Keibul Lamjao National Park, in Bishnupur district, Manipur, is the only floating national park in the world. It sits on the southern reaches of Loktak Lake, where a thick raft of matted vegetation called phumdi (floating islands of decomposed plants and soil) forms the ground itself. This is the last natural home of the endangered Sangai, the Manipur brow-antlered deer that locals call the dancing deer.
Keibul Lamjao National Park is a 40 sq km wetland park in Bishnupur district, Manipur, built on floating phumdi over Loktak Lake. It protects the wild Sangai deer, lies about 50 km from Imphal near Moirang, and is best visited from October to March. A Manipur travel advisory applies as of October 2026.
Key takeaways
- Keibul Lamjao is the world’s only floating national park, covering 40 sq km in Bishnupur district, Manipur, over the southern part of Loktak Lake.
- It is the last natural refuge of the Sangai (Manipur brow-antlered deer), listed as Endangered on the IUCN Red List and Schedule I under India’s Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.
- The park sits about 50 km by road from Imphal via Moirang; the nearest airport is Imphal (Bir Tikendrajit International), and there is no useful railhead nearby.
- Best season is October to March, the dry months when phumdis firm up and migratory birds arrive on Loktak.
- Manipur is under a US “Do Not Travel” (Level 4) advisory and the Protected Area Permit was reimposed for foreigners in December 2024, both as of October 2026 — reconfirm before booking.
- The ground is living floating vegetation, not soil; sightings are never guaranteed, and viewing is mainly from boats and the Sendra and Phubala edges.
A floating park on Loktak Lake
Keibul Lamjao National Park is a 40 sq km protected wetland in Bishnupur district, Manipur, lying on the south-eastern side of Loktak Lake, the largest freshwater lake in north-east India. According to Wikipedia’s summary of the Manipur Forest Department record, it was first set aside as a wildlife sanctuary in 1966 and gazetted as a national park on 28 March 1977. It sits at roughly 24°30′N, 93°46′E.
What makes it unusual is not its size but its floor. Two-thirds to three-quarters of the park is not firm land at all. It is phumdi, a floating mass of vegetation, roots and decomposed matter that drifts on the water. A well-known description calls it “too deep to be marsh, too shallow to be a lake.” Three low hills inside the park — Pabot, Toya and Chingjao — rise above the floating mat and act as refuges for animals when the monsoon raises the water.
| Location | Bishnupur district, Manipur, north-east India |
|---|---|
| Area | 40 sq km |
| Status | Sanctuary 1966; national park gazetted 28 March 1977 |
| Flagship species | Sangai (Manipur brow-antlered deer), IUCN Endangered |
| Setting | Floating phumdi over the southern end of Loktak Lake |
| Nearest town | Moirang, about 10 km away |
| Nearest airport | Imphal (Bir Tikendrajit International), about 50 km |
| Best season | October to March |
What phumdis are, and why they matter
Phumdis are floating islands of matted vegetation, soil and organic matter that form the living surface of the park. Their thickness varies from about 0.3 m (1 ft) to 1.2 m (4 ft), according to the park record summarised on Wikipedia. In their natural cycle they float in the wet season and sink in the dry season to touch the lakebed, drawing up nutrients before rising again. That rhythm is what grows the grasses the Sangai feeds on.
For a visitor, the practical point is simple: you are looking at ground that moves. The Sangai has evolved splayed, flexible hooves to walk on this spongy surface, which is partly why its loping, bouncing gait earned it the name dancing deer. The phumdi also supports reeds, wild rice and dozens of water birds, so the park reads as one connected system rather than a set of separate habitats.
The Sangai: near-extinction and a fragile recovery
The Sangai (Rucervus eldii eldii), the Manipur brow-antlered deer, survives in the wild only here, and it is listed as Endangered on the IUCN Red List and on Schedule I of India’s Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. It is the state animal of Manipur and a cultural emblem, celebrated in the annual Manipur Sangai Festival.
Its story is one of a very narrow escape. The subspecies was reported extinct in 1951 before being rediscovered in the Keibul Lamjao phumdis, an effort associated with naturalist E.P. Gee. The Manipur Forest Department’s periodic censuses record a climb from just 14 animals in 1975 to about 155 in 1995 and around 260 in the March 2016 count, according to figures reported by the Eastern Mirror and other press. A fresh Forest Department head-count was carried out with the park closed to visitors from 20 to 27 February 2026; no final total had been published as of October 2026.
These numbers come with an honest caveat. Independent scientists question the optimistic trend. Assessments attributed to the Wildlife Institute of India give much lower figures — in the region of 90 animals in 2006, falling to about 76 in 2019 and roughly 64 by 2023. In short, the recovery from a dozen deer is real, but the current population is genuinely uncertain, and the species remains vulnerable. Treat any single “official” figure with care and check the date.
| Year | Figure | Source reported |
|---|---|---|
| 1951 | Reported extinct | Historical record |
| 1975 | 14 | Forest Department census (press-reported) |
| 1995 | ~155 | Forest Department census (press-reported) |
| March 2016 | ~260 | Forest Department census (Eastern Mirror) |
| 2019 / 2023 | ~76 / ~64 | Attributed to Wildlife Institute of India estimates |
| Feb 2026 | Count taken; total not yet published | Forest Department head-count |
Best time to visit
The best time to visit Keibul Lamjao is October to March, the dry season, when the phumdis firm up, the weather is cool and dry, and migratory birds settle on Loktak. This window also overlaps the Manipur Sangai Festival, usually held in November, which makes travel logistics across the state busier but easier. Early mornings give the calmest water and the best chance of a deer on the floating grass.
Avoid the monsoon months of roughly June to September, when heavy rain raises the lake, animals retreat to the inner hills, and boat movement is harder. The park has also been closed to visitors during the annual census window (it was shut 20–27 February 2026), so confirm the current calendar with the park office before you travel.
| Period | Conditions | Worth it? |
|---|---|---|
| October–November | Dry, cool, clear; Sangai Festival in Nov | Best overall |
| December–February | Cold, dry; migratory birds present | Excellent; carry warm layers |
| March | Warming, still dry | Good; season tails off |
| April–May | Hot, hazier | Fair |
| June–September | Monsoon, high water | Avoid |
How to reach Keibul Lamjao
Keibul Lamjao is about 50 km by road from Imphal, reached via Moirang, and the nearest airport is Imphal’s Bir Tikendrajit International Airport. There is no practical railhead close by: the nearest operational railway at Jiribam is roughly 220 km away by road, so almost everyone arrives through Imphal and continues south by taxi or shared vehicle.
From Imphal, the drive runs south down the valley to Moirang, the nearest town, which sits about 10 km from the park gate; the park entrance is a short way further south. Shared vehicles to Moirang leave from Imphal, and a chartered taxi is the simplest option for a day trip. Because the park is a floating wetland, final access to viewing areas is by boat from the lake edge, arranged at or near the entrance and the Sendra/Phubala points.
| Mode | Detail | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Air | Imphal airport, about 50 km | Only realistic long-distance gateway |
| Road | Imphal → Moirang → park, via NH through the valley | Taxi or shared vehicle; day trip feasible |
| Rail | Jiribam, about 220 km | Not practical; route via Imphal instead |
| Local | Boat from Loktak edge for viewing | Arrange at entrance / Sendra / Phubala |
Boat visits, Sendra and Phubala
You experience Keibul Lamjao mainly from the water and from two edges of Loktak Lake — Sendra and Phubala — rather than on foot. A boat ride through the channels among the phumdis is the core of a visit: it is how you reach the floating grassland and scan for Sangai, and it doubles as a birding trip in winter. Sightings are never guaranteed, so set expectations accordingly and go early.
Sendra, a hillock jutting into the lake on the northern side, is the classic viewpoint for the vast patchwork of circular fishing phumdis spread across Loktak, and it has a small resort and café. Phubala, on the western shore, is a quieter lakeside point with a forest rest house. Both make natural bases for photographs at first light and for hiring a boat. A local guide helps you read the water and the deer’s habits, and is worth the modest fee.
| Spot / activity | Why go | Time needed |
|---|---|---|
| Boat ride through the phumdis | Reach the floating grassland; look for Sangai and birds | 1–2 hours |
| Sendra viewpoint | Panorama of Loktak’s circular phumdis; sunrise | 1–2 hours |
| Phubala lakeside | Quiet shore, rest house, boat access | 1 hour |
| Winter birding on Loktak | Migratory waterfowl on the lake Oct–Mar | Add to boat trip |
| Moirang INA Memorial | Freedom-struggle history, 10 km away | 1 hour |
Loktak Lake and the hydro-project pressures
Keibul Lamjao cannot be understood apart from Loktak Lake, and the lake is under real stress. Loktak was designated a Wetland of International Importance under the Ramsar Convention on 23 March 1990, and in 1993 it was placed on the Montreux Record — Ramsar’s list of sites facing adverse change — largely because of the Ithai Barrage.
The barrage was built in 1983 under the Loktak hydroelectric (multipurpose) project. According to the park record, it holds the lake’s water level between about 768 m and 768.5 m through the dry months of October to March. That broke the phumdi’s natural float-and-sink cycle: the floating islands now stay afloat year-round and cannot touch the lakebed to draw nutrients, so their vegetation and thickness are believed to be thinning over time. Conservation bodies including WWF-India attribute the degradation of the Sangai’s phumdi habitat to this continuous inundation. The pressure on the lake is the single biggest long-term threat to the park, which is why its managers treat the wetland as fragile and tightly regulated.
Where to stay
The usual choice is to stay at Loktak (Sendra), in Moirang, or in Imphal and visit the park on a day trip. There is no hotel inside the park itself; accommodation is on the lake’s edge or in town. Book ahead in the Sangai Festival season (November), when rooms near Loktak fill up.
- Loktak / Sendra (lakeside): A tourism resort and a few cottages sit on Sendra island with lake views and a café; homestays have also grown on Thanga island. Expect roughly ₹2,500–₹4,500 a night for a mid-range room (indicative planning estimate — reconfirm).
- Moirang: Basic forest rest-house style and small guesthouse options near the park gate; simplest for an early start. Budget bands roughly ₹1,000–₹2,500 (indicative — reconfirm).
- Imphal: The widest range of hotels, from budget to comfortable business-class properties, about 50 km away. Mid-range roughly ₹2,000–₹5,000 (indicative — reconfirm).
Forest rest houses at Phubala and Sendra exist but typically have no boarding (food) facilities, so carry essentials or arrange meals in advance.
Budget breakdown
A simple two-day trip from Imphal is affordable, with transport the main cost. The figures below are planning estimates as of October 2026 and should be reconfirmed locally; the official park fees in particular are not published on a government portal that this guide could verify, so treat the entry line as indicative.
| Item | Estimate (₹) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Park entry | ~30–200 | Indian/foreign bands quoted by travel guides; camera fee extra — reconfirm officially |
| Boat ride (shared) | 150–1,500 | Per person or per boat; sunrise trips cost more |
| Taxi Imphal–Moirang–park (shared cost) | 1,000–1,800 | Cheaper split among a group; shared vans less |
| Stay (1 night, mid-range) | 1,500–3,000 | Sendra, Moirang or Imphal |
| Meals (2 days) | 600–1,200 | Local Manipuri food |
| Guide (optional) | 300–500 | Recommended for sightings |
| Approx. total | ~3,600–8,200 | Excludes flights to Imphal |
Permits, travel advisory and rules
Two things need checking before any trip to Keibul Lamjao: the permit position for foreigners and the state’s security situation. On permits, the Union Ministry of Home Affairs reimposed the Protected Area Permit (PAP) for Manipur, Nagaland and Mizoram, announced on 18 December 2024; under the Foreigners (Protected Areas) Order, 1958, foreign nationals require a PAP and their movement in Manipur is monitored. Indian citizens do not need an Inner Line Permit for Manipur, but should carry photo ID.
On safety, Manipur has been affected by ethnic violence since May 2023, and Bishnupur was among the districts named in earlier alerts. As of October 2026, the US State Department lists Manipur under a Level 4 “Do Not Travel” advisory, and several governments advise caution. This situation is volatile: check your own government’s current advisory and local news close to your dates, and travel only if conditions allow. Both the advisory and the permit rule are dated here as of October 2026 and must be reconfirmed.
Inside the park, the rules reflect a fragile wetland. Stay with your boatman and keep to the water channels; do not step onto the phumdi or disturb the deer. No littering, no plastic in the lake, and no loud behaviour. Photography is fine from the boat; drone use over a national park and a sensitive border state is restricted and generally needs prior permission. Do not buy or handle any wildlife product.
Nearby places
Keibul Lamjao pairs naturally with Loktak Lake sights and with Imphal, so most visitors build a two- or three-day loop. The historic town of Moirang, next to the park, is where the Indian National Army is recorded to have first raised the national flag on Indian soil in 1944; the INA Memorial Complex and museum there tell that story. For the wider state, see our Manipur travel guide.
| Place | Distance (approx.) | Why go |
|---|---|---|
| Loktak Lake / Sendra | Adjacent | Circular fishing phumdis, viewpoints, boating |
| Moirang & INA Memorial | ~10 km | Freedom-struggle history and museum |
| Imphal (Kangla Fort, Ima Keithel market) | ~50 km | Capital, heritage, all-women market |
| Shirui / Ukhrul (Shirui Lily) | Long day from Imphal | Rare Shirui lily and hill scenery (seasonal; check access) |
Frequently asked questions
Where is Keibul Lamjao National Park?
Keibul Lamjao National Park is in Bishnupur district, Manipur, in north-east India. It lies on the southern part of Loktak Lake, about 50 km by road from the state capital Imphal and roughly 10 km from the town of Moirang. The nearest airport is Imphal’s Bir Tikendrajit International Airport.
Why is Keibul Lamjao called a floating national park?
Keibul Lamjao is called the world’s only floating national park because most of its 40 sq km surface is phumdi — floating mats of vegetation, roots and decomposed matter that drift on Loktak Lake rather than solid ground. These mats, up to about 1.2 m thick, support the grasses that the endangered Sangai deer feeds on.
What is the Sangai deer and is it endangered?
The Sangai is the Manipur brow-antlered deer (Rucervus eldii eldii), Manipur’s state animal, found in the wild only at Keibul Lamjao. It is listed as Endangered on the IUCN Red List and protected under Schedule I of India’s Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. It recovered from about 14 animals in 1975, though current totals are debated.
What is the best time to visit Keibul Lamjao?
The best time to visit Keibul Lamjao is October to March, the cool dry season, when the phumdis firm up and migratory birds gather on Loktak Lake. November coincides with the Manipur Sangai Festival. Avoid the June–September monsoon, when high water pushes animals to the inner hills and limits boating.
Do I need a permit to visit Keibul Lamjao National Park?
Foreign nationals need a Protected Area Permit (PAP) for Manipur, reimposed by India’s Home Ministry in December 2024 under the Foreigners (Protected Areas) Order, 1958. Indian citizens do not need an Inner Line Permit but should carry ID. A separate park entry fee applies at the gate; reconfirm the current amount locally.
Is it safe to travel to Manipur right now?
As of October 2026, Manipur is under heightened travel advisories because of ethnic violence since May 2023; the US lists it as “Do Not Travel” (Level 4). Conditions are volatile, so check your government’s latest advisory and local news before you plan, and travel only if the situation allows.
Last updated and sources
Keibul Lamjao suits patient wildlife and wetland travellers who value a rare ecosystem over guaranteed sightings, ideally between October and March. Given the current security situation, go only after checking the latest advisories, and keep plans flexible.
Last updated: 16 October 2026. Fees, timings and permits change — reconfirm with official sources before you travel.
Sources: Keibul Lamjao National Park (Wikipedia, summarising Manipur Forest Dept record); Eastern Mirror — Sangai census; Down To Earth — Sangai population debate; WWF-India — brow-antlered deer; ETV Bharat — PAP reimposed (Dec 2024); Deccan Herald — US travel advisory; Outlook Traveller — Loktak Lake. Accessed October 2026.
