Khayang Lake (sometimes called Kachouphung Lake) sits about 12 km from Ukhrul town at high altitude in the Naga Hills, surrounded by a mix of pine and broadleaf forest. The lake is calm, reed-fringed, and popular with local families on weekends. For visitors, the main draw is the birdlife — the forest around the lake sits in the Indo-Myanmar biodiversity hotspot, and patient observation can turn up a range of species not found further west.
The drive or walk to the lake passes through Tangkhul villages where you can see traditional longhouses and, if you time it right, women weaving the distinctive striped Tangkhul shawls. There are no facilities at the lake itself, so bring food and water. Best visited in the morning when the light is good for birdwatching.