Umiam Lake is a vast, beautiful reservoir nestled in the pine-covered hills between Guwahati and Shillong — a 220 sq km expanse of water that serves as both Meghalaya's primary water sports destination and one of the most scenic highway stopovers in Northeast India.

Created by the damming of the Umiam River for a hydroelectric project in the 1960s, the reservoir has matured into a stunning natural-feeling lake surrounded by forests and rolling hills. The Meghalaya Tourism water sports complex on its banks offers boating, kayaking, water scooters, and pedal boats — making Umiam a popular family destination and adventure hub.

The drive along NH06 between Guwahati and Shillong passes directly alongside Umiam, and the views of the lake at golden hour — its surface turning amber and rose against forested hillsides — are among the most photogenic scenes on any road in the Northeast.