{{Short description|Lake in India}} {{Use dmy dates|date=December 2018}} {{Use Indian English|date=December 2018}} {{Infobox lake | name = Tam Dil | other_name = Tamdil | lake = | caption = | pushpin_map = India Mizoram#India | image_bathymetry = Tam Dil Lake in Saitual.jpg | caption_bathymetry = Tam Dil Lake in 2026 | location = [[Mizoram]] | coordinates = {{Coord|format=dms|display=it}} | inflow = | outflow = | catchment = | basin_countries = [[India]] | length = {{convert|20|km|ft}} | width = | area = | depth = | max-depth = | volume = | residence_time = | shore = | elevation = | islands = | cities = [[Saitual]] }} '''Ṭam Dil''' is a [[reservoir]] lake situated 6 km from [[Saitual]], the nearest town, and 110 km from [[Aizawl]], the capital city of [[Mizoram]], [[India]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Saitual History, Population of Saitual, Hospitals in Saitual, Saitual |url=https://saitual.mizoramonline.in/guide/about-saitual |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250117205331/https://saitual.mizoramonline.in/guide/about-saitual |archive-date=17 January 2025 |access-date=2025-07-14 |website=saitual.mizoramonline.in |language=en |url-status=live }}</ref> Acquired by the Fisheries Department of the Government of Mizoram, it is maintained as a fish rearing site. Also as a tourist attraction, a holiday resort is maintained by the Tourism Department.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=Tamdil (Tam Lake) {{!}} Aizawl District, Government of Mizoram {{!}} India |url=https://aizawl.nic.in/tourist-place/tamdil/ |access-date=2025-07-14 |publisher=National Informatics Centre, Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology, Government of Indi |language=en-US}}</ref>
The natural lake has attracted biodiversity researchers and contains several unique and rare species, particularly of amphibians and snakes. A unique frog, ''[[Leptobrachella tamdil]]'' was discovered in 2010.<ref name=":2">{{cite journal |vauthors=Sengupta A, Sailo S, Lalremsanga HT, Das A, Das I |year=2010 |title=A new species of ''Leptolalax'' (Anura: Megophryidae) from Mizoram, north-eastern India |url=https://www.mapress.com/zootaxa/2010/f/z02406p068f.pdf |journal=Zootaxa |volume=2406 |pages=57–68 |doi=10.11646/zootaxa.2406.1.3}}</ref> A novel species of snake, ''Smithophis mizoramensis'' was reported in 2024.<ref name=":4">{{Cite journal |last1=Mirza |first1=Zeeshan A. |last2=Bhardwaj |first2=Virender K. |last3=Lalmuanawma |first3=Jote Chawntual |last4=Choure |first4=Girish |last5=Lalremsanga |first5=Hmar Tlawmte |last6=Vabeiryureilai |first6=Mathipi |last7=Captain |first7=Ashok |last8=Zagade |first8=Akshay |last9=Patel |first9=Harshil |date=2024-08-07 |title=A New Species of Smithophis Giri et al. 2019 from the Indo-Burma Region |journal=Diversity |language=en |volume=16 |issue=8 |pages=480 |doi=10.3390/d16080480 |bibcode=2024Diver..16..480M |issn=1424-2818 |doi-access=free }}</ref>
== Name == In [[Mizo language]], the word ''Ṭam'' is a [[contraction (grammar)|contraction]] of ''anṭam'', which means a [[mustard plant]]; and ''Dil'' means "lake".<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{cite book |last=K. C. Kabra |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0PcdaYllHNUC&q=Lawngtlai |title=Economic Growth of Mizoram: Role of Business & Industry |publisher=Concept Publishing Company |year=2008 |isbn=9788180695186 |page=74}}</ref>
=== Origin and etymology === The origin and [[etymology]] of Ṭam Dil are shrouded in [[myth]]. [[Folklore]] has it that a married couple had a [[Slash-and-burn|jhum plot]] in this small valley surrounded by small steep hills. The man unfortunately died leaving the wife to care for the crops alone. In the middle of the field was a robust mustard plant, conspicuously bigger than any other plants. One night the widow has a [[Apparitional experience|visitation]] by her husband, who informed her to take special care of the giant mustard plant as it was a harbinger of immense blessing. On the wake, she did as told, and the plant thrived very well.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":3">{{cite web |author=Department of Tourism |year=2012 |title=Tam Dil |url=http://tourism.mizoram.gov.in/page/tam-dil-13-01-08.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130703225250/http://tourism.mizoram.gov.in/page/tam-dil-13-01-08.html |archive-date=3 July 2013 |accessdate=2013-07-01 |work=tourism.mizoram.gov.in |publisher=Government of Mizoram}}</ref>
As time went, the widow remarried but the new husband objected to any thing reminiscence of the deceased husband, and so he plucked the plant up by the roots and discarded it. The vast hole left in the ground was then soon filled by water (seeping from the plant, according to some versions; from the ground itself, in another version) to become an exquisite lake. Hence the name of Ṭam Dil, for the "lake of the mustard".<ref name=":3" /><ref>{{cite web |author=Caper |date= |title=Lakes in Mizoram |url=https://www.capertravelindia.com/mizoram/lakes-mizoram.html |accessdate=2013-07-01 |work=capertravelindia.com |publisher=CAPER TRAVEL COMPANY(P) LTD.}}</ref>
== Fauna == Biodiversity scientists started faunal exploration in the early 2000s.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Ramanujam |first=S.N. |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=VmtAUKHcjysC&dq=tamdil+saitual&pg=PA61 |title=Aquatic Biodiversity in India: The Present Scenario |date=2005 |publisher=Daya Publishing House |isbn=978-81-7035-367-6 |editor-last=Khanna |editor-first=Dev Raj |location=New Delhi (India) |pages=61–80 |language=en |chapter=Biodiversity of aquatic fauna of Mizoram: Present scenario}}</ref> A new species of frog called Ṭam Dil leaf litter frog (''Leptobrachella tamdil,'' originally named ''Leptolalax tamdil<ref name=":2" />'') was discovered in 2007 from this lake and described in 2010.<ref name=":02">{{Cite web |title=Saitual History, Population of Saitual, Hospitals in Saitual, Saitual |url=https://saitual.mizoramonline.in/guide/about-saitual |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250117205331/https://saitual.mizoramonline.in/guide/about-saitual |archive-date=17 January 2025 |access-date=2025-07-14 |website=saitual.mizoramonline.in |language=en |url-status=live }}</ref> A rare species of Assam Kukri snake, ''Oligodon catenatus'' was discovered in 2020.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Lalbiakzuala |last2=Lalremsanga |first2=Hmar Tlawmte |date=2020 |title=Rediscovery of Oligodon catenatus (Blyth, 1854) (Squamata: Colubridae) from India |url=https://biostor.org/reference/286477 |journal=Amphibian & Reptile Conservation |volume=14 |issue=3 |pages=226–230}}</ref> In 2024, a new species of snake, ''Smithophis mizoramensis'' was discovered.<ref name=":4" />
==Tourism==
The lake is reconstructed as part of building a fishing reservoir by the Fisheries Department, Government of Mizoram. In an attempt to promote and develop the destination, lake-side resorts are maintained by the Tourism Department in partnership with ZX Eden offering boating, kayaking and other adventure activities for kids and adults.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":3" />
==See also==
* [[Tourism in Mizoram]]
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * [http://mizotourism.nic.in/tamdil.htm Tam Dil ] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120429101702/http://mizotourism.nic.in/tamdil.htm |date=29 April 2012 }}
{{Mizoram}} {{Hydrography of Mizoram}}
[[Category:Tourist attractions in Mizoram]] [[Category:Landforms of Mizoram]] [[Category:Reservoirs in India]]