Umiam Lake is a man made reservoir located in Meghalaya State. The lake is located at a distance of approximately 15 Km form the capital city of Shilong. The lake is located on the Guwahati-Shillong route and the beauty of Umiam Lake makes this route one of the most scenic routes in the country.
Origin and History of Umiam Lake
Umiam lake is not a Natural lake although While driving along the Umiam lake one may be tempted to believe the otherwise. The lake covers an area of around 220 km. It was built in early 1960 by building a dam on Umiam River. There was a large scale migration of local Khasi community when the dam was built. The major purpose of building the dam was hydropower generation and providing electricity to the North-Eastern States. Apart from the generation of Electricity the water is also being used for providing irrigation facility to the North-Eastern states.
Water Sports Activities in Umiam Lake
Umiam Lake is one of the most popular destinations for water sports activities in Meghalaya. Major water sports activities offered here are:
- Water Cycling
- Kayaking
- Leisure Boating
The beautiful views and the cool breeze of the valley makes these Water sports activities an ultimate experience. The environment is very relaxing.
Drive Along the Umiam Lake
The most ultimate experience in Umiam lake is driving along the lake. The views of Umiam lake are stunning and the landscape is very beautiful. There are many small restaurants along the lake where one can sit and have a cup of tea or coffee. Local restaurants offer wide variety of local food which is a must try. The people are very nice and I totally enjoyed talking to them. The drive is highly recommended for a relaxing drive closer to the nature.
During my visit to North-East I visited many places and I Found most of them very beautiful and pristine. However the drive along the Umiam lake has been one of the most memorable one till date.
Wizards of Life! 