Manipur’s Loktak Lake and the adjoining Keibul Lamjao National Park form one of the most remarkable ecological landscapes in the world, yet they stand today at a delicate turning point. Loktak, the largest freshwater lake in Northeast India, is a shimmering expanse where land appears to float, shaped by the unique phumdis - a spongy masses of soil, vegetation and organic matter that drift on its surface. Keibul Lamjao, resting on the lake’s southern edge, is the only floating national park on the planet, a living marvel that continues to fascinate scientists and visitors alike. Together, they represent a rare combination of natural beauty, cultural heritage and biological significance.

Loktak is a lake that breathes with the seasons. Recent ecological assessments record over 230 species of aquatic plants, dozens of waterbird species and a thriving freshwater fish community, all of which depend on the phumdis that rise and fall with the rhythms of the lake. These floating islands serve as breeding grounds, feeding zones and natural filtration systems, while simultaneously supporting the livelihoods of thousands of fishing families. Floating huts, traditional canoe routes and age-old fishing enclosures sit lightly on the lake, shaping a distinctive way of life that has persisted for centuries.

Keibul Lamjao National Park is equally extraordinary. Spread across about forty square kilometres, it provides the last wild refuge of the Sangai, the endangered brow-antlered deer whose slow, graceful movements on the quivering phumdis have earned it the name “the Dancing Deer.” Once believed extinct in the mid-twentieth century, the Sangai survived with fewer than fifteen individuals before conservation efforts slowly revived its population. A recent census places the number at over 270, a fragile but hopeful recovery that underscores the urgent need to protect its habitat.

The cultural importance of this landscape is deep and enduring. For the communities who live around the lake, Loktak is not merely a waterbody but a foundation of identity, economy and spiritual belief. Traditional fishing practices, rituals tied to the lake’s cycles and the craftsmanship of boat-making reflect a symbiotic relationship between people and nature that is increasingly rare in modern times.

Yet, the pressures on this floating world have intensified. The natural rise and fall of the phumdis has been disrupted by the Loktak Hydroelectric Project, which maintains consistently high water levels and prevents the phumdis from absorbing nutrients during the dry season. As a result, they are thinning, breaking and drifting more than ever before. Pollution from agricultural runoff and urban waste continues to degrade water quality, while encroachment and unregulated tourism have altered the lake’s hydrology. Climate change adds unpredictable stress, with fluctuating rainfall patterns and rising temperatures threatening the delicate balance of the ecosystem.

Conservation efforts, though steady, face complex challenges. The Loktak Development Authority has attempted phumdi restoration, water-flow management and systematic monitoring using satellite and drone technology. Environmental groups have worked alongside local communities to promote sustainable fishing and responsible tourism, while researchers continue to document biodiversity trends and assess ecological risks. Early signs from recent field studies indicate that certain aquatic plant species and waterbird populations are stabilising, suggesting that the lake retains a capacity for recovery if interventions are timely and coordinated.

Responsible tourism remains crucial to that future. The lake does not need mass influx; it needs thoughtful visitors who understand its fragility; those who support local homestays, respect the floating vegetation, reduce plastic use and observe wildlife quietly. Loktak’s beauty lies not only in its scenery but in its subtlety, and it must be experienced with care.

What is at stake is more than an ecosystem. Loktak and Keibul Lamjao are a living classroom on ecological resilience and cultural continuity, a Ramsar-recognised wetland whose uniqueness cannot be replicated elsewhere. The survival of the Sangai, the traditions of the fisher communities and the integrity of an irreplaceable ecological system depend on decisions made today. If nurtured wisely, Loktak will continue to stand as the pride of Manipur - a place where land floats, deer dance and human life flows in harmony with nature. If ignored, the world risks losing a landscape found nowhere else on Earth.

The floating world of Loktak demands attention, respect and protection. Its future is not merely a regional concern but a national responsibility.