Some places in India feel like they belong to another world!
Keibul Lamjao National Park in Manipur is one of them. Imagine walking on grasslands that shift under your feet because the land itself is floating. This is the world’s only Floating National Park, a rare jewel of nature resting on the waters of Loktak Lake.
A Forest That Floats
Unlike any other national park, Keibul Lamjao National Park doesn’t stand on solid earth. It spreads across 40 square kilometers on phumdis — thick mats of soil, weeds, and organic matter that drift on the lake’s surface. From afar, the park looks like a meadow, but step closer and you realize it moves ever so slightly with the waves.
Fishermen row their boats through channels in the grass, cattle graze on floating pastures, and in the middle of this fragile balance lives one of the most beautiful animals in the world — the Sangai deer.
A Haven for Wildlife and Birds
While the Sangai deer is the star of Keibul Lamjao, the national park is also home to a variety of wildlife. You can find hog deer, wild boar, and even otters darting through the waters. The park shelters jungle cats, civets, and a variety of reptiles and amphibians.
Bird lovers, too, find paradise here. The wetlands attract migratory birds in winter — Eastern White Storks, Northern Pintails, and Burmese Pied Hornbills among them. Resident species like herons, cormorants, and kingfishers can be seen all year round, making the park a living orchestra of calls and colors.
Beneath the floating islands, Loktak Lake teems with fish, supporting not only wildlife but also the local fishing communities who have lived here for centuries.
The Heartbeat of Manipur - The Sangai Deer
For the people of Manipur, the Sangai is not just an animal. It is a symbol of their land, their culture, and their spirit. This rare deer, with its elegant antlers and soft, watchful eyes, is often called the dancing deer because of the way it tiptoes carefully on the floating phumdis.
Legend says the Sangai represents the delicate bond between humans and nature — reminding that life is interconnected and fragile. That is why Manipuris lovingly call it the “soul of Manipur.”
Once thought to be extinct, the Sangai was rediscovered in Keibul Lamjao in 1951. Today, this Floating National Park is the only natural home it has left. Seeing one glide across the trembling meadows feels like watching folklore come alive.
A Fragile Paradise
As magical as it is, Keibul Lamjao National park is fragile. The floating phumdis depend on the water level of Loktak Lake. Too much disturbance, pollution, or careless human activity can upset the balance and the applecart has been disturbed by human activities.
Conservationists often say — if the Sangai disappears, it won’t just be the loss of a species, but the loss of Manipur’s identity.
Visiting the Floating National Park
For visitors, Keibul Lamjao offers a unique kind of experience. Instead of jeeps and noisy safaris, you explore by boat, gliding quietly through the waters. Early mornings are best — when mist hangs over the lake, the world feels suspended in time, and you may just spot a Sangai moving gracefully across the phumdis.
- How to reach: The park lies about 50 km from Imphal, Manipur’s capital. A drive through green valleys and small villages takes you to Loktak Lake.
- Best time to visit: November to March, when the skies are clear, birds are plenty, and the lake is calm.
Nearby attractions: The floating huts of Loktak, local fishing villages, and the Ima Keithel women’s market in Imphal add to the charm of the journey.
A Story That Still Floats
Keibul Lamjao National Park is not just a protected area. It is a living story — of a deer that became the heartbeat of a people, of a forest that floats on water, and of a culture deeply tied to nature.
When you leave, you don’t just carry photographs. You carry the feeling of standing in a place where land and water, myth and reality, man and nature all exist together — fragile, yet timeless.
