US Ambassador to India, Sergio Gor, went boating this week - and the internet took notice. During his two-day visit to Manipur, Gor stopped at Loktak Lake in Bishnupur district and took a boat ride across its calm waters, a moment that has since put the spotlight back on one of Northeast India's most unusual natural wonders. Gor's trip was not just about the lake. He also met Manipur Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla and Chief Minister Y. Khemchand Singh for talks on bilateral ties and economic cooperation. He also visited the historic Kangla Fort and the all-women Khwairamband Keithel market. But it is the picture of an American diplomat gliding across Loktak that has caught people's attention online, and for good reason. Loktak is not just another lake. It is one of the strangest and most beautiful places in India, and most people outside the Northeast have never heard of it. For the unversed, Loktak is the largest freshwater lake in Northeast India, which is spread across roughly 300 square kilometres near Moirang in Bishnupur district. This is about 48 km from Imphal. What sets it apart from every other lake in the country is the phumdis - thick, floating mats of vegetation, soil, and organic matter that drift across the water's surface. Some phumdis are big enough for people to live and farm on. Fishermen build small huts on them, called "athaphums," and use them as fishing platforms right in the middle of the lake. The lake is also home to Keibul Lamjao, the only floating national park in the world. It is the last natural home of the sangai, Manipur's endangered brow-antlered deer, which has adapted to walk on the same spongy phumdis that float on the lake. Watching the sangai balance on floating ground, surrounded by water on all sides, is not something you will see anywhere else on Earth. A boat ride is the best way to take Loktak in. Gliding past floating villages, watching fishermen at work, and spotting migratory birds settle over the wetlands feels closer to a dream than a regular sightseeing trip. Sunrise rides are especially worth waking up early for - the light hits the phumdis just right, and mist often hangs over the water in the early hours. Getting on the lake is super easy and cheap. Motorboat tours leave from the Moirang ghat, with shared rides costing somewhere between ?400 and ?600, and private two-hour boats going for ?2,000-3,000. If you want something quieter, local guides can arrange a traditional dugout canoe ride with a fishing family for a more personal experience. The best time to visit is between October and March, when the weather is pleasant and migratory birds arrive in large numbers. Monsoon months bring their own charm too, with the lake turning lush and green, though heavy rain can sometimes disrupt boat rides. Also Read: 14 Glacier Lakes At 14,400 Feet: Travel Influencer Mayank Kumawat Visits Penzilla Pass Sergio Gor's visit may have been diplomatic in purpose, but it has done something else along the way - reminded the country that Manipur has a floating lake which is unlike anything else in India. Travel News - Find latest news and tips based on Indian and World travel including top 10 travel destination, tourism information, how to reach visit and more at Times Now. Senior Copy Editor at Times Network, Akanksha Arora covers Lifestyle, Culture and everything that falls under its big umbrella. When not writing, she ... View More