Umiam Lake

The Umiam Lake also called Barapani is an artificial lake in the Meghalaya state of India. It was established as the water storage reservoir in the early 1960s when the construction of hydroelectric scheme was planned and it has evolved over the years becoming vital as tourist as well as utility attraction in the region. Located in the district of East Khasi Hills, Umiam Lake occupies an area of about 220 square kilometers; therefore, it is one of the most beautiful resort hills for tourists and recreation lovers.

The scenery of Umiam Lake is also rather picturesque: like hills, forests, clear water that can be noted from the lake. This water body is encompassed by hills which are green on all the sides and therefore can be said to form a sort of bowl to the place lending it a magical look. The color of the waters in Umiam is deep blue, the water body is clear as a mirror, which merges with the blue sky completion with the green forests nearby is hard to be described by words, but it needs to be seen adding few tints of an seasonal miracle. During monsoon season, there are thick clouds with somewhat fairy like- appearance where the focus is taken off the surrounding of the lake while in the dry season, the sky is clear and the sun can make you want to plunge into any water.

Rapid grow of plants and animals in the given region mostly contribute to the nurturing of aquatic plants and animals around the lake. These woods nest a large number of avian species and thus the site, in its basic sense, invites birders. The enumerated plants like the orchids contribute to beautifying the area and giving it more functionality in terms of ecology. The shores of Umiam lake which has been marked with small tribes and resorts will enable the tourists to feel the local folk and necessary food habits.

Umiam Lake is located near the capital of Meghalaya, Shillong and the distance between both locations is quite small. The lake is approximately 15 kms from Shillong and is best accessed by car or any other form of road transport. It only takes about 30 minutes on the car and while on the journey, you are able to have views of the hills and the valley. The road is black-top and it passes through nursery watered vegetation and there are many scenic areas to park and just enjoy the beautiful scenes.

On the way to Umiam Lake, tourists have several attractions that they can visit, for example; Shillong Peak – this gives a topographical view of the entire city and the surrounding areas, Elephant Falls – it consists of waterfalls that are worth a visit by nature lovers. The approach to the Umiam Lake is also dotted with food joints and restaurants that offer local dishes and drinks.