8 magnificent lakes in North East India you probably don't know about

Compiled by Jim Ankan Deka

Sangetsar Lake (Madhuri Lake) - Arunachal Pradesh

Sangetsar Lake (photo - allresourceupdates.wordpress.com)
Sangetsar Lake is a high altitude lake in the Eastern Himalayas of Arunachal Pradesh that is considered holy by the Buddhists. About 30 kilometres North East of Tawang, the lake is also known as Madhuri Jheel named after the famous Bollywoodfilm star Madhuri Dixit. The film Koyla, featuring Shahrukh Khan and Madhuri Dixit, was shot here.

Chandubi Lake - Assam

Chandubi Lake (photo - Wikipedia)
Chandubi Lake is located at the foot of Garo hills surrounded by Assam and Meghalaya. This lake attracts sizable amount of migratory birds during winter. This lake formed during 1897 Assam earthquake.During that period the forest went down and became the lake. Best time to visit is from November to May.

Loktak Lake (Floating Lake) - Manipur

Loktak Lake (Photo - Wikipedia)
Loktak Lake is one of the largest fresh water lakes in India and the largest in North East India. The lake is also known as the floating lake due to the floating phumdis, which is the most beautiful aspect of the lake. Phumdi is a heterogeneous mass of vegetation, soil, and organic matters at various stages of decomposition. It is the only floating lake in the world.

Umiam Lake (Bara Pani) - Meghalaya

Umiam Lake (photo - Wikipedia)
Umiam Lake was created by damming the Umiam river in the early 1960s. Also known as Bara Pani meaning big water, Umiam actually means Crying River in Khasi language. It has a lovely tale of two sisters. The lake is a scenic place tucked away amidst the hills of Meghalaya and is around 15 Km from Shillong.

Palak Lake (Palak Dil or Pala Tipo) - Mizoram

Palak Lake (photo - mizohelpline.com)
Palak lake is the largest lake in southern Mizoram and is situated in an almost inaccessible part of the Lakher region of Chhimtuipui district, 130 km south-west of Saiha. It is said that, the lake came into existence as a result of an earthquake or a flood. The local people believe a village which was submerged still remains intact deep under the waters of the lake.

Shilloi Lake (Lachem Lake) - Nagaland

Shilloi Lake (photo - Flickr)
Shilloi Lake is a beautiful natural lake in Phek region of Nagaland and falls in a valley surrounded with pine forest and interesting landscapes. The actual name of the lake is ‘Lütsam’ meaning a place where water is collected. The British called her ‘Shiloh’ but today it is officially known as ‘Shilloi'.

Gurudongmar Lake - Sikkim

Gurudongmar Lake (photo - Wikipedia)
Gurudongmar Lake or Gurudogmar Lake is one of the highest lakes in the world, located at an altitude of 17,100 ft. It lies in the district of North Sikkim in the state of Sikkim in India, only some 5 kilometres south of Chinese border.

Rudrasagar Lake (Rudijala) - Tripura

Rudrasagar Lake (photo - Wikipedia)
Rudrasagar Lake is about 55 Km. away from Agartala near Melaghar and witnesses a large number of migratory birds in every winter. Every year in July/August a famous boat race is organized. A palace known as Neermahal (Water Palace) is situated near the north-east bank of the lake. It was constructed as a summer resort by the king of Tripura Maharaja Bir Bikram Kishore Manikya Bahadur in between 1935–1938.