Loktak Lake and Keibul Lamjao National Park: Visitor Guide

Loktak Lake, near Moirang in Manipur, is the largest freshwater lake in Northeast India and is known for its floating islands, called phumdis. On the south-east shore, Keibul Lamjao National Park sits on the largest phumdi and shelters the sangai deer. The park is about 53 km from Imphal. Manipur has been affected by ethnic conflict since 2023, so read the section on advisories below before you plan anything.

Quick facts

Location: Loktak Lake at Moirang, Bishnupur district, Manipur. Keibul Lamjao National Park is on the lake's south-east side.
Distance from Imphal: Moirang is about 45 km south of Imphal. The national park is about 53 km by road.
Nearest airport: Bir Tikendrajit International Airport, Imphal, about 7 km south of the city centre.
Railhead: Jiribam, about 225 km from Imphal, is the nearest rail head named in park sources.
Lake area: Typically about 287 sq km, varying with the season.
Park area: About 40 sq km, created as a sanctuary in 1966 and a national park in 1977.
Ramsar listing: Loktak was designated a Ramsar wetland on 23 March 1990.
Best time of day: Early morning and late afternoon.
Permit: Indian visitors need an Inner Line Permit for Manipur. Foreign visitors should check current registration or permit rules.

What are phumdis?

Phumdis are floating masses of plant material, soil and decomposed organic matter. They are thick enough to carry people and deer in places. Reported thickness is about 0.3 to 1.2 m, with roughly a fifth above the water. The largest phumdi, about 40 sq km, lies on the south-east shore and carries Keibul Lamjao National Park, which is described as too deep to be marsh and too shallow to be a lake.

Scientists and conservation groups have raised concerns that water management for the hydroelectric project at Ithai barrage and pollution have disrupted the natural cycle of floating and sinking.

What is Keibul Lamjao National Park known for?

The park protects the sangai (Rucervus eldii eldii), Manipur's state animal, which lives only here. It was first protected in 1966 and became a national park in 1977. The 1975 herd of 14 grew to 260 in the March 2016 census, but a January 2026 report in Down To Earth says the true population is uncertain and highlights threats from habitat loss, inbreeding, thinning phumdis and drowning during high water.

For visitors, this means a realistic expectation: sangai are shy, the viewing distance can be long, and access is controlled. Three hills, Pabot, Toya and Chingjao, act as refuges for wildlife when monsoon water rises.

How does Loktak connect to hydropower and why does it matter?

The Ithai barrage on the Manipur River is the lake's only outlet and forms part of the Loktak Multipurpose Project. It is about 10.7 m high and 58.8 m long, and it holds the lake at a managed level of about 786.5 m. This steadier water level has changed how phumdis rise and fall with the seasons. Researchers and the Down To Earth report link it to thinner mats and added pressure on the deer's habitat. It is worth knowing when you see a lake that appears timeless: it is a working landscape that people manage and argue over.

How should I visit responsibly?

Keep to permitted paths and boats, and follow instructions from park staff and local guides.
Stay quiet near wildlife. Deer that are disturbed may flee onto unstable ground.
Do not walk on phumdis unless you are told it is safe. Their thickness varies and thin patches can give way.
Carry out all rubbish. Pollution is one of the stresses on the lake.
Ask before photographing people, homes or boats.

What is the best time to visit Loktak?

Water levels, temperature and the movement of animals shape the experience.

Time of day: Early morning (about 6 to 10 am) and late afternoon (about 3.30 to 6 pm) are best for seeing deer feed in herds.
Season: Winter months offer cool, clear weather around Imphal, where January lows average about 4 degrees Celsius. Imphal's wettest months are June and July. Migratory birds visit at different times of year, so birders should check what is present.

Entry rules, boat arrangements and any seasonal closures are managed by Manipur's forest and tourism authorities and can change. Confirm with them before you travel.

How do I reach Loktak from Imphal?

Road is the practical option. From Imphal, Moirang is about 45 km south and the park is about 53 km. A private car or taxi is the easiest way. Boat trips and park entry are arranged locally, so ask your hotel or the tourism office what is currently available. Imphal can be reached by air from Guwahati, Kolkata, Delhi and other cities on services by Air India Express, IndiGo and Alliance Air, according to a recent airline listing. Our guide to reaching Northeast India through Guwahati outlines the wider options.

What else is there at Moirang?

Moirang is an old town and an important site in India's independence history. On 14 April 1944 Colonel Shaukat Malik of the Indian National Army raised the tricolour here for the first time on Indian soil. The INA Martyrs' Memorial Complex and the INA War Museum display relics and photographs from that period. The town is also linked in tradition with the Lai Haraoba festival and the Ibudhou Thangjing temple.

Allow about an hour at the museum and memorial. Pair Moirang with a half day in Imphal. See the Imphal and Ukhrul guide for Kangla Fort and Ima Keithel.

Are there current travel advisories for Manipur?

Yes, and they are serious. As of 8 October 2026:

The UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, in advice updated on 7 October 2026, advises against all but essential travel to Manipur, including Imphal. It notes curfews and restrictions in parts of the state.
The US State Department's India advisory lists Manipur at Level 4, Do not travel, citing violence and crime. The page checked for this article carried a 2025 issue date, so read the live version.
Manipur's own government is promoting tourism. In September 2026 the Chief Minister said tourist numbers had fallen sharply because of ethnic violence, and that peace is needed for recovery.

Conditions vary by district and can change quickly. Check your own government's latest advice, the Manipur government's notices and local news immediately before you travel, and keep plans flexible. The Imphal and Ukhrul guide sets out the wider situation.

What does a two day plan from Imphal look like?

Day 1: Morning at Keibul Lamjao for the early feeding period, then lunch on the way back through Moirang and an afternoon at the INA Martyrs' Memorial and museum. Return to Imphal by evening so you are not on the road after dark.
Day 2: Imphal sights such as Kangla Fort and Ima Keithel, the all-women market, with time for local food. The Imphal War Cemetery, maintained by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, adds context on the 1944 battles.

Start early on both days, and keep a spare half day for delays or road closures. Tell your hotel where you are going and when you expect to be back, and keep your phone charged, since coverage and fuel stops can be thin outside Imphal.

Plan your trip

If you decide to go, base yourself in Imphal, keep to main roads in daylight, and confirm park access, boat arrangements and permits before you leave. Indian visitors can apply for a Manipur Inner Line Permit online or at counters such as Imphal Airport. Palanquin can arrange vehicles that start from Guwahati, but travel into Manipur should follow current official advice.

Questions answered

What is special about Keibul Lamjao National Park?

It is described as the world's only floating national park. It sits on phumdis, floating mats of vegetation and soil, on the south-east side of Loktak Lake, and it is the last natural refuge of the sangai, or brow-antlered deer.

How far is Keibul Lamjao from Imphal?

About 53 km by road. Imphal's Bir Tikendrajit Airport is the nearest airport, and Imphal is the usual base.

What is the best time of day to see sangai?

Early morning, roughly 6 to 10 am, and late afternoon, roughly 3.30 to 6 pm, are described as the times when the deer feed in the open. They are shy and wary, so a distant view is common.

What is a phumdi?

A phumdi is a floating mass of vegetation, soil and decomposed organic matter. At Loktak the mats are about 0.3 to 1.2 m thick and the largest, at the south-east shore, covers about 40 sq km.

Is it advisable to travel to Manipur in October 2026?

The UK government advises against all but essential travel to Manipur, including Imphal, and the US State Department lists Manipur at Level 4, Do not travel. The state government is encouraging tourism. Check current advice from your own government and local authorities before you plan.

Sources

Permits, fees, timings, road conditions and advisories change often. Confirm the current position with the official body named in the article before you travel.