State : Manipur, in the north
east of India.
Best time to Travel : November to April.
Weather Conditions : 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.
Location : Keibul Lamjao National Park is
about 53 km from Imphal in Manipur.
Spread in an area of 40 sq km, Keibul Lamjao National Park
in Manipur was established in the year 1966 as a Sanctuary
and in the year 1977 as a National Park. Keibul Lamjao National
Park Manipur is probably the world's only 'floating sanctuary'
that comprises 40 sq km of wetland overgrown with 1.5 m. deep
floating vegetation (called phumdi). The park has several
distinguishing features. Besides the vegetation and terrain,
an important highlight of the park is the Loktak Lake (6,475
ha), the largest freshwater lake in India; a large portion
of which falls within the park.
Airport : Manipur's capital, Imphal (53
km. from the park) is connected by flight to major cities
like Delhi, Guwahati (469 km), Calcutta.
Railhead : 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.
Road Transport : 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.
Accomodation inside the park is at Phubala where there is
a Forest 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.
The Flora
Keibul Lamjao consists of the unique 'phumdi' or floating
marshes. Eighty per cent of the flora is submerged and the
vegetation forms a 90-120 cm. thick cover on the water surface.
About half a century ago, the predominant 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 comprise of equal proportions of hoop Leersia hexandra
and sing kambong Zizania latifolia, a protein-rich plant,
often used as food (about 24 per cent).
The Animals
Some very rare animals may be seen in and around this wilderness.
The star attraction, 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 fondly
called Manipur's dancing deer because of its delicate 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 primitive primates, the slow loris
occurs in scattered 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 ubiquitously 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 large mammals found
in the area.
Extremely rare lesser wild cats like the marbled cat and
Temminck's golden cat may be sighted occasionally. The Himalayan
black bear and the Malayan bear may also be seen foraging
for food.
The Birds
A variety of rare birds occur in Keibul Lamjao and the Loktak
Lake. The avifauna consists primarily of the smaller reed-dwelling
species. Waterfowl, which were unfailing winter migrants to
the lake, are becoming more rare 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.
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