Loktak, the largest freshwater lake in the Northeast, is like nowhere else on earth: its surface is dotted with phumdis — floating islands of matted vegetation, soil and organic matter — the largest of which forms the world's only floating national park. Seen from the Sendra hillock at dawn, the lake's rings of green phumdis and the huts of fishing families scattered across the water make an unforgettable picture.
Fishermen live and work out on the phumdis, and homestays on the lake now let visitors spend a night on the water. It is the setting for Manipur's signature wildlife and its signature festival, and the tranquil heart of a state that rewards the traveller who reaches it.
What to see & do
- The floating phumdi islands and fishers' huts across the water
- Sunrise from Sendra island viewpoint
- A homestay or boat ride out on the lake
- The INA memorial and Keibul Lamjao national park nearby
Getting to Loktak Lake & Sendra
| How to reach | About 45 km from Imphal, near Moirang; the nearest airport is Imphal. |
| Best time | October to March. |
| Permit | An Inner Line Permit is required for Manipur; check current travel advisories before planning. |
| Good to know | Come for sunrise from Sendra, and consider a phumdi homestay for the full experience. |
More to explore
Living Root Bridges
Nongriat & the Khasi/Jaintia hills
Bridges grown, not built, over generations.
Dawki & the Umngot River
West Jaintia Hills, Bangladesh border
Boats that seem to float on air over glass-clear water.
Sohra (Cherrapunji)
East Khasi Hills
Waterfalls, caves and some of the heaviest rain on earth.