A horseshoe-shaped artificial lake in the centre of Shillong, ringed by a paved walking path with footbridges and flowerbeds. It dates from 1894 and is the closest thing the city has to a central park. Locals come here for evening walks; you can hire a paddleboat for half an hour or feed the fish from the wooden bridge.
The botanical garden next door is small but worth the entry fee, especially in spring when the rhododendrons are out. Ward's Lake is also the easiest place to gauge Shillong's daily rhythm — students after class, families at weekends, joggers at first light.