Phulhar Lake

Phulhar Lake, also called Pangaiti Phulhar Tal or Gomat Tal, lies near Madhotanda in Pilibhit district, Uttar Pradesh. It is believed to be where the Gomti River begins its course, fed by monsoon rain and groundwater.

The lake is notable for its turtles: 12 of the 26 turtle species found in India live here, seven of them on Schedule I of India's 1972 Wildlife Protection Act. Among them is a large population of the Indian softshell turtle, itself a Schedule I species, and the lake's turtles have prompted a conservation initiative.