Barapani Lake: A Jewel in Meghalaya

The Barapani Lake walkway

The 100 kilometers drive from Assam’s capital city Guwahati to Meghalaya’s capital, Shillong, is a memorable sojourn through pristine nature. The journey is a vivacious blend of transcending nature that changes all too smoothy, from the typical rain forests to that of an alpine region. Assam’s typical bamboo and beatlenut trees disappear along the way as pine trees make a dramatic entry. As you move deep inside Meghalaya, almost about 17 kilometers from Shillong, nature showcases a beauty: the Barapani Lake – India’s largest artificial fresh water lake and a traveller’s delight. Barapani is known as Umiam Khwan and it is about 17 kilometers from Shillong.

Mist settled over the Lake in a winter morning

Nestled between low lying mountains on all sides, the Barapani lake is Meghalaya’s key hydro-electric project. The late offers water sports facilities like sailing, water skiing and water scooter driving. There are quite a few tourist resorts in the vicinity. The Orchid Lake Resort and the adjacent Lum Nehru Park offers a memorable holiday for visitors.

The morning sun brightens the lake
Barapani lake has facilities for water-sports

A view of the hydro-electric unit in Barapani