Ward's Lake (Shillong) Explained

Ward's Lake
Location:Shillong, Meghalaya, India
Pushpin Map:India Meghalaya#India
Pushpin Map Alt:Location of Ward's Lake
Pushpin Map Caption:Location of Ward's Lake
Coords:25.575°N 91.887°W
Type:Lake
Basin Countries:India
Islands:1
Cities:Shillong

Ward's Lake, locally known as Pollock Lake or Nan Polok, is an artificial lake in Shillong, Meghalaya, India. Located in the centre of the city, it is one of the most visited tourist destinations in Shillong.

History

The lake was planned by the then chief commissioner of Assam, Sir William Ward. It was designed by Fitzwilliam Thomas Pollok and built by Colonel Hopkins in 1894.[1] It is also said that the area around the lake was developed by a Khasi prisoner who did so to mitigate the monotony of his daily routine.[2]

The lake

The horse-shoe-shaped lake lies closer to the Raj Bhavan, the Governor's official residence. The lake is surrounded by a botanical garden with cobble-stone footpaths and a fountain.[1] The botanical garden has several orchids besides other floral species.[2] One of the most prominent features of the lake is a wooden bridge in the middle of the lake.[1] The lake has boating facility and a cafeteria.[1]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Ward's Lake . n.d. . East Khasi Hills District . Government of Meghalaya . 31 December 2020 .
  2. Web site: Ward's Lake Shillong . n.d. . Tourism of India . 31 December 2020 .