Ward's Lake, Shillong: History, highlights and visitor guide

History and context

The story behind Ward's Lake

The lake was commissioned by Sir William Ward and designed by Fitzwilliam Thomas Pollok, with construction completed under Colonel Hopkins in 1894 as a recreational space for Shillong's then-British administration. It remains known locally by its Khasi name, Nan Polok, alongside the English name Ward's Lake, and the surrounding botanical garden was developed alongside it in the same period.

Useful facts

Ward's Lake facts at a glance

Location

Central Shillong, near Raj Bhavan

Experience type

Lake walk and botanical garden

Known for

A horseshoe-shaped lake with a central wooden bridge

Architect/Built

Designed by F. T. Pollok for Sir William Ward, built 1894

Time or schedule

Open daily; best in the early morning

Why it matters

Why Ward's Lake is worth your time

Ward's Lake was planned by Sir William Ward, then chief commissioner of Assam, and laid out by Fitzwilliam Thomas Pollok, with construction carried out under Colonel Hopkins in 1894. It was built as a recreational space for the British administration then based in Shillong, at a time when the town was being developed as the summer capital of Assam. A well-known local story credits a Khasi prisoner, said to have used his recreational hours to help dig the lake, though this belongs to local memory rather than official record.

The lake and its garden are one of the clearest surviving pieces of Shillong's colonial-era town planning, and their central, walkable location has kept them in daily use rather than turning them into a purely historic curiosity. For visitors, it is a useful anchor point for understanding how the old British hill station sat alongside, and eventually grew into, the Khasi city around it.

Highlights

What not to miss

1. 01

   The wooden bridge

   A timber footbridge crosses the lake at its narrowest point, giving a view down both arms of the horseshoe shape.

2. 02

   The botanical garden

   Paved paths loop through shrub and seasonal flower beds surrounding the water on all sides.

3. 03

   Paddle boats

   Hire boats let you circle the lake slowly at water level, a popular option for families.

Plan your visit

How to experience it

Come in the first hour after opening, when the lake is still and the garden paths are close to empty. Walk the horseshoe-shaped perimeter, cross the timber bridge that splits the lake roughly in half, and take a slow circuit of the surrounding botanical garden, which is planted with local shrubs and seasonal flowers rather than anything showy. Geese and ducks are usually working the shallows near the bridge, and it is a favourite spot for local photographers in the early light.

If you have half an hour to spare, hire one of the paddle boats and take a lap of the water at your own pace; it is a gentle way to see the garden from a different angle and popular with families. The lake sits close to Raj Bhavan, the Governor's residence, so the immediate area is quiet and well kept compared with the bustle of Police Bazar a short drive away.

Most visitors treat Ward's Lake as the calm opening to a longer day rather than a destination in itself, pairing it with a nearby cathedral visit or a walk into Police Bazar afterwards. It works equally well as a quiet last stop before heading back to a hotel in the evening.

Know before you go

Timing, access and comfort

Area

Near Raj Bhavan, central Shillong

Time needed

30–60 minutes

Best time

Early morning, before school and office crowds arrive; also pleasant in the late afternoon

Walking level

Easy

Senior comfort

The perimeter path is flat, paved and shaded, with benches at regular intervals around the water. The wooden bridge has a gentle camber rather than steps, and the paddle boats are optional rather than part of the walk.

Tickets and access

A small entry fee applies at the gate, with paddle boats charged separately by the half hour. Check the current fee board at the entrance; it changes from time to time.

Plan it with

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