India Houses the World’s Only Floating National Park! Here’s Why You Need to Visit Now

There’s something quietly magical about flying into the Northeast, as the rolling green hills look like they’ve been dipped in mist and old legends. Catching a cheap flight to Imphal lands travellers right in the heart of Manipur, a state that somehow feels both forgotten and fiercely alive. A two-hour drive from Imphal, past small villages, women in bright shawls, and smoky roadside momo stalls, lies something so unreal it could easily pass for a dream – the Keibul Lamjao National Park, the world’s only floating national park.

What’s the Floating National Park Like?

Now, imagine a forest that doesn’t sit on land but literally floats on water. Welcome to the Floating National Park, or to be exact, the Manipur Floating National Park, resting gently on the shimmering waters of Loktak Lake Manipur. The whole thing moves, shifts, breathes, because it’s made of phumdis (pronounced “foom-dees”), which are thick mats of decomposing vegetation, soil, and organic matter that float like massive green rafts. These Phumdis Loktak Lake patches form the base of this natural wonder, constantly bobbing on water that sparkles under the golden Manipur sun.

Locals will tell you that this floating paradise is alive. The reeds sway, the ground feels springy underfoot, and if you stand still, you can actually sense a faint ripple beneath your feet, like the park itself is gently exhaling. The silence here is deceptive; listen closer and you’ll catch the hum of dragonflies, the splash of fish, and somewhere far off, the cry of the park’s most famous resident, the Sangai, or the Manipur brow-antlered deer.

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The Vibrant Fauna of the Keibul Lamjao Park

Back in 1966, Keibul Lamjao was declared a sanctuary to protect the Sangai, which was once thought extinct. By 1977, it officially became Keibul Lamjao National Park, spreading over 40 square kilometres of floating vegetation and watery channels. You’ll be captivated by the way it walks, careful and elegant, as if afraid the ground might dissolve under its hooves. No surprise that these deer are often called the “dancers of the marsh.”

And they’re not alone. The Keibul Lamjao National Park animals list reads like an ecological poem of wild boars, hog deer, civets, and hundreds of bird species, including migratory ones that seem to drop by just to admire the view.

The Heartbeat of Loktak Lake

Loktak Lake isn’t just scenery; it’s life itself. It’s where fishermen live on floating huts called phumshangs, where women cast nets with effortless grace, and where entire floating gardens bloom. Locals harvest vegetables and even build temporary homes right on the phumdis. The sight is so surreal it feels like someone forgot to tell gravity about this place.

Travelers often stay at one of the best hotels in Manipur. Options near Moirang are popular for lake views and early morning boat rides. The best way to experience the park? Hop into a wooden canoe just after dawn. The light is soft, the mist hangs low, and everything, every sound, every ripple, feels otherworldly.

Discover: 7 Best Coral Reefs: Visit Before Their Colour Fades.

The Best Time to Visit the Floating Park

Keibul Lamjao changes its mood with the seasons. From November to March, the weather stays cool and perfect for long walks and boat rides; this is peak beauty season.

Summer (April to June) can be sticky, and monsoons (July to September) turn everything lush and dramatic but make travel tricky. Still, even when it rains, there’s something cinematic about the way droplets bounce off the lake’s surface.

If you’re plotting a longer trip, check out all-inclusive Manipur tour packages, which cover Imphal, Loktak, and local tribal villages. You might even find folks who still whisper stories about the Sangai being the spirit guardian of the lake.

Park Details & How to Get There

So, where is Keibul Lamjao National Park? Tucked in the Bishnupur district, about 53 km from Imphal. But really, it’s in another world, one that floats, hums, and feels alive beneath your feet. The Keibul Lamjao National Park is open from 6 am to 4 pm, except on Mondays. The entry fee for the park costs:

Adult Entry Fee	Kids Entry Fee
Rs.50	Rs.25

The best to way to travel to the park, include:

• By Air: Tulihal International Airport, Imphal, is the closest to the park, which is a 30 km drive away. 
• By Rail: Jiribam Railway Station in Manipur is the closest railway station to the park.

For those dreaming bigger, online visa services for 180+ countries can make hopping to other eco-wonders seamless, but honestly, few places on Earth match the quiet poetry of Keibul Lamjao.

Summing Up

Keibul Lamjao, the floating national park that drifts atop Loktak Lake Manipur, is one of those “you have to see it to believe it” places. Home to the rare Sangai deer and thick mats of living phumdis, it’s the only floating national park in the world. Between golden sunsets, quiet canoe rides, and floating homes, this floating national park in India feels less like Earth, more like a dream that forgot to end.

FAQs: Floating National Park

Which national park is known as the Floating National Park?
The Keibul Lamjao National Park in Manipur is known as the only floating national park in the world. It floats along the surface of the Lohtak Lake.

What is a floating park?
A floating park is a collection of Phumdis floating across a lake. The animals and unique flora are present on these floating Phumdis. You can find the world’s only national park in Manipur, namely Keibul Lamjao National Park.

Which is the world’s only floating lake?
Lohtak Lake is the world’s only floating lake in Manipur, which houses the Keibul Lamjao National Park.

Which is the largest national park in India?
Ladakh’s Hemis National Park is the largest in India, spanning across 4,400 sq km. It is known for its snow leopards and Tibetan Wolves.

What is Keibul Lamjao National Park famous for?
India’s Keibul Lamjao National Park is known worldwide for being the only floating national park in the world. You can visit this park in Manipur, spread across the phumdis or floating islands.

Which floating island is located in Manipur?
The floating islands in Manipur are called phumdis, floating along the Lohtak Lake.

Also Read

• Wild Wonders: Top National Parks in New Zealand.
• Best National Parks in the World You Must Visit.
• Dubai Safari Park Reopened in October for its 7^th Season: Learn How to Win Free Tickets!

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