Ward's Lake

Ward's Lake lies in the centre of Shillong, the capital of the Indian state of Meghalaya, close to the Raj Bhavan, the Governor's residence. Locally it is also called Pollock Lake or Nan Polok, and it is one of the most visited places in the city.

The lake was planned by Sir William Ward, then Chief Commissioner of Assam, when Shillong was the capital of the province. It was designed by Fitzwilliam Thomas Pollok and built under Colonel Hopkins in 1894. A local story holds that a Khasi prisoner first began work on the area around the lake to break the monotony of his daily routine.

The lake has a horseshoe shape and is surrounded by a garden with cobblestone paths, flower beds and a fountain. Orchids and other flowering plants grow in the beds. A wooden bridge crosses the middle of the lake, giving a good view of the water and the fish that gather below.

Paddle boats and rowing boats can be hired, and a cafeteria stands near the water. The garden is popular with families and walkers in the evening, and the shady paths make it pleasant even on warm days.

An entry ticket is charged, with extra fees for cameras and boating. One listing reports a weekly closure on Tuesday, while others describe the lake as open daily, so check locally before visiting.

When is Ward's Lake open? Travel listings give opening hours of about 8.30am to 5.30pm from November to February and until about 7pm from March to October. Boating runs on shorter hours, roughly 9.30am to 5pm in summer and 9.30am to 4pm in winter. Most listings put the entry fee at about INR 10 for adults and INR 5 for children and seniors, with separate charges for cameras and boats.

Shillong sits at about 1,500 metres, so the air is cool for most of the year. Spring brings flowering beds and the best light for photographs, while the monsoon from June to September keeps the gardens lush but wet.

Combining it with nearby sights. Police Bazaar, Shillong's main shopping street, is about ten minutes on foot. Lady Hydari Park, with a small zoo and Japanese-style gardens, is about 2 km to the south-east. The Don Bosco Museum of Indigenous Cultures, which covers the peoples of north-east India across seven floors, is a short taxi ride away in Mawlai.