Keibul Lamjao National Park | The Floating National Park

The Keibul Lamjao National Park in Manipur is the world’s only floating wildlife refuge, floating on the waters of Loktak Lake. Locals refer it the circular floating wetland as phumdis. The phumdis are essentially mounds of decomposing vegetation that are submerged in water and have a springy quality. Walking on the phumdis can be difficult due to its continual vibration. It is an essential component of Loktak Lake. A phumdi is a carpet of dead and rotting plants that floats on the lake’s surface—about a fifth of it is above the water’s surface. Tall reeds and grasses grow on these phumdis, reaching heights of up to 15 feet.

Why its called floating National Park

The Keibul Lamjao National Park is named after the tigers, the wide Bul, and the land Lamjao. This is a national park in the Indian state of Manipur’s Bishnupur district. It is the only floating park in the world and covers an area of 40 km2 (15.4 sq mi). Loktak Lake is not complete without this national park. This location is teeming with vegetation and fauna of many sorts coexisting in perfect harmony. Keibul Lamjao is home to the endangered brow-antlered deer, also known as Sangai and Manipur’s state animal.

The Keibul Lamjao National Park is also home to the world’s only wild sangai, or brow-antlered deer. It is Manipur’s state animal. This is due to a variety of circumstances, including invasive plant species that have taken over the vegetation in the phumdis, farming practices that are encroaching on parkland, natural drainage of the old vegetation, poaching, and illicit fishing. During the dry season, the living roots reach the lakebed and offer nutrients to these phumdis. The lake’s water level now remains high all year, preventing the phumdis from sinking and collecting the nutrients they require to remain thick enough to support the deer. They are now dwindling and disintegrating.

Keibul Lamjao National Park

The Meitei people of Manipur see the lake as their mother—the giver of life. As many as 4000 fishermen and their families subsist on phumdis made of bamboo, wood, rocks, and metal plates and rods. Straw mattresses, simple cooking utensils, a box of extra light bulbs, and that’s about it for the shelters. The only floating elementary school, which also provides higher education, is attended by families.

Imphal, the capital of Manipur, is 50 kilometers away from Keibul Lamjao. The major Indian cities have good rail and aviation connections to Imphal. The national park may be seen from a boat. Canoes are the ideal way to appreciate the tranquility of confined waterways. The observation towers are the ones you don’t want to miss because of how beautiful the view is from them. The aerial view of the spherical marshes allows you to observe the many birds and animals in their natural habitat. One feels at ease and one with nature in the serene surroundings. Keibul Lamjao follows you wherever you go.

The temperature can range from 1.7 °C (35.1 °F) in the winter to a maximum of 34.4 °C (93.9 °F) in the summer. The park offers a diverse array of aquatic, wetland, and terrestrial ecosystems and is mostly made up of moist semi-evergreen woods. Add another item to your bucket list to experience this beauty.