5 Saline Water and Salt Lakes of India

Let’s start the list with the largest saltwater lake in India. And for that, you will have to land at Jaipur airport and then visit the city of Ajmer in Rajasthan. This huge saline wetland attracts tourists of different kinds and from different parts of the country. Nature lovers, bird watchers, photographers, all are very much welcome here! The lake itself is beautiful but what makes it even more appealing is the Aravalli Mountains creating a magnificent backdrop. You can visit this lake anytime you want, but winter season is the best time for watching the birds here. A huge number of migratory birds, including pink flamingos, common teals, shovellers and pochards. Other than birds, you can also look out for deer, nilgais and foxes.

There are some other activities that we would like to suggest! The first one is camping. Pitch a tent anywhere you like and enjoy the clear skies. You can cook your meals and plan a bonfire as well. Another thing that you should try is the trolley ride. In exchange of Rs. 500, you can book a trolley for a few hours and explore the entire lake easily! Our final suggestion is a visit to the Shakhambari Mandir that resides on the southern bank of this largest salt lake in India. Obviously, you can spend time here amid a spiritual aura. But the view of the lake from this temple is also a key attraction!

After exploring the largest salt water lake in India Ajmer, Rajasthan, let’s take a flight to Tiruparti and then travel to Nellore, Andhra Pradesh. Here lies the second largest lagoon of India and the second salt lake of our list, the Pulicate Lake. There are two things that make this lake so special, its natural charm and the Pulicat Lake Bird Sanctuary housing a rich wildlife. Flamingos, grey pelicans, open billed storks, spot billed ducks, painted storks, white ibis, grey herons, egrets, reef herons, we can go on and on with the name of birds that await you here.

While we are on the topic, here’s a tip. Visit the lake in October and you will get to see a wide range of migratory birds! Another great time to visit is December. And that is because of the flamingo festival celebrated this month. Don’t think that your trip to the second biggest salt water lake in India ends with birdwatching! Because many fun and adventurous activities are organised around the lake. You can start with boating on fishing boats. Then, you can opt for trekking.

Where to next? Ladakh, to see the beautiful Pangong Lake. All the lakes in Ladakh are marvellous and Pangong Lake is no exception. But if you ask us the best feature of this landlocked lake, we will say its colour-changing feature. Let’s explain. The lake’s colour does not remain the same throughout the year. It keeps changing from blue to light blue to green to grey and then back to blue. So, based on when you are visiting, you will get to see a different colour of the lake. Since we are on the topic, visit in summers and avoid winter. Because winter is extreme here and you will not be able to enjoy your trip. Here’s another info for your travel plans. If you want to travel by air, you will have to land at the Leh airport and then reach this lake in Ladakh via road.

Much like the previous two lakes, this lake also welcomes many migratory birds and that means, a brilliant opportunity for bird watching! But unfortunately, you can’t camp here as it is not permitted. Talking about permits, you will need to get an inner line permit before you visit this lake since the Pangong Lake lies on the Sino-Indian Line of Actual Control.

Have you seen a shooting star? What we call a shooting star is basically meteors or broken pieces of a comet or asteroid. Most shooting stars burn off while they fall down but some don’t. They end up hitting the ground and creating cavities on the surface. Often those holes get filled with rainwater or water from any other source and turn into a water body. The reason behind this tiny science discussion is Lonas Crater Lake was created by a meteor that created a cavity in the Lonar town of Maharashtra!

After hearing the interesting story behind the lake, you must be excited to visit the lake and you definitely should (preferably in winter because it is the best time to visit this lake)! Other than its origin, the natural allure around the place is also breathtaking. And when you come here, you can also go for a temple tour. Yes, there are many temples around the lake that will take you on a spiritual journey and also impress you with their architectural brilliance.

We started our list with India’s largest saltwater lake and we are going to end our list with Asia’s largest (internal) saltwater lake, the Chillika Lake located in Puri, Odisha. First thing first, it is a heaven, for nature lovers as well as bird lovers. As you explore the lake and see the many islands, fisheries and salt pans the lake houses, you will witness the magic mother nature has created here. And you will also get to see native as well as migratory birds, like aylag geese, flamingoes, spot-billed pelicans, open-billed storks, pintails, Brahminy Kites, bar-headed geese and purple moorhens.

Now, if you are all set to visit this lake, here are two things you should know. First, to reach Lonar town, you will have to land at Bhubaneswar airport and take the roadways. Second, the best time to visit this lake is winter because of the weather and also because winter is the season of the migratory birds here.

Did you pick your favourite? We know it can be hard because each of these 5 beautiful lakes in India has a lot to offer. So, we say, keep all of them on your travel wishlist and whenever you are in the respective city or town, pay a visit to the respective lake!