Keibul Lamjao National Park

Situated in Manipur, Keibul Lamjao is probably the world's solitary 'floating' sanctuary that comprises 40 sq. km. of wetland overgrown with 1.5 m. deep floating vegetation (called phumdi). The park has several unique features. Apart from the vegetation and terrain, an important best part of the park is the Loktak Lake (6, 475 ha.), the largest freshwater lake in India; a great portion of which falls within the park.

The entire Loktak Lake was sheltered and declared a sanctuary in October 1953,
mainly to save the sangai or Brow Antlered Deer, which was threatened by extinction
. Following the re-discovery of the deer, in July 1954, this area was officially notified as
a sanctuary in 1966 and a decade later, on March 28, 1977, the Keibul Lamjao

National Park was created.

Season:
The park remains unlocked from October to May. The finest time to see the sangai is December - January and March - April. December and January see a fair share of frost developing in the area. November and March afford interesting sightings of migratory birds, and are also climatically appropriate.

By Air: Manipur's capital, Imphal (53 km. from the park) is connected by flight to major cities like Delhi, Guwahati (469 km), and Calcutta.
By Rail: Dimapur (215 km. from Imphal) is the nearest railhead. Jiribam, a small town on Manipur's border, 225 km. from Imphal is an alternative, from where one can proceed to Keibul Lamjao by road.
By Road: Imphal is connected by road with Guwahati (469 km.) through National Highway No 39 and Silchar through National Highway No. 53. The park is about 53 km. from Manipur's capital, Imphal and can be approached by bus or on private vehicles.

Temperature:
Temperatures range from a maximum of 34.4ºC to a minimum of 1.7ºC. The annual rainfall is 1220 mm. The area is most humid in August, with daily humidity measuring as much as 81 per cent. March is the least humid at 49 per cent.

Brow Antlered Deer Hanumantha Park Safari Timings
The best time to enjoy the park is between 0600 and 1000 hrs in the morning and 1530 and 1800 hrs in the afternoon.

Accommodation

Accommodation inside the park is at Phubala where there is a jungle rest house. But all the accommodation in an around the park is basic and in most places the food has to be arranged by the visitor.

However Imphal (53 kms) has hotels where one can stay and transfers for the visit are usually arranged locally.

Flora: Keibul Lamjao consists of the only one of its kind 'phumdi' or floating marshes. Eighty per cent of the flora is underwater and the vegetation forms a 90-120 cm. thick cover on the water surface. About half a century ago, the chief plants used to be tou (45 per cent), singut (25 per cent) and khoimom (15 per cent). But the composition of the vegetation has undergone rapid changes and the plant cover, at present, is estimated to consist of equal proportions of hoop Leersia hexandra and sing kambong Zizania latifolia, a protein-rich plant, habitually used as food (about 24 per cent).

Keibul Mammals: Some very rare animals may be encountered in and around this wilderness. The celebrity magnetism, of course, is the brow-antlered deer Cervus eldi eldi, called sangai in the local Meitei dialect. This particular subspecies of the Thamin deer is also affectionately called Manipur's dancing deer because of its fragile gait as it negotiates its way along the floating wetlands. Other species of deer seen here include the hog deer, sambar and muntjac. One of the most ancient primates, the slow loris occurs in dotted pockets on the hills. Assamese and stump-tailed macaques and the Hoolock gibbon are restricted mainly to the western hills. The Rhesus monkey is found all over the place around the park. The large Indian civet Viverra zibetha and small Indian civet Viverricula indica, common otter Lutra lutra and wild boar Sus scrofa are some of the bulky mammals noted in the area.

Extremely uncommon lesser wild cats like the marbled cat and Temminck's golden cat may be sighted sporadically. The Himalayan black bear and the Malayan bear may also be seen rummaging for food.

Birdlife: An array of rare birds occurs in Keibul Lamjao and the Loktak Lake. The avifauna consists mostly of the smaller reed-dwelling species. Waterfowl, which were dependable winter migrants to the lake, are becoming more uncommon because of the lack of open water surfaces. The Hooded Crane may be seen in the Manipur valley. The Black Eagle and the Shaheen Falcon are some of the raptors seen here. The Eastern White Stork, Bamboo Partridge and Green Peafowl are also found here.

Some of the types of hornbills found here include the Brownbacked Hornbill, Rufousnecked Hornbill, Wreathed Hornbill, the Pied Hornbill and the Great Pied Hornbill.

Entry Requirements

Indians visiting Manipur are required to obtain an Inner Line Permit. Foreigners are required to have the permits from the FRRO offices.Like the RAPs, these too are valid for visits to Keibul Lamjao also.