Umiam Lake (Barapani)

Umiam Lake, also known as Barapani, is a large man-made reservoir created in the 1960s by damming the Umiam River. Surrounded by lush pine forests and rolling hills, the lake is one of the most scenic spots near Shillong and a popular retreat for locals and tourists alike.

The lake offers a wide range of water sports — kayaking, boating, water scooter rides, and pedal boats. The Meghalaya tourism department runs a well-maintained water sports complex on the lake's edge. On calm mornings, the water reflects the pine hills like a mirror, creating unforgettable photographs.

The drive to Umiam along NH6 is itself beautiful — pine and rhododendron forests lining both sides of the road, with the lake occasionally glimpsed through the trees. Sunset at Umiam is particularly magical, when the sky turns gold and peach over the water.