Tamdil Lake is situated in Mizoram, located in the north east of India. More specifically, it is located in Aizawl district, the capital city of Mizoram. It is situated about 110 km south-east of Aizwal town and about 7 km from Saitual village. In Mizo language, the word Tam means contraction of antam. Antam is a mustard plant and Dil stands for lake. Therefore, this lake is also known as the "Lake of Mustard". Characteristically, this lake is naturally formed and is a reservoir. It is one of the most frequented lakes of Mizoram.
Belief Regarding the Formation of Tamdil Lake
A myth is associated with the formation of Tamdil Lake. It is believed that this lake was once a jhum plot, in the small valley surrounded by small steep hills. This plot was owned by a married couple. After the unfortunate death of the husband, this plot became his wife"s responsibility. Amidst the crops in the plot, was a robust mustard plant, conspicuously bigger than any other plant. One night the widow saw her husband in her dream. He informed her to take special care of the giant mustard plant. This was because this plant was a forerunner of immense blessings. As asked by her husband, the widow took immense care of this plant. After sometime, she remarried but the new husband did not want her to keep anything associated with her deceased husband. Therefore, he uprooted the plant and discarded it. What was left behind was a vast hole in the ground, which was soon filled by water (seeping from the plant according to some versions or from the ground itself, in another version) to become a lake. Thus, this lake is also called the "Lake of Mustard".
Geography and Hydrography of Tamdil Lake
The Tamdil Lake is surrounded by tropical evergreen and moist deciduous forests with species like sehenia wallichii, chikrassia tabularis and bamboos. The forest surrounding the lake is inhabited by bears, deers, wild pigs and common avi-fauna. Fishes comprise the aquatic fauna of this lake. The lake is also a home to plenty of prawns. In 2010, a new species of frog called Leptolalax Tamdil was discovered in this lake.
Economic Values of Tamdil Lake
Mizoram has realized the potential of Tamdil Lake for tourism and has accordingly developed it as a tourism product. This lake is handled by the state"s tourism department along with it"s fisheries department. Tamdil Lake as an important pisciculture centre is the responsibility of the fisheries department, while the holiday resorts around this lake are maintained by the tourism department.
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