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Mizoram

Tamdil Lake (Saitual)

Forest-rimmed lake at 780 m near Saitual, with a lakeside lodge and kayaks

LakesOffbeatWildlife

Best time to visit Tamdil Lake (Saitual)

peak shoulder off-season avoid

  • Go: October to March
  • Shoulder: April to May and September, quieter, and the weather is less of a sure thing
  • Skip: no month is a write-off here

Planning a specific month? JanuaryFebruaryMarchOctoberNovemberDecember

Tamdil Lake (Saitual) season by season

Winter December to February Prime time

Dec-Feb the lake sits under a dawn mist that burns off by 9, days run 8-20 C and the lodge is mostly empty on weekdays; Aizawl families fill the picnic sheds on Saturdays.

Summer March to May Prime time

March is cool and clear enough for the forest trails; April and May turn hazy and humid, though at 780 m the lake stays cooler than Aizawl and the boats still run.

Monsoon June to September Shoulder

Jun-Sep the hills are their greenest and the lake brims, but 2,000 mm of rain means boats stop in downpours and forest paths are leechy; the Saitual road stays open.

Autumn October to November Prime time

October's washed skies make it the best month for kayaking and forest walks; November evenings turn cold at the lodge, so carry a layer for the lakeside verandah.

What Tamdil Lake (Saitual) is actually like

Weekend picnic families from Aizawl by day, a near-empty Tourism Dept lodge by night; evenings are a lakeside walk and an early dinner

Things to do in Tamdil Lake

The local places worth your time in and around Tamdil Lake, with how far each sits from the centre. Tap a name to open it in Google Maps.

  • Saitual

    Village · 6 km out

    Saitual district headquarters 6 km from the lake, with a tourist lodge; taxis out to the lake are hired here.

  • Tawi Wildlife Sanctuary

    Wildlife · 38 km out

    Sanctuary of 35.75 sq km notified in 2001; its evergreen forest holds hoolock gibbons and great hornbills.

  • Baktawng

    Village · 71 km out

    Home of the Chana Pawl sect and Chhuan Thar Run, the four storey house of the late Ziona, who had 39 wives in 2011.

Getting to Tamdil Lake (Saitual)

Aizawl to Saitual about 100 km by sumo (3 h, Mon-Sat), then 6 km by taxi to the lake; Lengpui airport is 30 km beyond Aizawl

Practical ways in: flightroad

Trip facts

How long to stay
2 days
Budget
Shoestring
How busy
Steady at its peak
Solo travel
Fine solo
Altitude
778 m
State
Mizoram
Coordinates
23.7386, 92.9528

Common questions

When is the best time to visit Tamdil Lake (Saitual)?

October to March is peak season in Tamdil Lake (Saitual). April to May and September is shoulder season: thinner crowds, a bit more risk in the weather. No month is a write-off here. October's washed skies make it the best month for kayaking and forest walks; November evenings turn cold at the lodge, so carry a layer for the lakeside verandah.

How many days do you need in Tamdil Lake (Saitual)?

2 days is the usual stay. Weekend picnic families from Aizawl by day, a near-empty Tourism Dept lodge by night; evenings are a lakeside walk and an early dinner.

How do you get to Tamdil Lake (Saitual)?

Aizawl to Saitual about 100 km by sumo (3 h, Mon-Sat), then 6 km by taxi to the lake; Lengpui airport is 30 km beyond Aizawl. Practical ways in: flight and road.

Is Tamdil Lake (Saitual) expensive, and does it get crowded?

Shoestring by Indian travel standards, and it runs steady at the busiest time of year. Fine solo.

What are the best things to do in Tamdil Lake?

Saitual, Tawi Wildlife Sanctuary and Baktawng. Saitual district headquarters 6 km from the lake, with a tourist lodge; taxis out to the lake are hired here.

Nearby, and where to go next

More places to visit in Mizoram

All 9 destinations in Mizoram