The Umiam lake economy: Meghalaya’s water sports hub diversifies

The reservoir at Umiam, once a scenic stop on the road to Shillong, has become an economy of its own: kayaking schools, houseboats, a lakeside food park and a watersports festival that packs the shore.

The state’s tourism board has leased operations to local cooperatives, and the lake’s villages now run the parking, the food and the first aid.

Officials estimate the lake economy now employs 800 people directly.