12 Most Beautiful Lakes Of India – Tourist Attractions

Beautiful Lakes are popular tourist attractions anywhere in the world. Here is my list of stunningly beautiful lakes of India. Some of them require some adventurous spirit to reach, some freeze during winters, some are right in the middle of the cities, some spread across the country borders and some are backwaters. Sky blue colored to green colored water can be seen in these waterbodies. Some have entertainment like boating facilities. Others are a hotspot for Birds & Bird photographers.

Beautiful Lakes of India

This is a list of natural lakes I selected based on the ones I have visited and or are on my bucket list. Man-made reservoirs built over the last century or so, wetlands and marshy lands have not been included in this list. Some of the smaller but popular lakes in the cities too have not been included in this list to keep the list manageable. Most of these lakes are freshwater lakes fed by rainfall. Brackish lakes, slightly saline water lakes, close to the sea and hence receive seawater during high tides have been included. They are not in any particular order. Lakes that I visited during my travels are:

Dal Lake, Srinagar

Most famous lake of India, Dal Lake in Srinagar is a tourist delight. The houseboats at Dal Lake are very popular with the visitors. I had an opportunity to experience the houseboat on Nigeen Lake & hope to experience it sometime on Dal Lake as well.

Chandratal Lake, Lahaul-Spiti, Himachal Pradesh

Visiting Chandratal Lake on the Lahaul Spiti road trip in Himachal was the highlight of the trip. The pristine blue water of Chandratal lake energizes one to take the Parikrama around the lake. If you happen to stay overnight in the camps near the lake, watch mesmerizing skies at night. That is another bonus for all the efforts one puts into visiting this remote landscape.

Ashtamudi Lake, Kollam

We spent a couple of hours boating on the beautiful Ashtamudi Lake in Kollam, Kerala. And viewed the lake from our hotel room dawn to dusk. You must take a boat ride on Ashtamudi Lake to really figure out the beautiful landscapes, the enormity of the size of the lake and understand why it is called Ashtamudi. Highly recommend you explore this lake on your next visit to Kerala.

Siliserh Lake, Alwar

During my travel from Gurgaon to Sariska National Park, we stopped by Siliserh Lake for lunch. I thought it is a small lake in the deserts of Rajasthan. I was wrong, it is a very large and popular lake. We did paddle boating for over an hour and a lot of tourists were there enjoying the facilities. I was amazed at such a large lake in the largely desert state of Rajasthan.

Kankaria Lake, Ahmedabad

Kankaria Lake in Ahmedabad is a very popular circular lake, especially for evening walkers. A toy train takes the children around the lake and some water sports can be enjoyed by both children and adults. At dusk, beautiful lighting enhances the beauty of the lake. Being in the city it is a place you must visit while in Ahmedabad.

Hussain Sagar Lake, Hyderabad

The city center of Hyderabad, Hussain Sagar Lake is a great relief from the concrete world all around. A huge statue of Buddha and boating facilities are the attractions at the lake. Of course, the best way to feel the lake is to walk around the well-paved pathway around the lake at leisure.

Lake Pichola, Udaipur

During my travels to Udaipur, I have visited Lake Pichola several times early in the morning to dusk times. The palace converted into a luxury hotel right in the middle of the lake is the highlight of this lake.

Tsomgo Lake or Changu Lake, East Sikkim

The best thing about the Tsomgo Lake or Changu Lake in East Sikkim is that it is frozen during winters. And I also happened to visit during such a season, a decade ago. It certainly is not a normal feature for most of the Indian Lakes. One will remember visiting frozen lakes for a lifetime.

Naini Lake, Nainital

They say no one knows the depth of Naini Lake. Our boatman told us when we were bang in the middle of the lake, and all could do was stare at him like he was our God. Naini lake looks green – reflecting the thick tree covers of the mountains surrounding it. If you are in Nainital, you can not miss visiting Naini lake, no matter how touristy or crowded it is.

Sukhna Lake, Chandigarh

The Sukhna Lake in Chandigarh is a place to relax, do some boating, watch ducks roaming around. The only waterbody in India’s best-planned city Chandigarh, Sukhna Lake is a place to visit and refresh, from the hectic city life. Sukhna Lake is special to me – have tons of childhood memories associated with it – including cleaning it.

Umiam Lake, Meghalaya

On our way back from Shillong to Guwahati, we stopped by the Umian Lake assuming we will stop by for 10 minutes. But Umian Lake is a huge lake nestled in the valley of this hilly region. There were motorized speed boats for tourists to explore the feel of the beauty of the lake. One of the most beautiful lakes we have seen.

Nal Sarovar Lake, Gujarat

Think of migratory birds, particularly Flamingos, Nal Sarovar lake is where you are likely to find them in abundance.

Beautiful Lakes of India on my travel wishlist

I am reading about following beautiful lakes of India now and then. They are on my travel wishlist, hopefully, sooner than later.

• Chilka Lake, Odisha
• Pangong Tso Lake, Ladakh
• Loktak Lake, Manipur
• Sambhar Salt Lake, Rajasthan
• Kolleru Lake, Andhra Pradesh
• Gurudongmar Lake, Sikkim
• Kanwar Lake, Bihar
• Renuka Lake, Himachal Pradesh
• Tso Moriri or Mountain Lake, Ladakh
• Wular Lake, Jammu Kashmir
• Fateh Sagar, Udaipur
• Bhimtal Lake, Uttarakhand. Visited read about the Mystical Lakes of Kumaon.
• Vembanad Lake, Kerala

Which of these lakes have you visited? Are there any lakes that I missed? Which are your favorite Beautiful lakes of India?