Pala Lake
| Palak Dil Pala Tipo |
|
|---|---|
| Location | Saiha district, Mizoram |
| Coordinates | 22°20′25″N 92°56′33″E / 22.34028°N 92.94250°ECoordinates: 22°20′25″N 92°56′33″E / 22.34028°N 92.94250°E |
| Type | Lentic |
| Primary inflows | Two mountain streams |
| Primary outflows | Pala lui |
| Catchment area | 18.5 km2 (7.1 sq mi) |
| Basin countries | India |
| Max. length | 0.87 km (0.54 mi) |
| Max. width | 0.7 km (0.43 mi) |
| Surface area | 1.5 km2 (0.58 sq mi) |
| Average depth | 17 m (56 ft) |
| Max. depth | 27 m (89 ft) |
| Surface elevation | 270 m (890 ft) |
| Settlements | Phura, Tongkolong, Saiha |
Palak Dil or Pala Tipo (Mara language for "swallowing lake") is the largest lake in southern Mizoram, northeast India. It is located in near Phura village in Saiha district, within the Mara Autonomous District Council. Its geographical location falls under the Indo-Burma biodiversity hotspot, and is therefore rich in animal and plant species. The lake is a major component of the Palak Wildlife Sanctuary, and it supports the major biodiversity of the sanctuary.
Pala is derived from a mythical Mara story for the name of the lake while tipo means "lake"; it is called Palak Dil in Mizo ṭawng. The lake gives the name of the region Palak Assembly Constituency under Election Commission of India.
Palak Dil is situated within Mara Autonomous District Council (MADC), one of the three autonomous district councils in the southernmost part of the state. It is about 76 km away from Saiha, the headquarters of MADC. It can be reached by small/light vehicles only. Three villages such as Phura, Tongkalong, and Lawngban, are in close proximity. Phura is the main route for visitors.
According to oral history Palak Dil is said to be formed around 800-1200 CE. It coincided with the period of westward migration of Mara people from Burma. The origin of Palak Dil is a well known folktale among Mizo people. According to Mara legend the location area was originally a big village called Hnychao. There were about 300 families. At the center of the village was a large rock, underneath of which was a cave inhabited by a giant serpent. Villagers soon noticed that children playing around the rock frequently disappeared. At night their livetock animals were missing too. The village hunters caught the serpent using a gigantic fishing pole, and using a goat (or dog in other version) as a bait. From this point there are two versions:
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