Umiam Lake

Umiam Lake, also known as Barapani Lake, is a large artificial reservoir located at Umiam, about 15 km north of Shillong in Ri-Bhoi district, Meghalaya. Created in the early 1960s by damming the Umiam River for hydroelectric power generation, it is surrounded by pine-covered hills. The lake is a major tourism and water sports destination in Meghalaya, known for its scenic expanse, boating facilities and Lum Nehru Park.

Visitors can expect a large, scenic reservoir surrounded by forested hills with calm blue waters. The main visitor area is the Umiam Lake Water Sports Complex and Lum Nehru Park, which offer viewpoints, landscaped gardens, and boating jetties. Visitors can view the lake from roadside viewpoints, take pedal boats, row boats, speed boats and kayaks, and enjoy photography and picnicking. The area is developed for day tourism with food stalls and park facilities.

Umiam Lake was created in the early 1960s by damming the Umiam River as part of the Umiam-Umtru Hydroelectric Power Project. The dam was constructed to generate hydroelectric power for Meghalaya and Assam, with the first stage commissioned in 1965. The reservoir submerged a large valley area and became the state's first major hydroelectric reservoir.

The lake is a major recreational and tourism hub for Meghalaya and a key water resource for the Shillong area. It is commonly called Barapani (meaning big water) by locals and is central to leisure culture around Shillong for boating, picnics and lakeside gatherings.