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Area : 40 sq kms/4,000
hectares
Established in 1966 as a Sanctuary
1977 as a National Park
Location: 53 kilomtetres from Imphal in Manipur.
Description :
Located in Manipur, Keibul Lamjao 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. Apart from 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.
The entire Loktak Lake was protected 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 open from October to May. The best 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
suitable.
Access :
By Air: Manipur's capital, Imphal (53 km. from the park)
is connected by flight to major cities like Delhi,
Guwahati (469 km), 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.
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.
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).
Mammals: Some very rare animals may be encountered 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 noted 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.
Birdlife: 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.
Some of the species 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.
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