Which Is The Largest Freshwater Lake In India?

Jul 19, 2022

Last Updated on: Mar 24, 2025

Travel Blog

Question: Which Is The Largest Freshwater Lake In India?

Options:

  • A.Chilka Lake ( Surface area  347 sq mi)
  • B.Wular Lake ( Surface area 12 to 73 sq mi )
  • C.Naini Lake ( Surface area 4.53 sq mi)
  • D.Periyar Lake (Surface area 2,084 sq mi)

 Answer: Wular Lake

Lake Wular is declared India’s largest freshwater lake and Asia’s second largest. 

                                “Wular Lake is still in floods,

The North Wind howling strong;

                                The shore is far away, and you

   Must steer your course with care.”

— Kashmiri poet Mahjoor (1885-1952)

Which Is The Largest Natural Freshwater Lake In India?

Bandipora, Kashmir, and Wular Lake are formed in the lap of paradise due to tectonic activity. Jhelum River is the lake’s main source of water.

At an altitude of 1,580 Km, Lake Wular is 24 Km in length. According to popular belief, the lake is the remains of Satisar Lake. 

The lake has willow tree plantations that started in the early 1950s. Since then, Lake Wular has been considered among India’s most beautiful sites of natural heritage.

History Of Lake Wular

Sultan Zainul-Abi-Din gave the order to build the artificial island Zaina Lake in Wular Lake in 1444.

Based on folklore, a city ruled by Raja Sudrasen was once on the border of the lake. But as a punishment for his crimes, the lake’s water rose and drowned the king, his subject, and the city with him.

During winter, when the water level was low, submerged ruins of a temple were seen. This sighting gave fuel to folklore.

Zainul-Abi-Din constructed a huge barge in the Lake and built a brick wall that rose to the water level.

Wular Lake: History Amongst Nature

Lake Wular is among the 49 other wetlands of India; all are a part of the Ramsar Site. Although it falls under “The Conventions of Wetlands,” established by UNESCO in 1971, Lake Wular faces certain environmental threats.

They include threats like fertilizer pollution, waterfowl & migratory bird hunting, agriculture, and animal waste. The lake is now half of what it was before.

Wular has several fish habitats, including rosy barb, the common carb, mosquito fish, stone roller, and Schizothorax. The fish from Lake Wular comprise the diet of thousands of people living in the area and everywhere in Kashmir.

About eight thousand fishermen depend on Lake Wular for their livelihood. 60% of fish in Kashmir comes from the lake itself. People from the nearby villages also harvest the plants like the Nymphoides and the Phragmites for animal fodder.

The lake is home to thousands of birds. A few of them are the short-toed eagle, alpine swift, common cuckoo, golden eagle, and the Himalayan monal.

Lake Wular Tourism: The Largest Freshwater Lake In India

Lake Wular is not only a perfect tourist attraction for Indian tourists but also recognized by International tourists as well.

Wular lake plays a very important role in further expanding the tourism of Kashmir. When people ask, “which lake is the largest freshwater lake in India” this is what they refer to.

To improve the tourism industry in Kashmir, the government of India came up with interesting watersports on the lake. This project was done in collaboration with J&K and Kashmir Tourism.

Sports such as water skiing and boating. The contract for this project was awarded in September 2011

In 1986, lake Wular was made a part of the Wetland of National importance. This project was carried out under the Wetlands Programme by the Ministry of Environment & Forestry

The lake was added was included due to its diverse hydrological, biological, and also socio-economic values. According to the Ramsar Convention project, the area surrounding the lake was a garbage dump. The inclusion in the Government project is for management purposes and also intensive conservation.

Restoration Of Lake Wular

A development project under the National Lake Conservation Programme has been launched to restore the former beauty of the lake. For this, about 2 million trees are to be cut down. 

The Ministry of Environment and Forest has already approved a sum of Rs. 4 billion for the restoration project. According to estimates, the work will take about 5 to 10 years. The schedule started in December 2011.

The SAVE organization, or South Asian Voluntary Association of Environmentalists, took an interest in this initiative and joined the project. They aim to conserve the ecology and the surrounding nature of Lake Wular.

Restoring such an enormous lake, the largest freshwater lake in India in India-controlled Kashmir will be difficult. Due to continuous violent attacks, such projects are difficult to proceed with.

Wular Lake: The Biggest Freshwater Lake In India And Its Maintenance Concerns (A Sneak Peek Into The Latest Developments)

Keeping the Wular Lake clean has been a concern for the Wular Conservation & Management Authority (WUCMA) and the Jammu and Kashmir Pollution Control Committee. 

On 3rd August 2024, Atal Dulloo, the state’s Chief Secretary, met WUCMA, the JK Pollution Control Committee, and other concerned authorities to keep the lake clean.  Wular Lake has always been important in the tourism landscape of Baramulla and Kashmir at large.

So, maintaining its cleanliness is crucial to boost tourist footfall in the area. The main agenda of the meeting was to ensure:

1. Cleanliness of the lake
2. Take strict measures against encroachers 
3. Facilitate the ongoing beautification work of the lake
4. Development of the surrounding area for tourism with Wular Lake at the core

Earlier this year, the Jammu and Kashmir Government announced the adoption of 30 villages around India’s largest freshwater lake. Saderkoot, Garoora, and Payeen are the first three villages to run the pilot project on solid waste management around the lake. 

Currently, the lake gathers the wastage of the Jhelum River and the lake’s surrounding villages. Solid waste management is crucial to keep the lake clean, maintain hygiene, and maintain tourism activities in the area.  

Places To See Near Wular Lake: The Largest Freshwater Lake In India 

Wular Lake, India’s largest freshwater lake, has many nearby tourist attractions. The lakes within 50 Km of the lake will soothe your eyes and offer you moments of tranquility. 

The nearby Krishnasar and Vishansar lakes have mystical charm. Further, the Vishankar Lake is the source of the Neelum River. Krishnasar Lake is more popular as a fishing spot, and anglers visit here for trout. 

Other lakes near Wular are:

  • Alpather Lake
  • Gangabal Lake
  • Gadsar Lake
  • Mansabal Lake

Further, if you are an adventurous soul, you can visit Apharwat Peak, just around 20 Km away from Wular Lake. It is a popular skiing destination. 

The best time to visit Wular Lake is June to April. So, plan your trip accordingly! 

Lake Wular is not only the largest freshwater lake in India but also the second largest in Asia

Lake Wular is also home to thousands of birds, fish, and underwater plants. The natural beauty of Lake Wular, along with the surrounding beauty of Kashmir, is what makes it a tourist attraction.

Did You Know About The Top 10 Largest Lake In India?

With Wular Lake being the largest freshwater lake in India, it’s time to know about the top 10 largest lakes in India. 

  1. Vembanad Lake in Kerala
  2. Chilika Lake in Odisha.
  3. Shivsagar Lake in Maharashtra.
  4. Pangong Tso Lake in Ladakh.
  5. Pulicat Lake in Andhra Pradesh.
  6. Loktak Lake in Manipur.
  7. Nagarjuna Sagar Lake in Andhra Pradesh.
  8. Kolleru Lake in Andhra Pradesh.
  9. Maharana Pratap Sagar in Himachal Pradesh
  10. Wular Lake in Jammu Kashmir

All these lakes are prominent tourist attractions and contribute to the local lives, economy, sustainability and environment. 

Things You Didn’t Know About India’s Largest Lake | Fun Facts

Wular Lake, the biggest freshwater lake in India was known as  Mahapadmasar in ancient times. Some people even call it Ullola as it has very high waves. 

Further, it is the natural heritage of Kashmir. It has been a witness to the cultural evolution of Kashmir and development of Kashmir through centuries. 

Largest Freshwater Lake In India FAQs

Here are some popular queries about the largest freshwater lake in India. Let’s find the right answers to these questions. 

What Is The Second Largest Freshwater Lake In India?

Loktak Lake in the Bishnupur District of Manipur is the second largest freshwater lake in India. Its surface area keeps varying from 250 to 500 square kms.

Further, this is an important lake for human lives and the ecosystem growing around it. Did you know that  Loktak Lake is the primary source of water for the nearby 55 villages? 

What Is The Biggest Lake In India?

Vembanad Lake in Kerala is the largest lake in India. Many people know Vembanad Lake by the name of Kochi Lake. 

The lake has a length of 96.5 Kilometers and at the widest point, it is 14 Kms wide. Overall, it spans an area of 2033 square kilometers and a diverse ecosystem has grown up around it. 

So, you will find various species of birds and fish around the lake. Moreover, today, Vembanad Lake is a popular tourist destination when it comes to Kerala tourism. 

It is a brackish water lake and some other important brackish water lakes in India are Chilika Lake in Odisha and Sambhar Salt Lake. Sambhar Salt Lake is also the largest inland saline lake of India.

Which Is The Biggest Sweet Water Lake In India?

The biggest sweet water lake in India is Wular Lake in Jammu Kashmir. Further, Manipur’s Loktak Lake and Meghalaya’s Barapani Lake are some other choices if you want to name some freshwater lakes of India. 

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Nabamita Sinha loves to write about lifestyle and pop-culture. In her free time she loves to watch movies and TV series and experiment with food. Her favourite niche topics are fashion, lifestyle, travel and gossip content. Her style of writing is creative and quirky.

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