Best lakes destinations in India
78 curated lakes destinations across 26 states, each with the months it is worth going and the months it is not.
Best of lakes India
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Parashar Lake
Himachal Pradesh
Floating-island lake with a pagoda temple, camping spot
Peak: Apr to Jun and Oct to Nov
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Alleppey (Alappuzha) Backwaters
Kerala
Venice of the East - houseboats through the backwaters
Peak: Nov to Feb
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Pushkar
Rajasthan
Holy lake town, Rajasthan's backpacker capital
Peak: Oct to Feb
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Kodaikanal
Tamil Nadu
Misty Palani lake town loved by trekkers, backpackers
Peak: Apr to May and Sep to Oct
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Bhandardara
Maharashtra
Dam-lake basecamp for Maharashtra's highest peak, Kalsubai
Peak: Jul to Aug
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Nagarjuna Sagar (Nagarjunakonda)
Andhra Pradesh
Buddhist ruins moved to an island in a Krishna reservoir
Peak: Nov to Feb
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Manasbal Lake
Jammu and Kashmir
Lotus-choked lake under Nur Jahan's Jarokha Bagh terrace
Peak: Jun to Sep
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Bhopal & Sanchi
Madhya Pradesh
Lake city gateway to the UNESCO Sanchi Buddhist stupas
Peak: Oct to Feb
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Pangong Tso
Ladakh
The '3 Idiots' lake - a 134km turquoise line into Tibet
Peak: Jun to Sep
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Mangalajodi (Chilika Wetlands)
Odisha
Ex-poacher guides row you into Chilika's winter clouds of waterbirds
Peak: Nov to Feb
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Chandubi Lake
Assam
Earthquake-born forest lake in Rabha country near Guwahati
Peak: Nov to Feb
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Dudhni Lake
Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu
Shikara rides on the Madhuban backwaters under Warli hills
Peak: Oct to Feb
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Nal Sarovar
Gujarat
Shallow 120 sq km Ramsar lake of flamingos and punt boats
Peak: Nov to Feb
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Morni Hills
Haryana
Chandigarh's nearest hills, low-key and quiet
Peak: Mar to May
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Dawki & Shnongpdeng
Meghalaya
Glass-clear Umngot river: boating, cliff camps, border
Peak: Nov to Feb
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Harike Wetland (Harike Pattan)
Punjab
Beas meets Sutlej at north India's biggest man-made wetland
Peak: Dec to Feb
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Laknavaram Lake
Telangana
Island-dotted Kakatiya lake with a swaying 160 m hanging bridge
Peak: Oct to Feb
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Neermahal & Rudrasagar Lake (Melaghar)
Tripura
A 1930s water palace stranded in a lake full of winter ducks
Peak: Nov to Feb
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Nawabganj Bird Sanctuary (Unnao)
Uttar Pradesh
Shallow migratory-bird lake halfway between Lucknow and Kanpur
Peak: Dec to Feb
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Nainital
Uttarakhand
Colonial lake town, Kumaon's biggest tourist magnet
Peak: Apr to May and Oct to Nov
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Mirik
West Bengal
Lake town below Darjeeling with orange orchards and tea
Peak: Mar to Apr and Oct to Nov
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Gangrel Dam (Ravishankar Sagar)
Chhattisgarh
Mahanadi mega-reservoir with a beach strip and water sports
Peak: Nov to Feb
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Patratu Valley
Jharkhand
Hairpin ghat road dropping to a blue dam lake in Chotanagpur sal hills
Peak: Nov to Feb
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Honnemaradu
Karnataka
Island-studded Sharavathi backwater for kayak and coracle camping
Peak: Oct to Feb
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Loktak Lake
Manipur
Floating phumdi islands, world's only floating park
Peak: Nov to Feb
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Shilloi Lake (Latsam)
Nagaland
Foot-shaped sacred lake below Phek's pine ridges near Myanmar
Peak: Oct to Jan
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Rewalsar (Tso Pema)
Himachal Pradesh
Tso Pema, one small lake sacred to Hindus, Sikhs and Tibetans
Peak: Mar to Apr and Oct to Nov
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Munroe Island (Munroe Thuruthu)
Kerala
Canoe canals through eight islets where Kallada meets Ashtamudi
Peak: Nov to Feb
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Udaipur
Rajasthan
City of Lakes: palaces and postcard sunsets
Peak: Nov to Feb
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Ooty (Udhagamandalam)
Tamil Nadu
Nilgiris' colonial hill capital, toy train and tea gardens
Peak: Apr to May and Oct
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Tapola (Shivsagar Lake)
Maharashtra
Backwater arm of the Koyna dam with kayaks and the Vasota trek
Peak: Nov to Feb
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Nelapattu Bird Sanctuary
Andhra Pradesh
Pelican and stork colony nesting over a village tank
Peak: Dec to Feb
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Mansar Lake
Jammu and Kashmir
Forest-ringed Shivalik lake with a Sheshnag shrine and turtles
Peak: Nov to Feb
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Hanuwantiya Tapu
Madhya Pradesh
Tent city and island cruises on India's biggest reservoir
Peak: Nov to Feb
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Tso Kar
Ladakh
Salt-crusted Ramsar lake where black-necked cranes breed
Peak: Jun to Sep
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Chilika Lake (Satapada)
Odisha
Asia's largest lagoon: dolphins and migratory birds
Peak: Nov to Feb
Every lakes destination in the catalogue
- Alwar Rajasthan
- Banswara (Mahi Backwaters) Rajasthan
- Barot Himachal Pradesh
- Basohli Jammu and Kashmir
- Chandoli National Park Maharashtra
- Chandratal Himachal Pradesh
- Chidambaram & Pichavaram Tamil Nadu
- Debrigarh (Hirakud Reservoir) Odisha
- Dindi (Konaseema Backwaters) Andhra Pradesh
- Dumboor Lake (Narikel Kunja) Tripura
- Gandhi Sagar (Chambal) Madhya Pradesh
- Gavi Kerala
- Haflong Assam
- Jawai Bandh (Bera) Rajasthan
- Kakkayam Kerala
- Khajjiar Himachal Pradesh
- Kolayat Rajasthan
- Kumarakom Kerala
- Lonar Crater Lake Maharashtra
- Mawphanlur Meghalaya
- Mount Abu Rajasthan
- Mukutmanipur West Bengal
- Nako Himachal Pradesh
- Nangal (Sutlej Lake) Punjab
- Orvakal Rock Garden Andhra Pradesh
- Pakhal Lake Telangana
- Pilibhit Tiger Reserve (Chuka) Uttar Pradesh
- Pulicat (Pazhaverkadu) Tamil Nadu
- Renuka Lake (Renuka Ji) Himachal Pradesh
- Saputara Gujarat
- Sattal Uttarakhand
- Shivpuri (Madhav National Park) Madhya Pradesh
- Silvassa Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu
- Srinagar Jammu and Kashmir
- Sultanpur National Park (Bird Sanctuary) Haryana
- Thenmala Kerala
- Toranmal Maharashtra
- Tso Moriri Ladakh
- Valiyaparamba (Nileshwar backwaters) Kerala
- Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary Tamil Nadu
- Yelagiri Tamil Nadu
- Yercaud Tamil Nadu
When to go
January, February and December are the months with the most lakes places in peak season.
By state
Kerala (7)Rajasthan (7)Himachal Pradesh (7)Tamil Nadu (7)Maharashtra (5)Jammu and Kashmir (4)Madhya Pradesh (4)Andhra Pradesh (4)Odisha (3)Ladakh (3)
Common questions
How many lakes destinations are there in India?
This catalogue lists 78 tagged lakes, across 26 states and union territories. It is a curated list, not an exhaustive one: places earn a spot on the strength of the landscape or the heritage.
When is the best time for a lakes trip in India?
January, February and December put the most of them in peak season. Each place carries its own window, though, so check the one you are aiming at.
Which states have the most lakes destinations?
Kerala (7), Rajasthan (7), Himachal Pradesh (7), Tamil Nadu (7) and Maharashtra (5).
Other themes
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