OT Staff
Famous for its floating phumdis—masses of vegetation, soil and organic matter—Loktak is the world’s only lake with this phenomenon, and home to the endangered Sangai deer.
The world’s largest river island, Majuli sits in the Brahmaputra River and is a centre of neo-Vaishnavite culture. Its shrinking landmass has made it a poignant symbol of climate change.
India’s only active volcano, Barren Island sits isolated in the Andaman Sea. Surrounded by cobalt blue waters, the island is off-limits but visible by boat and aircraft.
This 15th-century sea fort, unconquered in history, rises dramatically from the Arabian Sea. Located off the Murud coast, it was built by the Siddis and is accessible only by boat.
Famed for their hexagonal basaltic lava rock formations, these islands were formed by sub-volcanic activity when Madagascar split from India, making it a geologically rare site.
Nestled in the Wayanad hills, Pookode Lake is a freshwater marvel shaped like India on a map. It’s surrounded by forest and known for its endemic blue lotus.
Formed after the great 1897 Assam earthquake, Chandubi is a tectonic lake surrounded by deep forest and tribal villages. It offers raw, untouched beauty and migrating birdlife.
Created by a meteor impact around 50,000 years ago, this hyper-alkaline lake lies inside a basaltic crater and is one of only four such lakes in the world.
Between India and Sri Lanka lies Pamban, famed for its temples, ghost-town of Dhanushkodi, and the iconic cantilever railway bridge that opens for passing ships.
Situated at over 4,300 m, this saline lake straddles India and China. It changes colour throughout the day and freezes completely in winter, despite its saline content.