{"id":472026,"date":"2025-11-06T13:22:48","date_gmt":"2025-11-06T13:22:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.akbartravels.com\/in\/blogs\/?p=472026"},"modified":"2025-11-15T09:43:58","modified_gmt":"2025-11-15T09:43:58","slug":"india-houses-the-worlds-only-floating-national-park-heres-why-you-need-to-visit-now","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.akbartravels.com\/in\/blogs\/india-houses-the-worlds-only-floating-national-park-heres-why-you-need-to-visit-now\/","title":{"rendered":"India Houses the World\u2019s Only Floating National Park! Here\u2019s Why You Need to Visit Now"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

There\u2019s something quietly magical about flying into the Northeast, as the rolling green hills look like they\u2019ve been dipped in mist and old legends. Catching a cheap flight to Imphal<\/a> 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\u2019s only floating national park.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What\u2019s the Floating National Park Like?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Rowing<\/a>
Rowing boat to reach the Floating National Park
Image credit: Unsplash\/<\/a>Mohammed Yasin M N<\/a><\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now, imagine a forest that doesn\u2019t 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\u2019s made of phumdis (pronounced \u201cfoom-dees\u201d), 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u2019ll catch the hum of dragonflies, the splash of fish, and somewhere far off, the cry of the park\u2019s most famous resident, the Sangai, or the Manipur brow-antlered deer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Explore: Chan Da Ya Cliff: Don\u2019t Miss the Mountain That Lays Eggs!<\/a><\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Vibrant Fauna of the Keibul Lamjao Park<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/a>
Deer
Image credit: Pixabay\/Bishnu Sarangi<\/a><\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u2019ll 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 \u201cdancers of the marsh.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And they\u2019re 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Heartbeat of Loktak Lake<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Loktak<\/a>
Loktak Lake
Image credit: Unsplash\/Ulrico Zampa<\/a><\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Loktak Lake isn\u2019t just scenery; it\u2019s life itself. It\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Travelers often stay at one of the best hotels in Manipur<\/a>. 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Discover: 7 Best Coral Reefs: Visit Before Their Colour Fades.<\/a><\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Best Time to Visit the Floating Park<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u2019s something cinematic about the way droplets bounce off the lake\u2019s surface.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019re plotting a longer trip, check out all-inclusive Manipur tour packages<\/a>, 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Park Details & How to Get There<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So, where is Keibul Lamjao National Park? Tucked in the Bishnupur district, about 53 km from Imphal. But really, it\u2019s 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:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Adult Entry Fee<\/strong><\/td>Kids Entry Fee<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
Rs.50<\/td>Rs.25<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The best to way to travel to the park, include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n