What if I tell you that besides taking in the pure mountain air, you can also sit beside serpentine lakes with ice-cold water and a cool breeze caressing your face. Sounds lively. Doesn’t it? If you are someone who enjoys sitting beside lakes and enjoying hot maggi and crisp gossip with friends and family, then these places are ideal for you. Remember, in a country like India, there will always be one or another place that will make you feel like you are in heaven. Here are the top seven lakes in India for your next tranquil escape.
Pangong Tso , Ladakh

Pangong Lake is a mirror to the heavens. This high-altitude lake is located over 13,000 ft above sea level and stretches from India to Tibet. It is famous for its pitch-blue water that shifts its hues with light, sometimes appearing turquoise, sometimes inky navy. For an unforgettable experience, camp on its banks under a sky lit with stars. Don’t miss the early morning reflections and stargazing. There is this soul-stirring silence at this place, where you and your thoughts are all alone.
Loktak Lake , Manipur

Loktak is the world's largest floating lake, which contains phumdis—banks of soil and vegetation. It has the Keibul Lamjao National Park, which serves as a lifeline to the local biodiversity and communities. Unlike mainstream tourist lakes, Loktak offers slow, immersive travel — eco-tours, homestays on phumdis, bird-watching, and canoe rides. This isn’t just a lake, it is a living, breathing entity that sustains life and culture.
Chilika Lake , Odisha

Chilika Lake, the largest brackish water lagoon in Asia, is a birdwatcher and nature lover's paradise. Flamingos, irrawaddy dolphins, and scores of migratory birds nest in its shining waters. Dawn and dusk create breathtaking reflections in the sky of the lake, making it picture-postcard-perfect. No additions are needed to the lake's natural biodiversity and beauty during winter—merely observation, pure and simple. It's where nature paints with all its hues and colours unfettered.
Vembanad lake , Kerala

The longest lake in India, Vembanad Lake, flows like a silver thread through the backwaters of Kerala. Drifting houseboats, palm-lined coastlines, and vibrant sunsets are all reflected in its placid seas. Birds flock to its marshy edges, lotus blossoms float undisturbed, and fishermen glide silently at dawn. Time seems to slow down here, and the natural world speaks in a soothing voice.
Nainital Lake, Uttarakhand

Nainital Lake is just like a set of pearl-strung necklace nestled among the emerald hills. Boating there is like gliding in a dream due to the serene combination of the far-off bird songs, the soft oar splash, and the whispy breeze. Surrounding it on its rim is the busy Mall Road, with vibrant shops, friendly cafes, and jovial laughter merging into the stillness of the lake. With dawn and dusk, the world slows down, the lake becomes a canvas painted with pink and gold colours, inviting moments of quiet reflection and awe.
Gurudongmar Lake, Sikkim

Among snow-capped peaks, Gurudongmar Lake lies like a sapphire, its glistening waters reflecting the wide, calm sky and Whispers of old prayers blend with the mountain wind at this hallowed altitude. It urges its visitors to stop, take a deep breath, and appreciate the serene majesty of the Himalayas' sacred heart. It is the mirror that echoes its untouched essence and serenity.