LOKTAK LAKE

Manipur experiences a pleasant climate round the year with heavy rainfall. The temperature varies between 20-25 degrees round the year, so it is perfect to visit during any season. However, winters are pretty cold in the hills and proper clothes must be carried during the visit.

From Imphal to Moirang The best place to start your journey to Loktak Lake is Imphal. From Imphal, your first destination is Moirang. Moirang is a nondescript town on the border of the lake, and serves as a drop off point for visitors. There’s not much to see in Moirang itself . Shared taxis ply the roughly 30 kilometers between Imphal and Moirang, and take about an hour. They leave when full from the Jiribam – Imphal road, close to the intersection near the Ima Keithel Women’s Market. The taxis will have “Moirang” written on their windshields, but if you can’t find them, just ask one of the many minibusses along the road. They will show you the way. The shared taxi from Imphal to Moirang costs 50 Rs per person. From Moirang to Thanga From Moirang, you’ll have to take another shared taxi to Thanga. Thanga is the name of several clusters of villages that make up a peninsula on Loktak Lake. To get to the taxi stand, walk straight from where you are dropped off, past the market, and then turn right. Cross a small bridge, and there will be several colorful shared taxis on a road to the left. These leave to Thanga. If you’re not sure, just ask anyone for Thanga, and they’ll point you in the right direction. The taxi ride costs 10 Rs per person, and takes about 15 minutes. Make sure to ask the driver for Maipakchao Homestay (see below).

Imphal Imphal has several mid-range hotels, but lacks budget options. Luckily for you, there is an excellent homestay:  Aheibam Homestay . It is about seven kilometers outside of the city center, but shared taxis go past every five minutes or so. Otherwise, a private rickshaw from the bus stand costs 200 Rs, and a shared taxi costs 10 Rs per person. The price for the homestay depends on the season, but we paid 1,000 Rs, which included two meals per day. The guest room is very comfortable, and has TV, AC, and wi-fi.

Thanga Thanga offers two options:  Sendra Cottages  and  Maipakchao Homestay . Sendra Cottages is part of the luxurious Classic Hotel chain, and Maipakchao Homestay is run by the affable Mr. Maipakchao, and is very highly recommended by everyone who stays there. To get there, tell the shared taxi driver you are going to Maipakchao, and he’ll drop you off at the right turn. There will be a sign pointing to the homestay down the hill. Mr. Maipakchao’s homestay is well known by locals, and they can guide you there. The homestay is found on the way to Thanga, a village on a peninsula in the lake. There are two very large signs marking the entrance. Accommodation costs are on a per-person basis, in the range of 1,000 – 1,500 Rs per person, and includes 3 meals a day and a room with a private toilet.

The lake and the surrounding areas are perfect for exploring by foot, on a bike, or by boat. There’s also plenty of shared taxis puttering around on all the roads. Some ways to pass the time include: 1. Visit the small island of Karang. A local “passenger” boat is 10 Rs per person, and there are several vantage points from where you can get a good look at the lake and the phumdis (small floating islands of vegetation and organic matter). 2. Rent a boat and go for a swim, or just enjoy a boat ride. The water temperature is pretty perfect thanks to the shallow lake depth, and a boat ride is the perfect way to appreciate how big the lake actually is. 3. Visit Keibul Lamjao National Park, The catchment area of Loktak Lake is about 980 square kilometres, on which lies the floating heterogeneous vegetation (phumdis) that covers the entire lake. The largest phumdi is about 40 square kilometres and on this phumdi, the Keibul Lamjao National Park stands. It is the world's only floating national park. It is home to the endangered sangai and migratory birds flock in seasonally giving the entire area a majestic view of exotic wildlife. The area has a rich biodiversity of heterogeneous flora and fauna. India's only indigenous ape species, the hoolock gibbon, is also found here. 4. Visit the island of Sarang, The pristine and ecologically conserved island is located on one of the phumdis and is an excellent site to lodge for tourists. The area is famous for some native fish, including major carp and grass carp, and delicacies cooked from these fish are readily available. From the Sendra Island, one can have a bird's- eye view of the local habitations and culture of the people residing on the floating vegetation. The worldsonly floating school is also located in close proximity.