Important Lakes in India, State wise and Largest Lakes of India

India has a wide variety of lakes, from the majestic and vast Dal Lake in Kashmir to the small and serene Pushkar Lake in Rajasthan. Lakes are used in various processes, like transportation, irrigation, and drinking water. They are also tourist destinations that offer stunning scenery and a variety of recreational activities. They play an important role for millions of Indians.

Lakes of India

A lake is a vast body of water that is deeper and bigger than a pond. A sizable body of water is encircled by land. A lake is not a sea or the same as an ocean. Even though some lakes are enormous, they don’t flow like rivers. Most lakes on Earth are freshwater bodies of water. Several artificial lakes and reservoirs were created to store water for irrigation, industry, or residential usage. When a lake’s water evaporates quickly, and the surrounding terrain contains a lot of salt, like in very arid regions, it has a high percentage of salt, earning it the name “salt lake.”

S.No	Category of Lake in India
1.	Freshwater Lakes
2.	Saltwater Lakes
3.	Natural Lakes
4.	Oxbow Lakes
5.	Artificial Lakes
6.	Crater Lakes

List of Important Lakes in India

We have discussed the Important Lakes in India, given below with the names along with the Location and Types :-

Lake	Location	Type
Kolleru Lake	Andhra Pradesh	Natural Freshwater
Sambhar Lake	Rajasthan	Saline
Dhebar Lake	Rajasthan	Artificial Freshwater
Pushkar Lake	Rajasthan	Artificial Freshwater
Pichola Lake	Rajasthan	Artificial Freshwater
Rangsagar Lake	Rajasthan	Artificial Lake
Gobind Sagar Lake	Himachal Pradesh	Freshwater
Gobind Ballabh Pant Sagar (Largest Artificial Lake in India)	Sonebhadra district, Uttar Pradesh	Artificial Lake
Kanwar Lake	Bihar	Natural Freshwater
Ashtamudi Lake	Kerala	Freshwater
Paravur Lake	Kerala	Freshwater
Sasthamkotta Lake	Kerala	Freshwater
Bhojtal Lake	Madhya Pradesh	Artificial Freshwater
Veeranam Lake	Tamil Nadu	Artificial Freshwater
Chembarambakkam Lake	Tamil Nadu	Artificial lake
Vaitarna Lake	Maharashtra	Artificial Freshwater
Lonar Lake	Maharashtra	Freshwater
Vihar Lake	Maharashtra	Natural Freshwater
Dal Lake	Jammu and Kashmir	Natural Freshwater
Dipor Bil Lake	Assam	Natural Freshwater
Hussain Sagar	Telangana	Artificial lake
Shamirpet Lake	Telangana	Artificial lake
Sukhna lake	Chandigarh	Artificial Freshwater
Tsomgo Lake	Sikkim	Freshwater (Glacial) Lake
Nainital Lake	Uttrakhand	Natural Freshwater
Bhimtal Lake	Uttrakhand	Natural Freshwater
Dodital	Uttrakhand	Freshwater Lake
Senchal Lake	West Bengal	Artificial Lake
Belasagar Lake	Uttar Pradesh	Artificial lake
Kanjia Lake	Odisha	Natural Lake
Kanjli Wetland	Punjab	Freshwater Lake

Check out the linked article on the UPSC Syllabus 2024 Here!

List of Major Lakes in Union Territories

Top Five Largest Lakes of India

1. Vembanad Lake

Overview
Location	Kerala
Type	Brackish and Freshwater
Square Area	2033 square km
Depth	12 m

• This lake can be found in three separate state districts.
• This lake borders Kumarakom, a well-known tourist resort.
• This lake is famous for backwater houseboats, birdwatching, photography, and other activities.
• In the main body of the lake, the renowned snake boat race and Nehru Trophy boat race are held.
• Many migratory birds can be seen in and around this lake if one visits in the winter.

2. Chilika Lake

Overview
Location	Odisha
Type	Brackish
Square Area	1165 square km
Depth	4.2 m

• This sizable lake, the largest coastal lagoon in the nation and the second largest in the world was formed by about 52 streams.
• The area transforms into a breeding habitat for migrating birds during the winter.
• This lake serves 132 communities and more as a fishing resource.
• The lake’s main draw is Nalaban Island, designated a bird sanctuary.
• In addition, there are other islands such as Parikud, Becon, Breakfast, Honeymoon, and Birds’ Island.
• Dolphin watching, picturesque travel, monument spotting, and boat tours through the lake are all possible.

3.Shivaji Sagar Lake

Overview
Location	Maharashtra
Type	Artificial and freshwater
Square Area	891.7 square km
Depth	80 m

• Shivsagar Lake is another name for this body of water, which was created by damming the Koyna River.
• For those looking for a picnic location, the lake offers a beautiful view.
• There are no other tourism-related activities associated with this water supply.

4. Indira Sagar Lake

Overview
Location	Madhya Pradesh
Type	Artificial and freshwater
Square Area	627 square km

• The Narmada River was dammed to create this lake.
• It is the second-largest power source in the nation and provides water for agriculture to the nearby villages.

5. Pangong Lake

Overview
Location	Ladakh
Type	Saline
Square Area	700 square km
Depth	100 m

• This lake connects China and India. China occupies more than 60% of the lake.
• This lake freezes during the harshest winters.
• Thus, the best time is between May and September.
• The lake’s shores are a state stereotype for camping areas.
• Many birds that are migrating can be seen.
• Based on where the sun is in the sky, the lake’s color varies throughout the day.

Check out the linked article on the UPSC Prelims Syllabus 2024 Here!

Famous Lakes in India

Kolleru Lake – Andhra Pradesh

• India’s largest lake is situated between the Krishna and Godavari deltas.
• Under the Ramsar treaty, it was designated a wetland of international significance in 2002.

Sambhar Lake – Rajasthan

• The largest inland salt lake in India is Sambhar Lake in Rajasthan.
• The Sambhar Lake is mentioned in the Mahabharata as being a component of the demon king Brishparva’s realm.

Pushkar Lake – Rajasthan

• Found in the Rajasthani district of Ajmer’s Pushkar town.
• Hindus revere Pushkar Lake as a sacred body of water.
• During the Kartika Poornima holiday in November, thousands of pilgrims visit to take a dip in the lake.

Lonar Lake- Maharashtra

• After a meteorite struck Earth 50,000 years ago, the Lonar Lake was created.
• Lonar Lake’s colour changed to pink over night recently, and this information has been reported in the media.
• Some experts speculate that the pink hue may result from the presence of algae and a low water level.

Pulicat Lake- Andhra Pradesh

• The massive barrier island known as Sriharikota divides the lake from the Bay of Bengal; it is the second-largest brackish-water lake or lagoon in India.
• The Satish Dhawan Space Center, where India’s first successful lunar space mission, the Chandrayaan-1, was launched, is located on the island.

Loktak Lake -Manipur

• North-East India’s largest freshwater lake
• KeibulLamjao, the only floating national park in the world and the final remaining habitat of the critically endangered sangai or Manipur brow-antlered deer, floats above it.
• The Ramsar Convention named it a wetland of world importance in 1990.

Sasthamcotta Lake – Kerala

• Kerala’s largest freshwater lake.
• The existence of a sizable population of cavaborus larva, which eats germs in the lake water, is responsible for the lake’s water’s purity for drinking..

Vembanad Lake -Kerala

• The longest lake in India and the largest lake in the state of Kerala.
• The Nehru Trophy Boat Race is conducted in a portion of the lake.

Chilka Lake -Odisha

• Chilika Lake is the largest wintering habitat for migrating birds on the Indian subcontinent.
• It is a brackish water coastal lake. It is the largest coastal lagoon in India and the second largest lagoon in the world.

Dal Lake – Jammu Kashmir

• The Dal Lake, also referred to as “Srinagar’s Jewel,” is a lake in Srinagar that is essential to tourism.
• On the shores of Dal Lake is the biggest tulip garden in Asia.
• On the shores of Dal Lake lie the NishatBagh, Shalimar Bagh, and Mughal Gardens.

Nalsarover Lake- Gujarat

• In 1969, Nalsarovar Lake and the marshes nearby were designated as a bird sanctuary.

Tsomgo Lake – Sikkim

• Sikkim’s Tsongmo Lake, also known as Changu Lake, is a glacier lake.
• The lake serves as the setting for the Guru Purnima festival, during which Jhakris from Sikkim congregate there to take advantage of the lake’s therapeutic properties.

Bhimtal Lake – Uttarakhand

• It is the largest lake in the Kumaon region, which is referred to as India’s “lake district.”
• The lake has a “C” form.

Barapani Lake- Meghalaya

• Shillong is home to Barapani or Umiam Lake, which was created in 1965 as a result of the UmiamUmtru Hydro Electric Power Plant, the first hybrid power project in India’s northeast.

Nainital Lake – Uttarakhand

• Located in the Nainital region, which is also known as India’s Lake District, the lakes are kidney- or crescent-shaped.

Periyar Lake -Kerala

• Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary, a famous elephant reserve and tiger reserve, is situated on the banks of Periyar Lake.
• Periyar Lake was created in 1895 by building a dam across the Mullaperiyar River.

Hussain Sagar Lake – Telengana

• Hazrat Hussain Shah Wali constructed the lake in Hyderabad in 1562, during the reign of Ibrahim QuliQutub Shah.
• Links Hyderabad and Secunderabad, two twin cities.
• The 16-meter-tall, 350-ton monolithic Buddha statue atop the “Rock of Gibraltar” placed in the middle of the lake is a main draw at Hussain Sagar..

Salim Ali Lake – Maharashtra

• It has been renamed in honour of Salim Ali, a famous naturalist and ornithologist who is also referred to as the birdman of India.
• The Salim Ali Sarovar (lake), often referred to as Salim Ali Talab, is situated in Aurangabad close to Delhi Gate and across from HimayatBagh.

Kanwar Lake- Bihar

• The largest freshwater oxbow lake in Asia is the KanwarTaal or KabarTaal Lake.

Nakki Lake – Rajasthan

• The Indian hill town of Mount Abu in the Aravalli range is home to Nakki Lake.
• On February 12, 1948, Mahatma Gandhi’s ashes were scattered into this Holy Lake, and Gandhi Ghat was built.

Bhojtar Lake- Madhya Pradesh

• The largest artificial lake in Asia, sometimes referred to as Upper Lake.
• It is located on the western outskirts of Bhopal, the state capital of Madhya Pradesh.

Wular Lake – Jammu Kashmir

• The Jhelum River feeds India’s largest freshwater lake, Lake Basin, which was created by geological activity.

Ashtamudi Lake

• Under the Ramsar Convention, it has been designated as a wetland of international significance.

s Pulicat Lake

• The second-largest brackish water lake on the Coromandel Coast is Pulicat Lake.
• It is located on the border of Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh.
• The lake and the Bay of Bengal are divided by the barrier island of Sriharikota

Salt Water Lakes of India

Sambhar Lake Rajasthan

• It is India’s largest inland salt lake.
• The Sambhar lake is a bowl-shaped body of water that surrounds the historic town of Sambhar Lake Town, which is situated on National Highway 8 in Rajasthan, 64 kilometres north of Ajmer and 96 kilometres south of Jaipur (in northwest India).

Artificial Lakes of India

Bhojtal Lake

• The largest artificial lake in Asia, Bhojtal, formerly known as “Upper Lake,” is situated in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh.
• It is a crucial source of drinking water for the residents of the city.

Gobind Sagar Lake

• The Himachal Pradesh districts of Una and Bilaspur contain the reservoir known as Gobind Sagar Lake.
• It was formed as a result of the Bhakra Dam.
• Guru Gobind Singh, the eleventh Sikh guru, was honoured with the reservoir’s naming, which is situated on the Sutlej River. One of the highest gravity dams in the world is the Bhakra Dam.

Jaisamand Lake

• Dhebar Lake, often referred to as Jaisamand Lake, is the second-largest freshwater artificial lake in the nation and the first historical lake in India.
• It is located in the Udaipur District of the western Indian state of Rajasthan.

Hussain Sagar Lake

• Ibrahim Quli Qutb Shah created the heart-shaped Hussain Sagar Lake near Hyderabad, Telangana in 1563.
• In 1563, Ibrahim Quli Qutb Shah built Hussain Sagar to span a Musi River stream.
• Hussain Shah Wali, the Kingdom’s Master of Architecture, was honoured with a lake name.

Chembarambakkam Lake

• About 25 kilometres from the city centre, in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India, is a lake called Chembarambakkam Lake.
• Along with Puzhal Lake, it is one of two rain-fed reservoirs that collect water for transmission to Chennai City.

Natural Lakes of India

Natural Lakes of India	Location
Kolleru Lake	Andhra pradesh
Sambhar Lake	Rajasthan
Pushkar Lake	Rajasthan
Wular lake	Jammu and Kashmir
Pulicat Lake	Andhra Pradesh-Tamil Nadu state border
Loktak Lake	Manipur
Chilka Lake	Odisha
Dal Lake	Srinagar , Kashmir
Sasthamkotta Lake	Kerala
Vembanad Lake	Kerala
Nalsarovar Lake	Gujarat
Salim Ali Lake	Delhi
Kanwar Lake	Bihar

Importance of Lake in India

• Because they are used as tourist destinations and for recreational activities like boating and water sports, lakes are immensely beneficial to humans. It is directly tied to an individual’s income.
• Why Lakes assist ensure a steady flow of water throughout the dry season and during periods of high rainfall by preventing floods. A river’s flow is maintained in part by lakes.
• Hydropower can be developed or produced by using lakes. By preserving the aquatic ecology, increasing the natural beauty, and contributing to the growth of tourism and recreation, they contribute to control the climate environment.
• The Salt Water Lake is also a salt producing site.

Important Lakes of India UPSC

Facts	Name of the Lake
Deepest lake in the world	Baikal (fresh water) in Russia
Largest fresh water lake	Lake Superior, between Canada and the USA
Largest lake in the world	Caspian Sea, bounded by Iran, Russia, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan
Saltiest lake in the world	Dead Sea bounded by Israel, Jordan and West Bank
Lowest lake in the world	Dead Sea between Israel and Jordan
Largest lake in India	Sambhar lake in Rajasthan
Largest fresh-water lake in India	Kolleru lake in Andhra Pradesh
Largest coastal lagoon in India	Chilka lake in Orissa
Sriharikota island is located in	Pulicat lake in Andhra Pradesh
Land of lakes in india	Udaipur, Rajasthan
Country known as land of thousand lakes	Finland

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