Top 10 Most Beautiful Lakes in India

India has some amazingly beautiful lakes which captivate the views with their natural beauty. Here is a list of India’s most beautiful lakes:

One of the largest fresh water lakes in the world and the largest fresh water lake in India, Wular lake is situated 60 kms away from Srinagar in Jammu & Kashmir. Measuring 24 kms across and surrounded by beautiful, tall mountains, Wular lake attracts tourists for its pristine beauty and mesmerizing views. The small town of Ningal Nullah acts as the tourism hub for Wular Lake. The visitors can rent sailboats, doongas and houseboats from here. Ornithologists often visit Wular lake and the nearby Nal Sarovar Bird Sanctuary to spot birds such as Himalayan golden eagle, short-toed eagle, Himalayan pied woodpecker, eared kite, sparrow hawk, blue rock pigeon, alpine swift, cuckoo, Kashmir roller and golden oriole .

Also known as the floating paradise due to the floating phumdis on it, Loktak lake is the largest freshwater lake in the North-Eastern region. This iconic lake, located in Bishanpur district is at a distance of 53 km from Imphal and is renowned for its circular floating swamps. It is considered as the world's only floating national park. The lake serves as home to 233 species of aquatic plants, more than 100 species of birds and 425 species of animals including the sambhar and Indian python. The lake serves an important role as it’s the source of water for the nearby hydropower project and also provided water for irrigation & drinking.

This biggest natural lake in Haryana serves as a weekend destination due to its proximity with Delhi. It is situated at a distance of approx 60 kms from Delhi. Located near the Aravalli Hills, Damdama Lake is the perfect place to go for boating or day tour. Rock climbing, boating, kayaking, parasailing, camping etc. make it a popular tourist attraction and picnic spot.

Dal Lake in Srinagar attracts the tourists for its beautiful sceneries, floating gardens and shikara rides. Tourists stay in the houseboats on the lake and this lake is a backbone for the tourism industry in Srinagar. This urban lake, which is the second largest in the state, is aptly named the "Jewel in the crown of Kashmir" or "Srinagar's Jewel". Along with nature lovers, Dal Lake also offers great options to adventure seekers. Water sports like water skiing, golfing and hot air balloon riding have lately become quite popular in Dal Lake.

Pichola Lake in Udaipur is an artificial lake set amidst the beautiful Aravali hills. This picturesque lake in the ‘city of lakes’ Udaipur fascinates the visitors with its beauty. Located in the heart of the city, it is the oldest and one of the largest lakes of Udaipur. The Lake is enveloped by magnificent Palaces, temples, bathing ghats and elevated hills on all its sides.

The Gurudongmar Lake is located in Lachen, a small and beautiful town in North Sikkim, situated at the height of 10,000 feet above the sea level. This fresh water lake is one of the highest lakes in the world which is situated in Sikkim, only 5kms from the Chinese border. The water of this lake is said to have curative properties. This sacred lake is majestic emerald blue in colour and is surrounded by snow-capped mountains.

This largest coastal lake in India is also the biggest brackish water lake in India. It is spread over the Puri, Khurda and Ganjam districts of Orissa on the east coast of India and covers an area of over 1,100 km². Popularly known as the Swiss lake in the continent, Chilka lake is the queen of natual beauty which is famous as the paradise of the migratory birds.

India’s longest lake at Kumarakom in Kottayam in the beautiful state of Kerala is famous for its houseboats and snake boat race. It is an enchanting picnic spot and a fast developing backwater tourism destination. The lake provides boating, fishing and sightseeing experiences that are truly amazing.The annual snake boat race which is held in August every year is the major tourist attraction of Vembanad Lake.

The C shaped lake near Nainital is the largest in Kumaon region of Uttrakhand. There is a picturesque island in the middle of the lake which has recreational facilities and can be approached through boats.

Bhojtal was formerly known as upper lake. This largest artificial lake in Asia is situated in Bhopal which is one of the major sources of drinking water for the city. Bhojtal was built by Raja Bhoj during his tenure as the king of Malwa.