Gazetted a sanctuary in 1969, Keibul Lamjao officially became a
national park in 1977. It today stretches over an area of about 40 sq km, surrounded by
marshes, hillocks, and the lake itself. A number of streams too crisscross Keibul Lamjao,
which, combined with extensive marshes, make the park a typical wetland. The Loktak Lake,
which is really what the park is all about, is covered almost completely by floating mats
of the dense aquatic grass known locally as `phum'. Other wild grasses, including a
variety of wild rice, form the bulk of the vegetation, which supports an astoundingly
large and diverse fauna.
The
most prominent- if not the most easily spotted- of Keibul Lamjao's many denizens is the
brow-antlered `sangai' deer. A much-loved creature in Manipuri folklore and dance
tradition (so much so that it's even known as the `dancing deer'), the sangai had
been reported extinct in 1951, but after being re-discovered, has finally become Keibul
Lamjao's prime attraction. Other animals in the park include otter, civet, wild boar and
hog deer, besides a number of small reed-dwelling birds. The Loktak Lake is home to a
large piscine population.
Entry Requirements
All foreigners visiting Manipur are required to obtain special Restricted Area Permits
(RAPs), which are valid for entry to Keibul Lamjao National Park as well. Permits valid
for a period of ten days are issued to groups of four or more people travelling together
on a tour arranged by a recognised travel agent. Entry permits are issued by Indian
missions abroad; by the Ministry of Home Affairs; FRROs; and the State Government of
Manipur.
Indians visiting Manipur are required to
obtain an Inner Line Permit, also available from the offices listed above. Like the RAPs,
these too are valid for visits to Keibul Lamjao.
Access
The closest major town is Manipur's capital Imphal, about 50 km from Keibul Lamjao. Imphal
has good air connections to major cities in India, through its airport, which is served by
Indian Airlines. The nearest railhead is at Dimapur, about 230 km away in Assam and linked
to Imphal by road. A motorable road connects Imphal to Keibul Lamjao, and although public
transport between the two places is infrequent and undependable, vehicles can be hired in
Imphal to do the trip to Keibul Lamjao. Alternatively, opt for one of the day tours
conducted by Manipur Tourism to Loktak and Keibul Lamjao.
The best way to see Keibul Lamjao is by
boat- and that too in the early morning or in the evening, when the lake's at its
loveliest. The sangai, which live in small herds, lie low through most of the day
and come out to feed either around dawn or at dusk, which makes a circuit at this time
even more satisfying for wildlife-watchers. Local boatmen acting as guides can be engaged
to take you around the lake.
Within the park are observation towers
which offer a good view of sangai habitat, and for the more adventurous, a guided
walk through the park is possible. Look out for the somewhat shaky floating phum,
though- a wrong step and you could end up in rather a lot of water!
Best time to visit
The winter and spring- approximately October to February- is the best time to visit Keibul
Lamjao. Visits are possible up to May too, although it may be a trifle too hot for some
people, and the lake shrinks by almost a third because of evaporation in the summer
heat.
Beyond May, heavy monsoon showers hit Loktak, making visits here extremely difficult.
Accommodation
Two resthouses- one at Phubala and the other at Sendra (the main island of Loktak Lake)
-are about the only accommodation options available in Keibul Lamjao. However, Keibul
Lamjao's proximity to Imphal means that it's possible to visit the park on a day trip.
Imphal itself has a number of good hotels where rooms are available; rates for a single
room start at about Rs 100 per night and can go up to Rs 1,000 or so.
Further information on Keibul Lamjao is
available from the Assistant Conservator of Forests, Keibul Lamjao National Park, BPO
Kha-Thimungei, Manipur, or from the Director of Tourism (Hotel Imphal Complex), Near Raj
Bhavan, Imphal (Tel: 0385-224603 / 220802 / 222705). |
