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Hidden Lakes of Gondia: A Freshwater Treasure in Vidarbha

Navegaon Lake in Gondia
Navegaon Lake in Gondia

The railway track that cuts through the landscape of Gondia barely hints at what lies just beyond. It doesn’t announce the stillness. Nor does it prepare you for the sight of birds circling low over mirror-like water or for the sound of paddles gliding through a lake that hasn’t changed much in decades.


Gondia, a district in Vidarbha, doesn’t attract the attention that other tourist destinations in India often do. But for those who pause long enough, its lakes offer an experience quietly different.



Where Water Shapes the Land


Gondia is not known for mountains or beaches. Its character emerges from something far more subtle, its abundance of freshwater lakes and reservoirs. These are not dramatic landscapes. They are steady, often unmarked by human interference, but vital in every sense of the word.


Spread across the district are a wide range of natural and human-made water bodies that influence the ecology, economy and identity of the region.


Some of the lakes are rain-fed, and others are managed through old irrigation systems and small dams.

Together, they create a network of freshwater zones that sustain farms, forests, and fishing communities. But their influence doesn’t end with utility. The lakes support hundreds of species, particularly birds that treat Gondia as a resting ground, a home, or both.

Birdwatchers already know this, of course. For those who’ve never visited, the variety is surprising. Navegaon Lake, located within the boundary of Navegaon National Park, stands as a central piece in this network.


Surrounded by old trees and forest paths, the lake is a living system. People often come here to see what the forest brings to the water’s edge, kingfishers poised like statues, herons skimming across the surface, and jacanas walking on lily leaves with precision.


It’s not just about Navegaon. There’s Nawegaon Bandh, known among birders for early morning sightings when the lake comes alive with movement. The light plays a part, too. Just after sunrise or right before dusk, the lake becomes a canvas for silhouettes and colour. One of the more striking sights here is the Bronze-winged Jacana, a bird that seems almost designed to be seen at such hours.


Move to Zilmili Lake, and the picture changes again. This lake, less well-known outside of birding circles, has become a hotspot for serious enthusiasts and researchers. Over 226 bird species have been documented here, according to updated eBird records, making it one of the most active birding locations in the district. For a district not heavily marketed to tourists, that’s quite the presence.


Gondia’s lakes are not limited to the known names. Paraswada Lake near Serpur, Bazartola, Soundad, and Ramsagar in Tirora all hold ecological value that doesn’t rely on popularity. These lakes aren’t fenced or curated. They exist with a kind of openness that allows nature to continue uninterrupted, for now.


The complexity of these water systems is both biological and social. Lakes here support traditional fishing, provide water for fields, and attract visitors hoping for a quiet weekend or a glimpse of something wild. It’s a balance that hasn’t been easy to maintain. Plastic waste and poor maintenance are visible in places. But so are efforts, modest but meaningful, to protect what remains.


Life Above and Below the Surface


If the birds get most of the attention, it’s with reason. They’re visible. They arrive with the seasons, their calls distinct, their behaviour a draw for those with cameras or binoculars. But beneath the surface, Gondia’s lakes support other kinds of life that are just as important to the region’s ecological health.


A study of five lakes near Gondia city recorded 44 different aquatic plant species across 37 genera.

That level of plant diversity doesn’t happen by accident. It’s shaped by factors such as water chemistry, depth, sediment, and the movement of animals that rely on these plants for food or nesting material.


Some plant families appear consistently, Hydrocharitaceae, Asteraceae, and Poaceae among them, indicating a system that supports both submerged and floating vegetation.

These aquatic plants keep the water clean, oxygenate the lake beds, and offer microhabitats for insects, fish, and amphibians.


A healthy plant population often signals a stable aquatic environment, which in turn supports birds and larger mammals that depend on the lake margins.



Much of this remains invisible to the casual visitor. What can be observed, however, is the variation from one lake to the next. Some are wide and shallow, others deep and narrow, some ringed with reeds and grasses, others bordered by forest or fields. Within this variation lies the strength of Gondia’s freshwater network. It doesn’t rely on one dominant ecosystem. It functions through diversity.

The winter season sees the greatest movement, particularly among migratory species that arrive from other parts of India and beyond. The result is not just a boost in biodiversity but in human activity as well. Local guides, birders, researchers, and families make their way to the lakes, especially those within sanctuary zones like Navegaon and Nagzira. Each visit, whether scientific or recreational, adds a layer of interaction between people and place.


Travel Without Spectacle

Zilmili Lake in Gondia
Zilmili Lake in Gondia

To visit Gondia’s lakes is not to be dazzled by grandeur. There are no sweeping entrances or curated viewpoints. Instead, there are access, quiet trails, small piers, forest paths, and boating areas that let you move slowly through the environment.


Navegaon offers rowboats that allow close observation of the lake’s ecology. These rides, often unhurried, show how birds behave when they aren’t disturbed, feeding, nesting, and interacting with their surroundings.


Nawegaon Bandh remains one of the easiest spots for bird photography, particularly during the golden hours. But for those seeking less frequented locations, places like Bazartola or Chorkhamara Lake inside Nagzira Sanctuary provide opportunities to explore in relative solitude. There’s no ticketed drama. No constructed "experience," and that’s part of the appeal.


Of course, the risk lies in numbers. As awareness grows, so does pressure. Litter has been observed at multiple locations, a problem not unique to Gondia but one that demands local solutions, waste management, signage, and regular maintenance.


Ecotourism here is not yet a large-scale operation. That may be an advantage. With careful planning, Gondia’s lakes can develop as responsible destinations.


The focus needn’t be mass footfall, but rather longer stays by nature travellers, researchers, and people who understand what the region offers. Seasonal festivals, guided bird walks, and school visits can all raise awareness without overwhelming the lakes.


Part of the task lies in communication. Local communities, often already connected to these lakes through livelihood or tradition, play a key role. They’re the ones who see changes first, who understand the water level shifts, the arrival of particular bird species, the health of fish populations. Including them in conservation efforts is not just practical; it’s essential.


There’s no single solution to protecting Gondia’s lakes. Each one faces different pressures of development, pollution, or simply neglect. Some are within protected areas. Others, just as vital, are not.


Conservation, in this context, means observation. It means understanding which lakes are most at risk and which require only gentle management to stay healthy.


The study on aquatic plants near Gondia was one such step. By creating a documented baseline of plant species, researchers added to the collective knowledge needed for future interventions.

It’s this kind of small, steady progress of data gathering, education, and collaboration that will determine how these lakes survive the next few decades.


These lakes are part of daily life for farmers, fishermen, birds, plants, and visitors alike. If there is hope for preserving them, it lies in continuing to treat them not as isolated sites but as part of a shared space. One where care, however small, adds up over time.



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