Did you know that there is a floating wildlife sanctuary in the world? And to your surprise, this nature wonder is nestled right here in India. Yes, you read that correctly!
The World’s only floating wildlife sanctuary is the Keibul Lamjao National Park located in the enchanting state of Manipur (Bishnapur District) in North East India. The wildlife park is a massive part of the ecosystem of Loktak Lake—the largest freshwater lake in northern India.
Why is it special
Keibul Lamjao National Park boasts the unique distinction of being the sole sanctuary on the planet to house the endangered brow-antlered Sangai deer. The deer was first discovered in Manipur in 1839 and is also known as the ‘dancing deer’. it is the state animal of Manipur.
The biodiverse park covers an area of 40 km2 (15 square miles. Most of the park’s large area is covered in biomasses, or floating decomposed intertwined vegetation, soil, and organic materials, locally called phumdis.
Interestingly, the water is still underneath the covered mass of said plant material. What makes it special is the fact that the floating phumdis are strong enough for humans and even animals to walk on.
The floating park is primarily owned by the state of Manipur but a part of is also shared between the Thang, Brel, and Maril tribes.
How to Reach
The Keibul Lamjao National Park is around 52 kilometres from the capital of Imphal, Manipur. One can drive down to the part taking the National Highway 2 (NH2). Otherwise, tourists can take the public sharing bus/taxis from Imphal to Loktak Lake. Sometimes one may have to switch bus routes at Moirang and Thanga. Once at the park’s entrance, you may need to hire a boat or canoe to navigate through Loktak Lake and reach the floating phumdis where the wildlife sanctuary is located. You have some tour operators and guides offer guided boat tours.
Best time to Visit
The best time to visit Manipur would be from October – March. The official opening times for the park are 9 am – 6pm but our advice to travellers is to reach much earlier. The gates and the park open as early as 6 am and it’s the best time to glimpse Sangai deer.
