Ward’s Lake Shillong Getting A Makeover
Ward’s Lake in Shillong is set for an ₹18 crore transformation with extended hours, a lakeside café, sound and light shows, and improved roads. The revamp aims to boost tourism and offer locals more evening leisure options.
Well, it is a right royal spruce-up isn’t it? Shillong’s beloved Ward’s Lake is about to trade in its quaint old charm for something a tad more razzle-dazzle. With a rather generous purse of ₹18 crore at its disposal, the lake is all set for a facelift that promises to knock the socks off tourists and locals alike.
Tourism Minister Paul Lyngdoh, never one to beat about the bush, announced on Thursday that the Lake will be formally handed back to the Tourism Department from the Forest and Environment chaps. “We’re taking back the keys, as it were,” he said with a twinkle, before launching into plans that could put Disneyland to shame (well, almost).
So, what’s in store? For starters, Ward’s Lake won’t be calling it a day at 5 pm anymore. “We’ll keep it open till 10 in the evening,” said the Minister, “because frankly, what’s the point of a beautiful lake if it shuts shop before teatime?” Quite right.
There’ll be a spanking new café where one might sip a cuppa and contemplate the meaning of life (or at least what to have for dinner), and – wait for it – a sound and light show! Yes, dear reader, laser beams and dramatic narration might soon be bouncing off the water, telling tales that’ll make your hair stand on end or, at the very least, mildly amuse.
And if you thought that was the end of it, there’s more. Plans include family-friendly facilities, kiddie zones, and walking paths for government employees hoping to burn off their lunch (or possibly escape their paperwork).
Of course, someone had to bring up the elephant in the room – or rather, the traffic jam on the approach road. The current route to the lake is narrower than a miser’s smile and perpetually chock-a-block with vehicles. But worry not, says our ever-optimistic Minister. “We’re widening the road,” he declared. “The footfall will double, so we’re creating space for both feet and wheels.” How jolly enterprising.
In all, it appears that Ward’s Lake is about to be transformed from a sleepy corner of Shillong to a sparkling hub of culture, coffee, and choreography. Whether you’re a weary civil servant looking for a twilight stroll, a tourist craving an Instagram-worthy snap, or a local child desperate for a playground, there’ll soon be something for everyone.
So dust off your walking shoes and prepare to be dazzled. Ward’s Lake is putting on a show — and you won’t want to miss it.
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