Aditi Sinha
September 27, 2023 02:52
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Lakes are large bodies of water found in various landscapes, such as hilly areas, plateaus, plains, and rift zones. There are many large and small lakes in India. Read more about list of important lakes in India List, Map, State wise List & facts.
Lakes in India are found in different types of places like hills, plateaus, plains, and rift zones. Some lakes are natural, while others are made by people. These lakes have various uses for nature and people. India has many beautiful natural places, and its lakes make them even more beautiful. India’s water resources include things like rivers, canals, lakes, and more. Lakes are big bodies of water surrounded by land. Most of them have fresh water, which is an important part of India’s water. The water in lakes can be still or move slowly. In exams like UPSC, knowing about India’s important lakes is really useful.
There are 62 important lakes in India including Pulicat Lake, Sursagar, Kolleru, etc. The biggest lake in India is Vembanad Lake in Kerala. It’s quite deep, about 4.2 meters, and covers an area of 1165 square kilometers. Lakes are important in India because they provide water for people. In India, there are different kinds of lakes, like freshwater ones, man-made ones, and even saltwater ones.
A lake is a large inland body of water typically surrounded by land and not directly connected to the ocean. It is characterized by its standing or relatively still water, usually freshwater, although there are also saline or brackish lakes. Lakes can be formed through various geological processes such as tectonic activity, glaciation, volcanic activity, or the filling of a basin by rainfall or rivers.
Check the updated list of Lakes in India in the given below table:
| List of Important Lakes in India | ||
|---|---|---|
| Lake Name | State | Type of Lake |
| Pulicat | Andhra Pradesh | Brackish Water |
| Korlleru Lake | Andhra Pradesh | Freshwater |
| Nagarjuna Sagar | Andhra Pradesh | Freshwater |
| Haflong Lake | Assam | Freshwater |
| Deepor Beel | Assam | Freshwater |
| Son Beel | Assam | Freshwater |
| Chandubi | Assam | Oxbow |
| Kanwar | Bihar | Oxbow |
| Hamirsar | Gujarat | Artificial |
| Kankaria | Gujarat | Artificial |
| Narayan Sarovar | Gujarat | Artificial Freshwater |
| Thol Lake | Gujarat | Lentic Lake |
| Vastrapur | Gujarat | Freshwater |
| Badkhal | Haryana | Freshwater |
| Blue Bird Lake | Haryana | Freshwater |
| Brahma Sarovar | Haryana | Freshwater |
| Damdama Lake | Haryana | Freshwater |
| Karna | Haryana | Freshwater |
| Tilyar | Haryana | Freshwater |
| Chandra Taal | Himachal Pradesh | – |
| Suraj Taal | Himachal Pradesh | Freshwater |
| Maharana Pratap Sagar | Himachal Pradesh | Freshwater |
| Prashar Lake | Himachal Pradesh | Holomitic |
| Dal Lake | Jammu Kashmir | – |
| Wular Lake | Jammu Kashmir | – |
| Agara | Karnataka | Freshwater |
| Ulsoor | Karnataka | Stale Water |
| Kukarahalli | Karnataka | Freshwater |
| Honnamana | Karnataka | Freshwater |
| Pampa Sarovar | Karnataka | Freshwater |
| Ashtamudi Kayal | Kerala | Brackish Water |
| Kuttanad | Kerala | Brackish Water |
| Vembanad | Kerala | Brackish Water |
| Sasthamkotta | Kerala | Freshwater |
| Bhojtal | Madhya Pradesh | Freshwater |
| Salim Ali | Maharashtra | Freshwater |
| Shivsagar | Maharashtra | Freshwater |
| Lonar | Maharashtra | Crater Lake |
| Loktak | Manipur | Lenticular Freshwater |
| Umiam | Meghalaya | Freshwater |
| Tam Dil | Mizoram | Freshwater |
| Chilika Lake | Odisha | Brackish Water |
| Harike | Punjab | Freshwater |
| Kanijli | Punjab | Freshwater |
| Sambhar Lake | Rajasthan | Saltwater |
| Rajsamand | Rajasthan | Freshwater |
| Tsomgo | Sikkim | Freshwater |
| Khecheoplari | Sikkim | Freshwater |
| Ooty Lake | Tamil Nadu | Freshwater |
| Chembarambakkam | Tamil Nadu | Artificial Lake |
| Hussain Sagar | Telangana | Artificial Lake |
| Badrakali Lake | Telangana | Freshwater |
| Govind Bhallabh Pant Sagar | Uttar Pradesh | Man-Made Lake |
| Belasagar | Uttar Pradesh | Freshwater |
| Bhimtal | Uttarakhand | Freshwater |
| Kaliveli | Tamil Nadu | – |
The list of Top 10 Largest Lakes in India is given below.
| Top 10 Largest Lakes in India |
|
| List of Largest Lakes | State/UT |
| Vembanad Lake | Kerala |
| Chilika Lake | Odisha |
| Shivaji Sagar Lake | Maharashtra |
| Indira Sagar lake | Madhya Pradesh |
| Pangong Lake | Ladakh |
| Pulicat Lake | Andhra Pradesh |
| Sardar Sarovar Lake | Gujarat |
| Nagarjuna Sagar Lake | Telangana |
| Loktak Lake | Manipur |
| Wular lake | Jammu and Kashmir |
Lakes are large bodies of water surrounded by land. They can be found in various landscapes, such as hilly areas, plateaus, plains, and rift zones. Lakes can be natural, formed by natural processes, or artificial, created by human activities like damming rivers.
Lakes are essential components of the Earth’s ecosystems, providing diverse benefits and serving as captivating natural features that contribute to the beauty and balance of our planet. Below are some beautiful lakes that adorn the Indian landscape. Each lake has unique characteristics, cultural significance, and ecological importance, making them significant attractions for visitors and nature enthusiasts.
| Lakes in India List State Wise | |
| Name of the States | Name of the Lakes |
| Andhra Pradesh | Kolleru Lake |
| Pulicat Lake | |
| Assam | Chandubi Lake |
| Chapanala Lake | |
| Haflong Lake | |
| Son Beel Lake | |
| Bihar | Kanwar Lake |
| Gujarat | Hamirsar Lake |
| Kankaria Lake | |
| Lakhota Lake | |
| Sursagar Lake | |
| Thol Lake | |
| Vastrapur Lake | |
| Himachal Pradesh | Brighu Lake |
| Dashair and Dhankar Lake | |
| Kareri and Kumarwah lake | |
| Khajjiar Lake | |
| Macchial Lake | |
| Manimahesh Lake | |
| Nako Lake | |
| Pandoh Lake | |
| Prashar Lake | |
| Renuka Lake | |
| Rewalsar Lake | |
| Seruvalsar and Manimahesh Lake | |
| Haryana | Badkhal Lake |
| Beauty lake | |
| Blue Bird Lake | |
| Brahma Sarovar | |
| Current lake | |
| Karna Lake | |
| Sannihit Sarovar | |
| Surajkund | |
| Tilyar Lake | |
| Jammu and Kashmir | Dal Lake |
| Manasbal Lake | |
| Mansar Lake | |
| Pangong Tso | |
| Sheshnag Lake | |
| Tso Moriri | |
| Wular Lake | |
| Karnataka | Agara Lake |
| Bellandur Lake | |
| Byrasandra Lake | |
| Hebbal Lake | |
| Kempambudhi Lake | |
| Lalbagh Lake | |
| Madiwala Lake | |
| Puttenahalli Lake | |
| Sankey Lake | |
| Ulsoor Lake | |
| Dalavai Lake | |
| Devanoor Lake | |
| Karanji lake | |
| Kukkarahalli lake | |
| Lingambudhi Lake | |
| Honnamana Kere | |
| Pampa Sarovar | |
| Kerala | Ashtamudi Lake |
| Kuttanad Lake | |
| Maanaanchira, Kozhikode | |
| Manakody Kayal | |
| Padinjarechira, Thrissur city | |
| Paravur Kayal | |
| Punnamada Lake | |
| Shasthamkotta lake | |
| Vadakkechira, Thrissur city | |
| Vanchikulam, Thrissur | |
| Vellayani Lake | |
| Vembanad Lake | |
| Madhya Pradesh | Bhoj Wetland |
| Lower Lake | |
| Moti lake | |
| Sarang pani lake | |
| Shahpura lake | |
| Tawa Reservoir | |
| Upper Lake | |
| Maharashtra | Gorewada Lake |
| Khindsi Lake | |
| Lonar Lake | |
| Mehrun Lake | |
| Pashan Lake | |
| Powai Lake | |
| Rankala Lake | |
| Salim Ali Lake | |
| Shivasagar lake | |
| Talao Pali | |
| Upvan Lake | |
| Venna Lake | |
| Meghalaya | Umiam Lake |
| Manipur | Loktak Lake |
| Mizoram | Palak dïl |
| Tam Dil | |
| Odisha | Anshupa Lake |
| Chilika Lake | |
| Kanjia lake | |
| Punjab | Harike Lake |
| Kanjli Lake | |
| Ropar Lake | |
| Rajasthan | Ana Sagar Lake |
| Balsamand lake | |
| Dhebar Lake | |
| Jaisamand Lake | |
| Jal Mahal, Man Sagar lake | |
| Kaylana Lake | |
| Nakki Lake | |
| Pushkar Lake | |
| Rajsamand Lake | |
| Ramgarh Lake | |
| Talwara Lake | |
| Sambhar Salt Lake | |
| Fateh Sagar Lake | |
| Rangsagar lake | |
| Uday sagar Lake | |
| Sikkim | Gurudongmar Lake |
| Khecheopalri Lake | |
| Lake Tsongmo | |
| Lake Cholamu | |
| Telangana | Alwal Cheruvu Lake |
| Durgam Cheruvu (Secret Lake) | |
| Himayat Sagar | |
| Hussain Sagar | |
| Osman Sagar | |
| Safilguda Lake | |
| Saroornagar Lake | |
| Shamirpet Lake | |
| Tamil Nadu | Berijam Lake |
| Chembarambakkam Lake | |
| Kaliveli Lake | |
| Kaveripakkam Lake | |
| Kodaikanal Lake | |
| Ooty Lake | |
| Perumal Eri | |
| Red Hills Lake | |
| Sholavaram Lake | |
| Singanallur Lake | |
| Veeranam Lake | |
| Uttar Pradesh | Amakhera Lake |
| Barua Sagar Tal | |
| Belasagar Lake | |
| Bhadi Tal | |
| Chando Tal Lake | |
| Keetham Lake | |
| Nachan Tal | |
| Ramgarh Tal Lake | |
| Sheikha Jheel | |
| Uttarakhand | Skeleton Lake (Roopkund Lake) |
| Bhimtal Lake | |
| Dodital | |
| Nainital Lake | |
| Naukuchiatal | |
| Sat Tal | |
| West Bengal | Debar Lake |
| East Calcutta Wetlands | |
| Jore Pokhri | |
| Mirik Lake | |
| Rabindra Sarobar | |
| Rasikbil | |
| Santragachhi Lake | |
| Senchal Lake | |
Lakes can be classified based on their water source. Natural lakes are primarily fed by precipitation, such as rain and snowfall, as well as by groundwater seepage. Man-made or artificial lakes are created by human intervention, typically by constructing dams or reservoirs.
Reservoir lakes are specifically designed to store water for various purposes, including irrigation, drinking water supply, or hydroelectric power generation. Furthermore, there are also oxbow lakes, which form when a meandering river creates a cutoff, leaving behind a curved, crescent-shaped body of water. These different types of lakes based on water source highlight how lakes are formed and utilized.
| Types of Lakes in India | |
|---|---|
| Types of Lakes | Names of Lakes |
| Artificial lakes | Hamirsar Lake |
| Kankaria Lake | |
| Chembarambakkam | |
| Hussain Sagar | |
| Artificial Freshwater | Narayan Sarovar |
| Brackish Water | Pulicat Lake |
| Ashtamudi Kayal | |
| Kuttanad | |
| Vembanad | |
| Chilika lake | |
| East Calcutta wetlands | |
| Crater lake | Lonar lake |
| Freshwater Lakes | Kolleru Lake |
| Nagarjuna Sagar | |
| Haflong Lake | |
| Son Beel | |
| Vastrapur | |
| Badkal Lake | |
| Blue Bird Lake | |
| Brahma Sarovar | |
| Damdama Lake | |
| Karna | |
| Maharana Pratap Sagar | |
| Agara lake | |
| Bellandur Lake | |
| Kukarahalli lake | |
| Honnamana | |
| Pampa Sarovar | |
| Shashtamkotta | |
| Bhojtal | |
| Salim Ali | |
| Shivsagar | |
| Umiam | |
| Tam Dil | |
| Kanjia lake | |
| Harike | |
| Rupar | |
| Kanjli | |
| Rajsamand | |
| Tsomgo Lake | |
| Khecheoplari | |
| Ooty Lake | |
| Badrakali Lake | |
| Belasagar | |
| Bhimtal | |
| Freshwater ((canal inflow) | Tilyar |
| Freshwater (High Altitude) | Suraj Taal |
| Freshwater (Tectonically formed) | DeeporBeel |
| Holomitic (Freshwater) | Prashar lake |
| Lentic lake | Thol Lake |
| Lenticular freshwater | Loktak lake |
| Man-made lake | Govind Ballabh Pant Sagar |
| Oxbox (Freshwater) | Chandubi lake |
| Kanwar Lake | |
| Saltwater | Sambhar lake |
| Stale water | Ulsoor lake |
| Sweetwater lake | Chandra Taal |
Located in Srinagar, the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir, Dal Lake is one of the most famous and iconic lakes in India. It is known for its serene beauty, floating gardens, houseboats, and the surrounding snow-capped mountains.
Situated in Udaipur, Rajasthan, Lake Pichola is an artificial freshwater lake that offers breathtaking views of the Udaipur City Palace, Lake Palace, and Jag Mandir. It is surrounded by hills, palaces, and temples, making it a popular tourist destination.
Located in Kerala, Vembanad Lake is the largest lake in the state and one of the longest in India. It is known for its backwater tourism and is an essential part of the famous Kerala backwaters. The lake is rich in marine life and serves as a habitat for several species of fish and birds.
Situated in Manipur, Loktak Lake is the largest freshwater lake in Northeast India. It is famous for its unique floating phumdis (heterogeneous mass of vegetation, soil, and organic matter) and is home to the endangered Manipur brow-antlered deer, also known as the Sangai.
Located in the Ladakh region of Jammu and Kashmir, Pangong Tso is a high-altitude lake renowned for its pristine blue waters. It stretches across the border between India and China, with a significant portion falling under Indian territory. The lake’s scenic beauty and tranquil surroundings attract tourists worldwide.
Situated in Odisha, Chilika Lake is the largest coastal lagoon in India and the second-largest in the world. It is a designated Ramsar site and a paradise for birdwatchers, as it serves as a wintering ground for migratory birds. The lake’s ecosystem supports a diverse range of flora and fauna.
Located in Jammu and Kashmir, Wular Lake is one of the largest freshwater lakes in Asia. Majestic mountains surround it, and it is an important habitat for migratory birds. The lake also plays a crucial role in regulating the water level of the Jhelum River.
Other Important Lakes in India are given below.
| Other Important Lakes in India |
|
|---|---|
| Lakes in India | State/UT |
| Pulicat Lake | Andhra Pradesh |
| Kolleru Lake | Andhra Pradesh |
| Haflong Lake | Assam |
| Deepor Beel | Assam |
| Chandubi Lake | Assam |
| Kanwar Lake | Bihar |
| Hamirsar Lake | Gujarat |
| Kankaria Lake | Gujarat |
| Badkhal Lake | Haryana |
| Brahma Sarovar | Haryana |
| Chandra Taal | Himachal Pradesh |
| MaharanaPratap Sagar | Himachal Pradesh |
| Dal Lake | Jammu Kashmir |
| Wular Lake | Jammu Kashmir |
| Agara Lake | Karnataka |
| Ulsoor Lake | Karnataka |
| Kuttanad Lake | Kerala |
| Sasthamkotta | Kerala |
| Bhojtal | Madhya Pradesh |
| Shivsagar | Maharashtra |
| Loktak lake | Manipur |
| Umiam Lake | Meghalaya |
| Tam Dil | Mizoram |
| Chilika Lake | Odisha |
| Harike | Punjab |
| Kanjli | Punjab |
| Sambhar Lake | Rajasthan |
| Tsomgo Lake | Sikkim |
| Chembarambakkam | Tamil Nadu |
| Hussain Sagar | Telangana |
| Govind Bhallabh Pant Sagar | Uttar Pradesh |
| Belasagar | Uttar Pradesh |
| Bhimtal | Uttarakhand |
| Kaliveli | Tamil Nadu |
Here are some points highlighting the various applications of lakes in India:
1. Water Supply: Lakes serve as important sources of freshwater for drinking water supply in many regions of India. They act as reservoirs, storing water during the rainy season and releasing it during dry periods.
2. Irrigation: Lakes are utilized for irrigation purposes, especially in agricultural areas. Water from lakes is used to irrigate crops, increasing agricultural productivity and supporting rural livelihoods.
3. Hydropower Generation: Many lakes in India are used for hydropower generation. Dams are constructed on rivers and lakes to harness the water’s potential energy, producing electricity that is essential for industrial and domestic use.
4. Fishing and Aquaculture: Lakes provide a habitat for a variety of fish species, supporting the fishing industry. Many communities rely on lakes for their livelihoods, engaging in fishing activities or practicing aquaculture to breed and rear fish.
5. Tourism and Recreation: Lakes attract tourists and visitors, offering opportunities for boating, swimming, and other recreational activities. Lakeside resorts, houseboats, and water sports facilities contribute to tourism development and local economies.
6. Biodiversity Conservation: Lakes are crucial ecosystems that support diverse plant and animal life. They provide habitats for various species, including migratory birds, amphibians, and aquatic plants. Conservation efforts are undertaken to protect and preserve the biodiversity associated with lakes.
7. Ecological Balance: Lakes play a significant role in maintaining the ecological balance by acting as natural filters, improving water quality, and regulating water flow. They help reduce soil erosion, prevent floods, and replenish groundwater resources.
8. Cultural and Spiritual Significance: Many lakes in India hold cultural and spiritual importance. They are associated with religious rituals, festivals, and pilgrimage sites, attracting devotees and enhancing cultural heritage.
9. Research and Education: Lakes provide scientific research and education opportunities. Scientists study lakes’ water quality, biodiversity, and ecological processes, contributing to environmental understanding and conservation efforts.
10. Climate Regulation: Lakes can influence local and regional climates. They moderate temperature extremes and provide moisture through evaporation, influencing rainfall patterns and microclimates in their surrounding areas.
These applications demonstrate the multifaceted roles lakes play in India, contributing to water resource management, livelihoods, tourism, biodiversity conservation, and the overall well-being of local communities and the environment.
Below are some commonly asked questions about the lakes in India, along with essential facts about the famous lakes.
| Lakes in India Facts | ||
| Criteria | Name of the Lake | State/UT |
| Largest freshwater lake in India | Wular Lake | Jammu and Kashmir |
| Largest Artificial Lake in India | Govind Vallabh Pant Sagar | Sonbhadra district, Uttar Pradesh |
| Highest lake in India (Altitude) | Cholamu lake | Sikkim |
| Largest Saline water lake in India | Chilka Lake | Odisha |
| Longest Lake in India | Vembanad lake | Kerala |
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