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Geese swimming on the clear blue water of Ward's Lake with a footbridge, green trees and a grassy shore behind
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Photo: ANKAN · CC BY-SA 4.0
lake5 min from Shillong

Ward's Lake, Shillong — the horseshoe lake and garden in the town centre

Ward's Lake, also called Nan Polok, the artificial horseshoe lake of 1894 in the middle of Shillong, with its botanical garden, wooden bridge and boating.

What it is

Ward's Lake, Nan Polok to the Khasi, is an artificial lake in the centre of Shillong. Wikipedia describes it as horseshoe-shaped and one of the most visited places in the town, with the Governor's Raj Bhavan not far off.

Photos: Udayan Singh (CC0) · Indrani911basu (CC BY-SA 4.0) — via Wikimedia Commons, resized.

History

The lake was planned by Sir William Ward, who was then the chief commissioner of Assam, designed by Fitzwilliam Thomas Pollok, with Colonel Hopkins as builder, in 1894. A local story says a Khasi prisoner laid out the surrounding ground to pass the long days; Wikipedia gives it only as hearsay.

What you see

A garden of cobbled footpaths around the water, with orchids and other flowers, a fountain, a wooden bridge halfway across the lake and a cafeteria beside it. You can go out on the water in a boat.

Getting there

It is in the middle of the town, so most people walk; our measured road time is in the quick facts. We have no verified opening hours, boat prices or entry rules.

Combine it with

The Cathedral of Mary Help of Christians is a short drive away, and the one-day plan starts with the lake. Read things to do in Shillong and when to visit Shillong.

Plans that include this

All 2 plans that stop here →
Geese swimming on the clear blue water of Ward's Lake with a footbridge, green trees and a grassy shore behind
One day in Shillong — the peak, Elephant Falls, Ward's Lake and the cathedral
Day plan · First visit · Classic
A one-day Shillong plan: Shillong Peak, Elephant Falls, Ward's Lake and the Art Deco Cathedral of Mary Help of Christians, with road times. Free to copy.
Best Jan–Mar · Oct–Dec
See the plan →
An aerial view of Umiam Lake with its forested peninsulas and green water under a blue sky with white cloud
Two days in Shillong — the town, the falls, the lake and the sacred grove
1 night · 2 days · First visit · leisure
A two-day Shillong plan: Ward's Lake, the cathedral, a museum and Elephant Falls, then Shillong Peak, Umiam Lake and the Mawphlang sacred grove. Free to copy.
Best Jan–Mar · Oct–Dec
See the plan →

Nearby places

All of Shillong →
Cathedral of Mary Help of Christians, Shillong — the Art Deco cathedral
Cathedral of Mary Help of Christians, Shillong — the Art Deco cathedral
temple · 849 m away
Shillong Peak — the highest point in Meghalaya
Shillong Peak — the highest point in Meghalaya
viewpoint · 3.3 km away
Elephant Falls, Shillong — the tiered waterfall in the ferns
Elephant Falls, Shillong — the tiered waterfall in the ferns
waterfall · 7.8 km away
Umiam Lake — the reservoir on the Guwahati road
Umiam Lake — the reservoir on the Guwahati road
lake · 8.7 km away
Mawphlang Sacred Grove — the Khasi forest kept for the forest spirit
Mawphlang Sacred Grove — the Khasi forest kept for the forest spirit
area · 21 km away
Nohkalikai Falls, Cherrapunji — India's tallest plunge waterfall
Nohkalikai Falls, Cherrapunji — India's tallest plunge waterfall
waterfall · 39 km away
Nohsngithiang Falls, Cherrapunji — the Seven Sisters waterfall
Nohsngithiang Falls, Cherrapunji — the Seven Sisters waterfall
waterfall · 40 km away

Nearby destinations

All destinations →
A deep, steep-sided green valley filled with low grey cloud seen from the Mawkdok Dympep viewpoint near Cherrapunji
Cherrapunji
37 km away · 2 itineraries · 3 places
Pastel-coloured buildings of Gangtok climbing a steep, forested hillside, seen from a viewpoint across the valley
Gangtok
379 km away · 4 itineraries · 11 places
Roofs and hotels of Darjeeling spreading down a steep ridge under distant blue mountain ranges and soft cloud
Darjeeling
396 km away · 3 itineraries · 10 places
A long snow-covered Kanchenjunga ridge in blue morning light above dark forested hills with a few wisps of cloud
Pelling
411 km away · 3 itineraries · 8 places
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Questions people ask

What is Ward's Lake in Shillong?

An artificial horseshoe-shaped lake in the middle of Shillong, known locally as Nan Polok or Pollock Lake. Wikipedia says it was planned by Sir William Ward, the chief commissioner of Assam, designed by Fitzwilliam Thomas Pollok, with Colonel Hopkins as builder, in 1894. The Raj Bhavan, where the Governor lives, is a short way off.

What can you do at Ward's Lake?

Walk its cobbled paths through a botanical garden with orchids and other plants, cross the wooden bridge halfway across the lake, and take a boat. Wikipedia mentions a fountain and a cafeteria next to the water. We have no verified opening hours, boat prices or entry rules, so ask locally.

How far is Ward's Lake from the centre of Shillong?

It is in the middle of the town, about 5 minutes by road on our routing from the hub point, so it is usually walked to. Wikipedia calls it one of the most visited places in Shillong. It pairs easily with the cathedral, which is a short drive away, in the Laitumkhrah area.