While most national park are thick forests, rugged valleys or wide-open plains, Manipur’s Keibul Lamjao National Park is spread across the shimmering Loktak Lake. This is the only floating national park in the world. (Image: Instagram)
Its terrain is not soil but phumdi which are thick mats of vegetation, organic matter and root systems that float naturally on the lake, forming a soft, springy carpet. (Image: Instagram)
Keibul Lamjao is one of the most delicate, complex ecosystems in India since it is an entire habitat suspended on water and sustained by time and tradition. (Image: Instagram)
The park is globally known as the last natural refuge of the Sangai, Manipur’s state animal. Often referred the dancing deer, the Sangai moves in elegant, careful steps because each stride is taken on floating ground that dips slightly under its weight. (Image: Instagram)
The park is also designated as a biodiversity hotspot for supporting a wide range of species, including 230 species of aquatic plants as well as migratory birds, making it a haven for wildlife enthusiasts. (Image: Instagram)
The lake also supports the livelihoods of thousands of fishermen and their families, who rely on its abundant resources. Traditional fishing methods passed down through generations are still practised today. (Image: Instagram)
To reach Keibul, you will have to reach Imphal, which has a major airport and a railway station for travellers. (Image: Instagram)
