List of Important Lakes in India
India is home to many natural and artificial lakes that are important for geography, environment, and competitive exams. These lakes vary from freshwater to saltwater and from natural to man-made reservoirs. This article provides a complete list of important lakes in India with states and key facts.
This article provides a state-wise list, important facts, and previous year questions for quick revision.
Types of Lakes in India
India’s lakes are classified into different categories:
- Freshwater Lakes:
These lakes contain fresh water and are mostly found in Himalayan regions. They are fed by rivers, rainfall, and melting glaciers.
Examples:
● Wular Lake (Jammu & Kashmir) – Largest freshwater lake
● Dal Lake (Jammu & Kashmir)
● Nainital Lake (Uttarakhand) - Saltwater Lakes:
These lakes contain saline water and are mostly found in arid and semi-arid regions.
Examples:
● Sambhar Lake (Rajasthan) – Largest inland salt lake
● Didwana Lake (Rajasthan)
● Lunkaransar Lake (Rajasthan) - Lagoon Lakes:
Lagoon lakes are formed when a part of sea water is separated by sandbars or reefs.
Examples:
● Chilika Lake (Odisha) – Largest brackish water lagoon
● Pulicat Lake (Andhra Pradesh & Tamil Nadu)
● Vembanad Lake (Kerala) - Oxbow Lakes:
These lakes are formed due to river meandering and cut-off loops.
Examples:
● Kanwar Lake (Bihar)
● Kabar Tal (Bihar) - Glacial Lakes:
These lakes are formed by glacial erosion in high altitude Himalayan regions.
Examples:
● Gurudongmar Lake (Sikkim)
● Cholamu Lake (Sikkim)
● Roopkund Lake (Uttarakhand) - Tectonic Lakes:
These lakes are formed due to movements of the Earth’s crust.
Examples:
● Wular Lake (Jammu & Kashmir) - Crater Lakes:
These lakes are formed due to volcanic activity or meteorite impact.
Examples:
● Lonar Lake (Maharashtra) – Meteorite crater lake
Important Lakes in India
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| Lake Name | State/UT |
| Kolleru Lake | Andhra Pradesh |
| Pulicat Lake | Andhra Pradesh / Tamil Nadu |
| Deepor Beel | Assam |
| Chandubi Lake | Assam |
| Haflong Lake | Assam |
| Son Beel | Assam |
| Kanwar Lake | Bihar |
| Hamirsar Lake | Gujarat |
| Kankaria Lake | Gujarat |
| Thol Lake | Gujarat |
| Nalsarovar Lake | Gujarat |
| Lakhota Lake | Gujarat |
| Vastrapur Lake | Gujarat |
| Sursagar Lake | Gujarat |
| Dhankar Lake | Himachal Pradesh |
| Bhrigu Lake | Himachal Pradesh |
| Dashir Lake | Himachal Pradesh |
| Khajjiar Lake | Himachal Pradesh |
| Kareri Lake | Himachal Pradesh |
| Maharana Pratap Sagar | Himachal Pradesh |
| Macchial Lake | Himachal Pradesh |
| Nako Lake | Himachal Pradesh |
| Pandoh Lake | Himachal Pradesh |
| Prashar Lake | Himachal Pradesh |
| Suraj Tal | Himachal Pradesh |
| Rewalsar Lake | Himachal Pradesh |
| Brahma Sarovar | Haryana |
| Surajkund Lake | Haryana |
| Tilyar Lake | Haryana |
| Blue Bird Lake | Haryana |
| Dal Lake | Jammu & Kashmir |
| Tso Moriri | Ladakh |
| Pangong Tso | Ladakh |
| Wular Lake | Jammu & Kashmir |
| Manasbal Lake | Jammu & Kashmir |
| Mansar Lake | Jammu & Kashmir |
| Sheshnag Lake | Jammu & Kashmir |
| Bellandur Lake | Karnataka |
| Ulsoor Lake | Karnataka |
| Sankey Lake | Karnataka |
| Lalbagh Lake | Karnataka |
| Madiwala Lake | Karnataka |
| Lingambudhi Lake | Karnataka |
| Karanji Lake | Karnataka |
| Pampa Sarovar | Karnataka |
| Ashtamudi Lake | Kerala |
| Maanaanchira Lake | Kerala |
| Paravur Kayal | Kerala |
| Punnamada Lake | Kerala |
| Sasthamkotta Lake | Kerala |
| Vembanad Lake | Kerala |
| Vellayani Lake | Kerala |
| Bhojtal Lake | Madhya Pradesh |
| Gorewada Lake | Maharashtra |
| Pashan Lake | Maharashtra |
| Shivajisagar Lake | Maharashtra |
| Umiam Lake | Meghalaya |
| Loktak Lake | Manipur |
| Palak Dil Lake | Mizoram |
| Anshupa Lake | Odisha |
| Chilika Lake | Odisha |
| Kanjia Lake | Odisha |
| Kanjli Wetland | Punjab |
| Harike Wetland | Punjab |
| Ropar Wetland | Punjab |
| Dhebar Lake | Rajasthan |
| Pushkar Lake | Rajasthan |
| Rajsamand Lake | Rajasthan |
| Sambhar Salt Lake | Rajasthan |
| Ramgarh Lake | Rajasthan |
| Mansagar Lake | Rajasthan |
| Fateh Sagar Lake | Rajasthan |
| Rang Sagar Lake | Rajasthan |
| Swaroop Sagar Lake | Rajasthan |
| Tsomgo Lake | Sikkim |
| Chomalu Lake | Sikkim |
| Hussain Sagar | Telangana |
| Osman Sagar | Telangana |
| Himayat Sagar | Telangana |
| Mir Alam Tank | Telangana |
| Chembarambakkam Lake | Tamil Nadu |
| Puzhal Lake | Tamil Nadu |
| Sholavaram Lake | Tamil Nadu |
| Veeranam Lake | Tamil Nadu |
| Belasagar Lake | Uttar Pradesh |
| Bhimtal Lake | Uttarakhand |
| Dodital Lake | Uttarakhand |
| Rabindra Sarobar | West Bengal |
| Senchal Lake | West Bengal |
| East Calcutta Wetlands | West Bengal |
| Santragachi Lake | West Bengal |
List of Important Lakes in India PDF
Important Lakes in India For Exam
These lakes are frequently asked in SSC, UPSC, Railway, and State PSC exams:
- Largest Freshwater Lake → Wular Lake, Jammu & Kashmir
- Largest Salt Lake → Sambhar Lake, Rajasthan
- Largest Coastal Lagoon → Chilika Lake, Odisha
- Longest Lake → Vembanad Lake, Kerala
- Floating Lake → Loktak Lake, Manipur
- High altitude saltwater lake → Pangong Tso, Ladakh
- Crater lake in India → Lonar Lake, Maharashtra
- Largest Artificial Lake in India → Govind Ballabh Pant Sagar, Uttar Pradesh
- Largest Brackish Water Lake in India → Chilika Lake, Odisha
- Smallest lake in India → Sursagar Lake, Gujarat
- Deepest lake in India → Manasbal Lake, Jammu & Kashmir
- Lake City of India → Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh
Conclusion
The lakes of India play an important role in biodiversity, tourism, and water resources. Knowing the important lakes in India is essential for geography knowledge and competitive exams.
You Can Also Visit:
| Complete List of Static GK |
| Study Materials for Competitive Examination |
| List of Important Lakes in India in Hindi |
| List of Important Lakes in India in Bengali |
Important Questions on Lakes in India
Question 1
Which is the largest freshwater lake in India?
Answer: Wular Lake
Question 2
Loktak Lake is located in which state?
Answer: Manipur
Question 3
Which lake is famous for floating islands?
Answer: Loktak Lake
Question 4
Which is the largest brackish water lake in India?
Answer: Chilika Lake
Question 5
Lonar Lake is located in which state?
Answer: Maharashtra
Question 6
Vembanad Lake is located in which state?
Answer: Kerala
Question 7
Which is the largest salt lake in India?
Answer: Sambhar Lake
Question 8
Which is the longest lake in India?
Answer: Vembanad Lake
Question 9
Which lake was formed by a meteorite impact?
Answer: Sambhar Salt Lake
Question 10
Kanwar Lake holds the title of the largest oxbow lake in India. In which state can you find it?
Answer: Uttar Pradesh
Question 11
The Manasbal Lake, known for its depth, is located in which Himalayan state?
Answer: Jammu & Kashmir
Question 12
Which state is Sambhar Lake located in?
Answer: Rajasthan
Question 13
The largest coastal lagoon in India is?
Answer: Chilika Lake
Question 14
Pangong Tso is located in?
Answer: Ladakh
Question 15
Which lake is known as a meteor crater lake?
Answer: Lonar Lake, Maharashtra
Question 16
Kolleru Lake lies between which two rivers?
Answer: Krishna & Godavari
Official Websites:
By clicking the following link, you can visit the official website of the respective organization.
- NCERT
- Union Public Service Commission (UPSC)
- Staff Selection Commission (SSC)
- Railway Requirement Board (RRB
- Uttar Pradesh Public Service Commission (UPPSC)
- Uttar Pradesh Subordinate Services Selection Commission (UPSSSC)
- Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC)
- Public Service Commission, West Bengal (WBPSC)
- West Bengal Police Recruitment Board (WBPRB)
- Delhi Subordinate Services Selection Board (DSSSB)
