Keibul Lamjao National Park

Keibul Lamjao is a national park in Bishnupur district, Manipur, India, that sits entirely on a large lake. The landscape consists of phumdis, natural floating mats of plants, roots and organic material that stretch across the water.

The Indian government created this protected area in 1977 to preserve endangered wildlife and the floating vegetation. Local people had hunted the Sangai deer on these islands for centuries before it nearly disappeared.

The park protects an ecosystem that local communities have used for centuries, fishing on the floating islands. Visitors see traditional boats navigating through narrow channels between the vegetation mats.

The park opens to visitors between October and March when the weather is stable and wildlife is easier to spot. Boat tours depart near Imphal and take guests through the floating islands with guides accompanying them.

The park is the only floating protected area in the world and provides the last habitat for the Sangai deer. This deer species lives exclusively on the phumdis and has adapted to life on the moving surface.