Umiam Lake Monastery
Artificial reservoir near Shillong popular for watersports
Umiam (Barapani) is a reservoir near Shillong in Meghalaya, created by damming the Umiam River; visitors come for boating, watersports and hilltop viewpoints of the Khasi hills.
Umiam Lake at a Glance#
Address: Umiam Lake (Barapani), near Shillong, Meghalaya, India
Hours: Public area accessible daily; commercial activities vary by operator (typically 8:00am-6:00pm)
Admission: Boat tours and local activities vary in price; Umiam Lake (Barapani) has nearby recreation fees for boating and eateries charge for services.
About Umiam Lake#
Umiam Lake, locally known as Barapani, is a reservoir in Meghalaya in northeastern India formed by damming the Umiam River. It is a major regional recreational area and a visible water resource for the Shillong region.
The lake is popular for boating and water-based recreation and has lakeside viewpoints and picnic spots; commercial operators run boating, kayaking and similar activities in the main reservoir. Hills surround much of the shoreline, providing panoramic views of the water and nearby plantations.
The lake was formed in the 1960s when a dam was constructed on the Umiam River to create a reservoir for hydropower and regional water management; since then it has developed a recreational and tourism role in addition to its original utility function.
Umiam Lake sits in Meghalaya state, approximately 15 kilometres north of Shillong, surrounded by forested hills and plantations in the Shillong Plateau area.
- Proximity to Shillong: lies roughly 15 kilometres north of Shillong and is widely known locally as Barapani; the reservoir was created in the 1960s by damming the Umiam River.
How to Get to Umiam Lake#
Umiam Lake is about 15-20 km north of Shillong city centre; travel by taxi or local buses from Shillong takes roughly 30-45 minutes depending on traffic. The nearest airport is Shillong Airport (Umroi) about an hour’s drive away; Guwahati’s Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport (GAU) is about 3-4 hours by road.
Tips for Visiting Umiam Lake#
- Visit the lake around sunrise or late afternoon for softer light and to avoid mid-day crowds.
- Boat availability can vary-confirm operating hours with lakeside vendors before planning a trip.
- Combine a visit with Shillong city tours-the lake is about 15-20 minutes from central Shillong.
Best Time to Visit Umiam Lake#
October-February is ideal for clear skies and comfortable lake visits; monsoon months bring heavy rain and fewer services.
Weather & Climate near Umiam Lake#
Umiam Lake's climate is classified as Humid Subtropical (Dry Winter) - Humid Subtropical (Dry Winter) climate with warm summers (peaking in August) and cool winters (coldest in January). Temperatures range from 7°C to 26°C. Heavy rainfall (4631 mm/year), wettest in July with a pronounced dry season.
| Month | Comfort | Temp | Feels | Rain | Sky | Humidity | Wind | UV | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Excellent | 7° - 18° | 12° | 12 mm | mostly sunny | 74% | 0.9 m/s | 0.9 moderate | 10.6h |
| February | Excellent | 9° - 20° | 14° | 24 mm | mostly sunny | 68% | 1.0 m/s | 1.2 high | 11.2h |
| March | Very Good | 13° - 24° | 18° | 102 mm | some cloud | 66% | 1.5 m/s | 1.5 high | 11.9h |
| April | Good | 16° - 26° | 21° | 263 mm | partly cloudy | 78% | 1.9 m/s | 1.7 very high | 12.6h |
| May | Good | 18° - 26° | 22° | 472 mm | overcast | 85% | 1.7 m/s | 1.7 very high | 13.3h |
| June | Good | 20° - 26° | 23° | 1025 mm | overcast | 90% | 1.6 m/s | 1.5 very high | 13.6h |
| July | Good | 20° - 26° | 23° | 1195 mm | overcast | 92% | 1.6 m/s | 1.6 very high | 13.4h |
| August | Good | 20° - 26° | 23° | 746 mm | overcast | 91% | 1.2 m/s | 1.7 very high | 12.9h |
| September | Good | 19° - 26° | 23° | 504 mm | overcast | 91% | 0.9 m/s | 1.5 very high | 12.2h |
| October | Very Good | 17° - 25° | 21° | 239 mm | partly cloudy | 86% | 0.9 m/s | 1.4 high | 11.4h |
| November | Excellent | 13° - 22° | 17° | 40 mm | mostly sunny | 82% | 0.8 m/s | 1.1 high | 10.8h |
| December | Excellent | 9° - 19° | 14° | 9 mm | mostly sunny | 79% | 0.9 m/s | 0.9 moderate | 10.4h |