India is rich in natural resources and scenic landscapes. Lakes form an important part of the country’s geography and contribute significantly to ecology, tourism, irrigation, fisheries, and water supply.
Questions related to important lakes are frequently asked in UPSC and other competitive examinations under Static GK and Indian Geography.
Classification of Lakes in India
Lakes in India can be classified into different categories based on their origin and water characteristics.
| Category | Description |
|---|---|
| Freshwater Lakes | Lakes containing fresh water |
| Saltwater Lakes | Lakes containing saline water |
| Natural Lakes | Naturally formed lakes |
| Oxbow Lakes | Crescent-shaped lakes formed by river meanders |
| Artificial Lakes | Man-made reservoirs and lakes |
| Crater Lakes | Lakes formed in volcanic or meteorite craters |
Top 10 Largest Lakes in India
The following are the largest lakes in India in decreasing order of area covered.
| Lake | 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 & Kashmir |
Important Lakes in India – State Wise
Andhra Pradesh
Pulicat Lake
- Second largest brackish water lagoon in India.
- Shared by Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu.
Pulicat Lake
Kolleru Lake
- Freshwater lake located between Krishna and Godavari deltas.
Kolleru Lake
Assam
Haflong Lake
- Famous hill lake in Assam.
Deepor Beel
- Important freshwater wetland near Guwahati.
- Ramsar Site.
Deepor Beel
Chandubi Lake
- Natural lake formed after an earthquake.
Bihar
Kanwar Lake
- Largest freshwater oxbow lake in Asia.
Kanwar Lake
Gujarat
Hamirsar Lake
- Historic lake in Kutch region.
Kankaria Lake
- Famous urban lake in Ahmedabad.
Kankaria Lake
Haryana
Badkhal Lake
- Artificial lake near Faridabad.
Brahma Sarovar
- Sacred water body associated with Hindu mythology.
Brahma Sarovar
Himachal Pradesh
Chandra Taal
- High-altitude crescent-shaped lake in the Himalayas.
Chandra Taal
Maharana Pratap Sagar
- Reservoir formed by Pong Dam.
Jammu & Kashmir
Dal Lake
- Famous tourist lake in Srinagar.
Dal Lake
Wular Lake
- One of the largest freshwater lakes in Asia.
- Formed due to tectonic activity.
Wular Lake
Karnataka
Agara Lake
- Urban lake in Bengaluru.
Ulsoor Lake
- One of the major lakes in Bengaluru.
Ulsoor Lake
Kerala
Kuttanad Lake
- Important backwater region.
Sasthamkotta Lake
- Largest freshwater lake in Kerala.
Sasthamkotta Lake
Vembanad Lake
- Longest lake in India.
- Important backwater tourism destination.
Vembanad Lake
Madhya Pradesh
Bhojtal
- Also known as Upper Lake of Bhopal.
Bhojtal
Maharashtra
Shivsagar Lake
- Reservoir created by the Koyna Dam.
Manipur
Loktak Lake
- Largest freshwater lake in Northeast India.
- Famous for floating islands called “Phumdis”.
Loktak Lake
Meghalaya
Umiam Lake
- Popular tourist lake near Shillong.
Umiam Lake
Mizoram
Tam Dil
- Natural lake surrounded by forests.
Odisha
Chilika Lake
- Largest saline water lake in India.
- Largest coastal lagoon in India.
- Famous for migratory birds and Irrawaddy dolphins.
Chilika Lake
Punjab
Harike Lake
- Wetland formed at the confluence of Beas and Sutlej rivers.
Kanjli Lake
- Important wetland ecosystem.
Rajasthan
Sambhar Lake
- Largest inland saltwater lake in India.
Sambhar Lake
Sikkim
Tsomgo Lake
- Glacial lake located in East Sikkim.
Tsomgo Lake
Cholamu Lake
- Highest lake in India.
Cholamu Lake
Tamil Nadu
Chembarambakkam Lake
- Important water reservoir for Chennai.
Kaliveli Lake
- Significant wetland ecosystem.
Telangana
Hussain Sagar
- Artificial lake connecting Hyderabad and Secunderabad.
Hussain Sagar
Nagarjuna Sagar Lake
- Reservoir formed by Nagarjuna Sagar Dam.
Uttar Pradesh
Govind Ballabh Pant Sagar
- Reservoir associated with Rihand Dam.
Belasagar
- Historical lake in Bundelkhand region.
Uttarakhand
Bhimtal
- Popular lake town in Kumaon region.
Bhimtal Lake
Importance and Uses of Lakes
Lakes are valuable natural resources and support both ecological and economic activities.
Major Uses of Lakes
1. Irrigation
- Provide water for agriculture.
2. Drinking Water
- Supply freshwater for domestic use.
3. Navigation
- Facilitate local transport and tourism.
4. Livelihood
- Support fishing, tourism, and local occupations.
5. Biodiversity Conservation
- Habitat for birds, fish, and aquatic plants.
6. Climate Regulation
- Help moderate local climate conditions.
Important Facts about Lakes for UPSC
Wular Lake
- One of the largest freshwater lakes in Asia.
- Formed due to tectonic activity.
Chilika Lake
- Largest saline water lake in India.
Vembanad Lake
- Longest lake in India.
Cholamu Lake
- Highest lake in India.
Lonar Lake
- Meteorite crater lake located in Maharashtra.
- National Geo-Heritage Monument.
- Saline and alkaline lake.
Lonar Lake
Important UPSC Facts
- Pulicat Lake is a brackish water lagoon.
- Loktak Lake is famous for floating “Phumdis”.
- Sambhar Lake is India’s largest inland salt lake.
- Dal Lake is known for houseboats and tourism.
- Deepor Beel is a Ramsar Site in Assam.
- Chilika Lake is famous for migratory birds and dolphins.
- Cholamu Lake is situated in Sikkim near the Indo-China border.
