What are Lakes?
Lake is a surface water body that is surrounded by land. Rivers will be outlets or inlets to the lakes i.e. lakes take the water from rivers or act as a source of water. Lakes are found in various landscapes like Hilly areas, plains, plateaus, rift zones, etc. In this article, we will read state wise list of Natural Lakes in India.
Type of Lakes
India has a number of lakes that hold significance in everyday life. Depending on the nature of the water in the lakes we can easily categorise the lakes into the following categories. Check out the table given below, we have provided you with the types of lakes that are found in India.
| 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 |
There are various types of lakes which can be classified based on different criteria – They are Fresh Water Lakes, Salt Water lakes, Natural Lakes, Artificial Lakes, oxbow lakes, Crater lakes etc. The details of these lakes are mentioned below:
Fresh Water Lake
Fresh Water Lakes are unsalted water which are usually found in low-lying areas these are fed from rivers, streams, and runoff from the surrounding area. In India, the largest freshwater lake is Wular Lake.
Salt Water Lake
As the name suggests saltwater lake contains a concentration of salts and other dissolved minerals significantly higher than most lakes (at least 3 grams per litre of water).
Artificial Lake
Artificial Lake is a man-made lake that is used to store water for public use.
Oxbow Lake
Oxbow lake is formed when a wide meander of a river is cut off. A lake is then formed when the river finds a different shorter course.
Crater Lake
A crater lake is created from the collapse or explosive activity of a volcanic eruption.
Freshwater Lakes in India
Lakes get their water from a variety of sources, including rain, snow, melting ice, streams, and groundwater seepage. Most lakes contain freshwater. Lakes come in two varieties: open and closed. When water leaves a lake by way of a river or another outlet, it is seen as being open. Public access to all freshwater lakes is available. If evaporation is the sole means for water to leave the lake, it is closed. Long-closed lakes frequently develop a saline, or salty, odour. This is because evaporating water leaves behind solids, the majority of which are salts.
- Wular Lake (Jammu and Kashmir)
- Shivaji Sagar lake (Maharashtra)
- Indira Sagar Lake (Madhyapradesh)
- Sardar Sarovar Lake (Gujarat)
- Loktak Lake (Manipur)
- Nagarjuna Sagar lake (Telangana)
- Kolleru Lake (Andhra Pradesh)
- Gobind sagar lake (Himachal pradesh)
- Dhebar Lake (Rajasthan)
- Kanwar Lake (Bihar)
The question regarding which is the largest freshwater lake in India has been a frequent question in a number of government exams. To answer that, the largest freshwater lake in India is "Wular Lake" in Jammu and Kashmir State. Here are some important facts about Wular Lake.
Facts About Wular Lake
- Lake Wular is situated in Bandipora district in the state of Jammu and Kashmir.
- Wular Lake is situated on the Jhelum River.
- Wular Lake is also one of the largest freshwater lakes in Asia.
- Wular Lake became a Ramsar site on 23 March 1990.
Saltwater Lakes in India
Salt lakes form when the endorheic nature of the lake prevents the inflowing water, which contains salt or minerals, from evaporating. The water evaporates, leaving behind any dissolved salts and raising the lake's salinity, making it the perfect place for salt production. Hypersaline lakes are those that occasionally have salt concentrations higher than those found in ocean water.
Important Saltwater Lakes in India
Below are some important Saltwater lakes in India, Candidates can refer to the list given below for the upcoming SSC & Railways 2022 Exams:
- Sambhar Lake (Rajasthan)
- Chilka Lake (Odisha)
- Lonar Lake (Maharashtra)
- Pulicat Lake (Andhra Pradesh-Tamil Nadu state border)
- Pangong Tso Lake (Ladakh)
- Pachpadra Lake (Rajasthan)
Use of Lakes: Why are Lakes Important
The lakes hold a great deal of importance to India. Here are some of the importance that the lakes provide to us:
- Drinking water
- Irrigation
- Navigation
- Water storage
- Livelihood (fishing, etc.)
- Home to aquatic animals
- Impact on microclimate, etc.
Other Important Articles: Railways & SSC Notes: Riverside Cities and States in India
Important Facts About Lakes in India
Here are some of the commonly asked questions about Lakes in India. Read the essential facts about the famous lakes in India.
- The largest freshwater lake in India – Wular Lake, Jammu and Kashmir
- The largest Saline water lake in India – Chilka Lake, Odisha
- The highest lake in India (Altitude) – Cholamu lake, Sikkim
- The longest Lake in India – Vembanad lake, Kerala
- The largest Artificial Lake in India – Govind Vallabh Pant Sagar (Rihand Dam)
Attempt the quiz on important lakes in India
Top 10 Largest Lakes in India
According to the area covered by the lakes, we have prepared a list of the top 10 largest lakes in India that are found in India. Check out the table given below along with the state where there are located:
| List of largest Lakes (Decreasing order of area covered) | 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 in India
The table given below provides you with a list of important lakes in India & their location. Check the state-wise lakes that are found in India that are asked in SSC/Railway exams frequently.
State | Name | District | Type of Lakes | Facts/Description |
Andhra Pradesh | Pulicat Lake | Sullurpet | Brackish Water | It encompasses Pulicat Lake Bird Sanctuary; |
Kolleru Lake | Vijayawada | Freshwater | Home to migratory birds | |
Nagarjuna Sagar | Nalgonda | Freshwater | Artificially constructed; | |
Assam | Haflong Lake | Silchar | Freshwater | High altitude lake |
DeeporBeel | Kamrup | Freshwater | Under Ramsar Convention | |
Son Beel | Karimganj | Freshwater (Tectonically formed) | The largest wetland in Assam | |
Chandubi lake | Kamrup | Freshwater | Migratory Birds (winter); | |
Bihar | Kanwar Lake | Begusarai | Oxbow (freshwater) | Asia’s largest freshwater oxbow lake; |
Gujarat | Hamirsar lake | Kutch | Artificial | Situated in the centre of Bhuj |
Kankaria lake | Ahmedabad | Artificial | During 14th century by Muhammed Shah II | |
Narayan Sarovar | Kutch | Artificial freshwater | A pilgrimage site for Hindus | |
Thol Lake | Mehsana | Lentic lake | Constructed for irrigation purposes | |
Vastrapur | Ahmedabad | Freshwater | Narmada River; | |
Haryana | Badkal Lake | Faridabad | Freshwater | Man-made |
Blue Bird Lake | Hisar | Freshwater | Migratory Birds, Wetland Habitat | |
Brahma Sarovar | Thaneswar | Freshwater | Ancient water pool sacred to Hinduism | |
Damdama Lake | Sohna | Freshwater | Constructed by the British government for Rainwater Harvesting | |
Karna | Karnal | Freshwater | Connected to the great epic Mahabharata | |
Tilyar | Rohtak | Freshwater (canal inflow) | Located inside Tilyar Zoo | |
Himachal Pradesh | Chandra Taal | Lahul and Spiti | Sweetwater lake | Ramsar wetland site |
Suraj Taal | Lahul and Spiti | Freshwater (High Altitude) | Bhaga River inflow | |
Maharana Pratap Sagar | Kangra | Freshwater | Ramsar site | |
Prashar lake | Mandi | Holomitic (Freshwater) | It has a floating island | |
Karnataka | Agara lake | Bangalore | Freshwater | Located in the southwest part of the city |
Bellandur Lake | Bangalore | Freshwater | - | |
Karanji lake | Mysore | - | Butterfly park | |
Ulsoor lake | Bangalore | Stale water | It has several islands | |
Kukarahalli lake | Mysore | Freshwater | Recreational | |
Honnamana | Kodagu | Freshwater | Holy lake, a place for various festivals | |
Pampa Sarovar | Hampi | Freshwater | Tungabhadra river | |
Kerala | Ashtamudi Kayal | Kollam | Brackish water | Ramsar wetland site |
Kuttanad | Alappuzha, Kottayam |
| Backwater paddy cultivation | |
Vembanad | - | Brackish water | Ramsar wetland; boat race | |
Shashtamkotta | Kollam | Freshwater | Ramsar wetland | |
Madhya Pradesh | Bhojtal | Bhopal | Freshwater | Ramsar site; largest artificial lake in India |
Maharashtra
| Salim Ali | Aurangabad | Freshwater | Birdwatching |
Shivsagar | Satara | Freshwater | Koyna dam | |
Lonar lake | Buldhana | Crater lake | National Geo-Heritage monument | |
Manipur | Loktak lake | - | Lenticular freshwater | Ramsar wetland; Phumdis (Floating Islands); Multipurpose project |
Meghalaya | Umiam | Shillong | Freshwater | Famous for cycling and boating |
Mizoram | Tam Dil | Saitual | Freshwater | - |
Orissa | Chilika lake | Puri | Brackish water | India's largest brackish water lake; lagoon |
Kanjia lake | Bhubaneswar | Freshwater | Wetland of national importance | |
Punjab | Harike | Ferozepur | Freshwater | Ramsar wetland site |
Rupar | Rupnagar | Freshwater | Manmade riverine lake | |
Kanjli | Kapurthala | Freshwater | Ramsar wetland site | |
Rajasthan | Sambhar lake | Sambhar Lake-town | Saltwater | Ramsar wetland; largest inland saltwater lake in India |
Rajsamand | Rajsamand | Freshwater | - | |
Sikkim | Tsomgo lake | East Sikkim | Freshwater | Winter frozen |
Khecheoplari | West Sikkim | Freshwater | Sacred lake for Hindus and Buddhists | |
Tamil Nadu
| Ooty lake | Nilgiris | Freshwater | Boat House |
Chembarambakkam | Chennai | Artificial lake | - | |
Telangana
| Hussain Sagar | Hyderabad | Artificial lake | Artificial Gibraltar rock-island |
Badrakali lake | Warangal | Freshwater | Artificial lake | |
Uttar Pradesh | Govind Ballabh Pant Sagar | Sonbhadra | Man-made lake | Rihand dam |
Belasagar | Kulpahar | Freshwater | Irrigation lake | |
Uttarakhand | Bhimtal | Nainital | Freshwater | Medium altitude lake |
West Bengal | East Calcutta wetlands | Calcutta | Brackish water | Ramsar wetland |
Check: Tricks to Remember Wildlife Sanctuaries in India
List of Important Lakes in Union Territories
Not only in the states but Union Territories also are known for lakes. Some of the important lakes such as Pangong Tso, Dal lake, Wular lake etc are located in the union territories of India. The given list provides you with a list of lakes in these union territories
State | Name | District | Type of Lakes | Facts/Description |
Chandigarh | Sukhna Lake | Chandigarh | Reservoir | - |
Ladakh
| Tso Moriri or Lake Moriri | Ladakh | Brackish | Known as 'Mountain Lake' |
Tso Kar | Ladakh | Fluctuating Salt Lake | - | |
Pangong Tso | Leh | - | - | |
Jammu & Kashmir | Dal lake | Srinagar | Warm monomitic | Remnants of the past glacial period |
Nageen Lake | Srinagar | Eutrophic Lake | Seldomly considered to be a part of Dal Lake | |
Pangong Tso | Ladakh | Endorheic Lake (saline water) | Indo-China Border | |
Wular lake | Bandipora | Tectonic lake (freshwater) | The largest freshwater lake in India | |
TsoMoriri | Ladakh | Saltwater | High altitude lake | |
West Bengal | East Calcutta wetlands | Calcutta | Brackish water | Ramsar wetland |
Puducherry
| Bahour Lake | Puducherry | - | The second largest lake in Puducherry |
Ousteri Lake | Puducherry | Man-Made Lake (Important Wetlands in India) | It is also called Ossudu Lake as it is located in the village named Ossudu. It is the largest lake in Puducherry. | |
Velrampet Lake | Puducherry | - | - | |
Nallambal Lake | Karaikal | Artificial Lake |
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