Palak Dil

{{Short description|Lake in India}} {{Use dmy dates|date=December 2018}} {{Use Indian English|date=December 2018}} {{Infobox body of water | name = Pala Tipo | other_name = Palak Dil | image = Palak Dil.jpg | caption = Palak Dil | image_bathymetry = | caption_bathymetry = | location = [[Siaha district]], [[Mizoram]] | coords = {{coord|22|20|25|N|92|56|33|E|type:waterbody|display=inline, title}} | type = [[Lentic]] | inflow = Two mountain streams | outflow = Pala lui | catchment = {{convert|18.5|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}} | basin_countries = [[India]] | length = {{convert|0.87|km|mi|abbr=on}} | width = {{convert|0.7|km|mi|abbr=on}} | area = {{convert|1.5|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}} | depth = {{convert|17|m|ft|abbr=on}} | max-depth = {{convert|27|m|ft|abbr=on}} | volume = | residence_time = | shore = | elevation = {{convert|270|m|ft|abbr=on}} | islands = | sections = | cities = [[Phura]], Tongkolong, [[Siaha]] | frozen =  | pushpin_map = India | pushpin_label_position = | pushpin_map_alt = Location of Palak Dil in India. | pushpin_map_caption =  | website = | reference = | mapframe = yes | mapframe-zoom = 10 | embedded = {{Designation list | embed = yes | designation1 = Ramsar | designation1_offname = Pala Wetland | designation1_date = 31 August 2021 | designation1_number = 2484<ref name="RSIS">{{Cite web|title=Pala Wetland|website=[[Ramsar Convention|Ramsar]] Sites Information Service|url=https://rsis.ramsar.org/ris/2484|access-date=7 August 2022}}</ref>}} }} '''Palak Dil''' or '''Pala Tipo''' ([[Mara language]] for "swallowing lake") is the largest and biggest [[lake]] in [[Mizoram]], [[northeast India]]. It is located near [[Phura]] village in [[Siaha district]], within the [[Mara Autonomous District Council]] in the southernmost district of Mizoram. 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,<ref name=netour>{{cite web|title=Mizoram Wildlife|url=http://www.north-east-india-tourism.net/Mizoram_Wildlife.htm|work=North-East India Tourism|publisher=Indo Vacations™|access-date=11 April 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131028195814/http://north-east-india-tourism.net/Mizoram_Wildlife.htm|archive-date=28 October 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref> and it supports the major biodiversity of the sanctuary.<ref>{{cite journal|last=Lalramanghinglova|first=H|author2=Lalnuntluanga |author3=Jha, LK |title=Note on Ngengpui and Palak Wildlife Sanctuaries in South Mizoram|journal=The Indian Forester|year=2006|volume=132|issue=10|pages=1282–1291|url=http://www.indianforester.co.in/index.php/indianforester/article/view/4277}}</ref>

''Pala'' is derived from a mythical [[Mara language|Mara]] story for the name of the lake while ''tipo'' means "lake"; it is called Palak Dil in [[Mizo language|Mizo ṭawng]]. The lake gives the name of the region Palak Assembly Constituency under [[Election Commission of India]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Palak (ST) Constituency 2013 Election Results|url=http://www.elections.in/mizoram/assembly-constituencies/palak.html|publisher=Compare Infobase Limited|access-date=11 April 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=40-Palak- Mizoram|url=http://eci.nic.in/archive/Oct2008/pollupd/ac/states/s16/aconst40.htm|publisher=Election Commission of India|access-date=11 April 2014}}</ref>

==Origin==

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 livestock 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: #They killed the snake and the meat was distributed to all families. A widow with two children happened to get a share of the head. When she cooked it, the eyes were blinking and rolling, staring at her. Frightened, she threw the cooking pot into the street. When she looked out, their doorstep was being flooded and fled for life with her children. The pool rose to a lake submerging the entire habitation and drowning the rest of the villagers. The lake was eventually called Pala Tipo.<ref>{{cite web|title=Palak Lake|url=http://tourism.mizoram.gov.in/page/palak-lake.html|publisher=Department of Tourism, State Government of Mizoram|access-date=11 April 2014|archive-date=22 February 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140222213520/http://tourism.mizoram.gov.in/page/palak-lake.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> #In an alternate version, when they caught the snake they could not completely haul out its body and cut it in the middle. The bottom half fell back into the cave with massive thunder. It created an upsurge of water from the cave, submerging the whole village. This became a permanent lake and was called Pala Tipo, literally meaning a "swallowing or submerging lake".<ref name=john>{{cite web |author= Dr John|title=Palak Dil – Mizorama Dil Lian Ber|language=lus |trans-title=Palak Dil – The Largest Lake in Mizorama|date= 12 March 2012|url=http://www.misual.com/2012/03/12/palak-dil-mizorama-dil-lian-ber/ | work=www.misual.com |access-date=11 April 2014}}</ref>

==Hydrology== Palak Dil is oval in shape with a length of 870 meters, width of 700 meters, and depth of 17 to 25 meters.<ref>{{cite book|last=B. Lalthangliana|title=Mizoram Encyclopedia|url=http://www.misual.com/2012/03/12/palak-dil-mizorama-dil-lian-ber/.}}</ref> It is believed that a village exists below the lake, some people believes that the lake is haunted by ghosts and demons.<ref>{{cite book|last=Sajnani|first=Manohar|title=Encyclopaedia of Tourism Resources in India, Volume 1|year=2001|publisher=Kalpaz Publication|isbn=9788178350172|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vdMNBxOsvrUC}}</ref> Another Legend also believes that a British officer once dropped his sword in the middle of the lake and ordered one of his men to retrieve it, the men dived to retrieve it but came back only after 3 days explaining that he had feasted and was too drunk to return.<ref>{{cite book|last=N.E. Parry|title=The Lakhers|year=1932|publisher=Firma KLM Pvt}}</ref> The lake is fed by two main streams from the nearby mountains. Its drainage is through a small river called Pala Lui. This drainage area creates a stretch of valley, which remains the main agricultural area of the Mara people.<ref name=john/>

==Wildlife==

Palak Dil is home to a number of resident and migratory animals. It is particularly rich in a variety of birds, including endemic bird species. The water is inhabited by common and unique species of fishes. Different species of prawns, [[snail]]s, [[crab]]s, [[turtle]]s and tortoises.<ref name=john/> More than 70 species of birds have been recorded from the lake and its shore. Among unique species are [[Nepal fulvetta]], [[white-bellied yuhina]], [[little spiderhunter]], streaked spinderhunter, [[eastern yellow wagtail|yellow wagtail]], [[black-capped kingfisher]], [[hooded pitta]], [[spot-breasted scimitar babbler]], and [[white-rumped munia]], which are rarely seen in other parts of the region.<ref>{{cite journal|last=Birand|first=Aysegul|author2=Pawar, Samraat|title=An ornithological survey in north-east India|journal=Forktail|year=2004|volume=20|issue=1|pages=15–24|url=http://orientalbirdclub.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/Birand-NEIndia.pdf}}</ref> In addition aquatic birds and wild ducks in Palak Dil are found nowhere else in Mizoram.<ref>{{cite journal|last=Lalmuansangi|author2=Lalramnghinglova, H|title=Preliminary assessment on water quality and biodiversity in and around Palak Dil in southern Mizoram, India|journal=Science Vision|year=2014|volume=14|issue=1|pages=39–45|url=http://www.sciencevision.org/current_issue/dl/Lalmuankimi.pdf|access-date=11 April 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304104702/http://www.sciencevision.org/current_issue/dl/Lalmuankimi.pdf|archive-date=4 March 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Conservation==

Palak Dil and its surrounding area covering 15 km<sup>2</sup>. is declared by the Indian [[Ministry of Environment and Forests (India)|Ministry of Environment and Forests]] as a [[protected area]] under the Palak Wildlife Sanctuary.<ref>{{cite web|title=Resource and Biodiversity Base Mizoram|url=http://scstsenvis.nic.in/index4.aspx?ssslid=196&subsubsublinkid=60&langid=1&mid=1|publisher=ENVIS CENTRE ON ECO - TOURISM|access-date=11 April 2014}}</ref> The surrounding forest is extensively exploited due to [[shifting cultivation]]. It has been designated as a protected [[Ramsar site]] since 2021.<ref name="RSIS"/>

==References== {{reflist}}

[[Category:Landforms of Mizoram]] [[Category:Lakes of Mizoram]] [[Category:Saiha district]] [[Category:Tourism in Mizoram]] [[Category:Tourist attractions in Mizoram]] [[Category:Protected areas of Mizoram]] [[Category:Ramsar sites in India]]