India boasts a diverse array of lakes, each playing a significant role in its ecological and cultural landscape. From the vast brackish waters of Chilika Lake to the scenic beauty of Vembanad Lake, these significant bodies of water contribute to regional biodiversity, support local economies, and offer vital resources. Exploring the largest lakes in India reveals their immense importance and unique characteristics that make them integral to the country’s natural heritage.
Largest Lakes in India
Lakes in India: The lake is a huge water body that is encircled by land, and it is much bigger than a pond. There are many important lakes in India located in several states of India. Some lakes are very large and can be confused with rivers however, there is a difference between the flow of lakes and rivers.
There are several important lakes in India including Pulicat lake and Kolleru Lake in Andhra Pradesh. Vembanad Lake in Kerala is the largest lake in India with a depth of 4.2 meters and 1165 square Kilometers.
List of Largest Lakes in India
India’s diverse landscape features numerous significant lakes, each with ecological, cultural, or economic importance. From the serene Dal Lake in Kashmir to the vast Chilika Lake in Odisha, these lakes play crucial roles in the country’s biodiversity and heritage. Here is the list of important lakes in India.
Lakes in India | 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 | – |
Important Lakes in Indian Union Territories
Lakes in UTs | State/UT | Type of Lake |
Chandigarh | Sukhna Lake | Reservoir |
Ladakh
|
Tso Moriri | Brackish |
Tso Kar | Fluctuating Salt Lake | |
Pangong Tso | – | |
Jammu & Kashmir | Dal Lake | Warm Monomitic |
Nageen Lake | Eutrophic Lake | |
Pangong Tso | Endorheic Lake | |
Wular Lake | Tectonic Lake | |
Tso Moriri | Saltwater | |
West Bengal | East Calcutta Wetlands | Brackish Water |
Puducherry | Bahour Lake | – |
Ousteri lake | Man-made Lake | |
Velrampet Lake | – | |
Nallambal Lake | Artificial |
Top 10 Largest Lakes in India
Vembanad Lake is the largest lake of India in terms of area with an area of 2033 square kilometers, followed by Chilika Lake, Shivaji Sagar Lake and Indira Sagar Lake.
Here is the list of top-10 largest lakes in India:
Largest Lakes in India | State | Area |
Vembanad Lake | Kerela | 2033 sq km |
Chilika Lake | Odisha | 1165 sq km |
Shivaji Sagar Lake | Maharashtra | 891.7 sq km |
Indira Sagar Lake | Madhya Pradesh | 700 sq km |
Panong Lake | Ladakh | 627 sq km |
Pulicat Lake | Andhra Pradesh | 450 sq km |
Sardar Sarovar Lake | Gujarat | 375 sq km |
Nagarjuna Sagar Lake | Telangana | 287 sq km |
Loktak Lake | Manipur | 285 sq km |
Wular Lake | Jammu and Kashmir | 260 sq km |
Types of Lakes in India
There are several water bodies in India including lakes, rivers, and ponds. These water bodies are of huge significance in India. The Lakes in India are of different types as they are formed out of different weather conditions and some are man-made. The types of lakes found in India are given below:
Freshwater lakes
These have unsalted water that is found in low-lying areas and these are fed from rivers, streams, and runoffs. The largest freshwater lake in India is Wular Lake.
Saltwater Lake
Saltwater lakes have a high concentration of salts. Sambhar Lake in Rajasthan is an example of Saltwater Lake.
Artificial Lake
These artificial lakes are man-made lake that is used to store water for public use. For example, Chembarambakkam in Tamil Nadu is an artificial lake.
Oxbow Lakes
The oxbow lakes are formed when a wide meander of a river is cut off and then a lake is formed when the river finds a different shorter course. Chandubi in Assam is an example of Oxbow lake.
Crater Lakes
The crater lakes are formed when there is a collapse or explosive activity of volcanic eruptions. An example of a Crater lake is Lonar Lake in Maharashtra.