Thadlaskein Lake, Jowai: the hand-dug lake of Jaintia Hills

Thadlaskein Lake, also known as Pung Sajar Nangli, is a quiet man-made lake in the West Jaintia Hills district of Meghalaya, set in low pine-covered hills a short way before Jowai town. It is one of those places people stop at rather than set out for: a calm sheet of water ringed by meadows, a few hours’ picnic on the Shillong–Jowai road. What lifts it above an ordinary roadside halt is its story, a local tradition that the lake was dug by hand, and the gentle Jaintia-hills setting around it. This guide covers the lake, its legend, when to go, how to reach it and what else lies close by.

Thadlaskein Lake, also called Pung Sajar Nangli, is a man-made historical lake near Mukhla village in West Jaintia Hills district, Meghalaya, roughly 8–10 km before Jowai and about 55–60 km from Shillong. Local tradition says followers of the Jaintia general U Sajar Nangli dug it with the ends of their bows.

About Thadlaskein Lake (Pung Sajar Nangli)

Thadlaskein Lake is a man-made historical lake near Mukhla village in West Jaintia Hills district, Meghalaya, beside the main Shillong–Jowai highway. English Wikipedia, citing the Meghalaya Department of Tourism, describes it as “a man-made historical lake” and gives its other name as Pung Sajar Nangli, after the leader linked to its creation.

The lake sits in the Pnar (Jaintia) heartland of eastern Meghalaya, in gently rolling country of meadows and pine. West Jaintia Hills became a separate district on 31 July 2012, with Jowai as its headquarters, so the lake is now firmly within this district rather than the old undivided Jaintia Hills.

Two names cause confusion. “Thadlaskein” is the lake and the nearby locality; “Pung Sajar Nangli” is the older descriptive name, roughly the pool (pung) of Sajar Nangli. Both refer to the same water body. This guide uses Thadlaskein Lake throughout, with Pung Sajar Nangli noted on first mention.

The legend of U Sajar Nangli and the 290 followers

According to local tradition, Thadlaskein Lake was dug by hand by the followers of U Sajar Nangli, a rebel general of the Jaintia king, using only the ends of their bows. The West Jaintia Hills police district page records the belief that the lake “was dug by the army of U Sajar Nangli using only the tips of their bows and arrows.” This is a cherished legend, not a documented event, and it should be read as such.

The Jowai record adds a fuller version. It holds that the lake was dug with the ends of bows by members of 290 clans loyal to U Sajar Nangli, to mark a great exodus of those clans away from the king’s court. Some retellings describe the group stopping to rest after a long journey and scooping the hollow with the ends of their arrows before moving on. The exact number and the tool vary between tellings, as oral histories do.

Sajar Nangli himself is remembered as a medieval Jaintia leader who broke with the ruling king. The legend reads as a story about loyalty and departure as much as about engineering: the point is that hundreds of people made the lake together, by hand, as an act of common will. Treat the “290 clans” and the bow-end detail as tradition recorded in local sources, and enjoy the tale on those terms.

Older accounts also describe a living ritual link. One widely repeated description says the Niamtre and Raid Mukhla communities continue to regard the lake as sacred, with a sacrifice performed about once in a hundred years, led by a Lyngdoh (an indigenous priest). This appears in a single travel reference rather than an official source, so it is noted here as reported belief, not confirmed fact. Visitors should treat the lake and any observance around it with respect.

Best time to visit Thadlaskein Lake

The comfortable time to visit Thadlaskein Lake is the dry, cool stretch from roughly October to April, when skies are clearer and the picnic meadows are not waterlogged. One travel reference describes the lake as being “in full glory during the months of September to May,” which fits the same window. Jowai’s monsoon, from about June to September, is heavy, and the Jaintia Hills are among the wettest parts of India, so plan around the rain.

Jowai sits high, around 1,365–1,380 m, so even summer stays mild and winter mornings are chilly. Published climate figures for Jowai put January at roughly 2–19°C and July at about 16–27°C. For a lakeside picnic, a clear, dry day between October and April is ideal; carry a light layer for the morning and evening.

How to reach Thadlaskein Lake

You reach Thadlaskein Lake by road, on the Shillong–Jowai highway about 8–10 km before Jowai town; there is no railway or airport at the lake itself. The Jaintia Hills council records place it on the highway at roughly 8 km from Jowai and about 56 km from Shillong, while the Meghalaya Police district page describes Thadlaskein village as 10 km from Jowai. Treat the figures as approximate and allow for slow mountain driving.

By air, the nearest airport is Shillong Airport at Umroi (about 30 km from Shillong city), which has limited flights; most travellers use Guwahati’s Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport, the region’s main hub, and drive on. By rail, the nearest major station is Guwahati, which Jowai references place roughly 150–160 km away; from there it is a long but straightforward road journey via Shillong.

On the road itself, the lake lies on the left as you drive from Shillong towards Jowai, set a little below the highway. Shared Tata Sumos and taxis run frequently between Shillong and Jowai and can drop you at the turn; a private cab gives you time to stop properly. For planning the wider trip, see our Shillong travel guide and the broader Meghalaya travel guide.

Picnic, boating and the pine-hill setting

The main thing to do at Thadlaskein Lake is slow down: sit on the grassy banks, walk the shoreline and treat it as a picnic halt rather than a ticketed attraction. The lake is a broad, calm sheet of fresh water fringed by meadows and pine-covered slopes, and travel descriptions note rare orchids growing in the vicinity. It reflects the surrounding hills on a still day, which is the reason most people stop.

Boating is sometimes available on the lake, usually small paddle or row boats run informally on site. Reports are inconsistent, so treat boating as a maybe rather than a certainty; some visitors have found no boats operating. The Jaintia Hills council records also note that an annual fishing competition is held at the lake, with prizes, which points to a healthy fish population and a lively local calendar around the water.

Beyond the lake edge, the appeal is simply the Jaintia-hills landscape: open country, pine, and the ordinary rhythm of a Pnar village nearby. It is an easy place for families and for a break on the Shillong–Jowai drive, not a place that needs half a day.

Jaintia Hills culture and festivals

Thadlaskein Lake sits in the land of the Pnar (Jaintia) people, whose biggest festival is Behdienkhlam, held mainly at Jowai. English Wikipedia describes Behdienkhlam as “a major festival of the Pnars” and a four-day event that falls in July, after the sowing season, to drive away disease and pray for a good harvest. Its best-known sights are the tall decorated structures (rots) and the rough-and-tumble around a sacred pool.

Visiting during Behdienkhlam means a very different, crowded and energetic Jowai, worth planning for if your dates line up, though July is deep in the monsoon. Outside festival time, the Jaintia Hills show their culture more quietly: in markets, in the sacred groves the community protects, and in the monoliths and memorials around Jowai and Nartiang. Treat ceremonies and sacred sites as living practice, and ask before photographing people.

A suggested day out from Shillong or Jowai

Thadlaskein Lake works best as one stop on a Jaintia Hills day, not a destination on its own. A common plan from Shillong is a loop towards Jowai, taking in the lake, Jowai’s riverside Syntu Ksiar, and either the Nartiang monoliths or Krang Suri Falls, depending on how far you want to drive.

• Morning: Leave Shillong early, drive towards Jowai (about 2 hours) and stop at Thadlaskein Lake before the town for a picnic breakfast and a walk around the water.
• Midday: Continue into Jowai; see Syntu Ksiar on the Myntdu river and the Kiang Nongbah memorial, and have lunch in town.
• Afternoon: Pick one longer leg — the Nartiang monoliths (about 30 km north of Jowai) for history, or Krang Suri Falls (about 30 km) for its turquoise pools and a swim in season.
• Evening: Drive back to Shillong, or stay overnight in Jowai to split the distance and see more of the Jaintia Hills the next day.

If you are based in Jowai, flip the order: do the falls or monoliths in the morning and keep the lake for a late-afternoon halt on the way back into town.

Where to stay

There is no hotel at Thadlaskein Lake itself, so stay in Jowai for a Jaintia Hills base or in Shillong for a wider choice. Meghalaya Tourism notes that Jowai’s main hotels sit along the town’s entry road, near Thadlaskein Lake, so a Jowai stay keeps the lake and the district’s sights within easy reach. Shillong has the region’s largest spread of hotels, guesthouses and homestays and suits those treating the lake as a day trip.

These bands are a planning estimate, not quoted tariffs, and should be reconfirmed when you book; winter is a busy tourist season in Meghalaya, so reserve early for December and January.

Food to try

Eat in Jowai, where Jaintia (Pnar) and wider Khasi–Jaintia cooking is the local staple; there is no restaurant at the lake, so carry a picnic there. The food leans towards rice with pork, chicken, fish and plenty of greens, simply spiced. A few dishes to look for:

• Jadoh (rice cooked with meat, usually pork, and local spices) — the signature Jaintia meal.
• Dohkhlieh (a salad of boiled pork, onion and chilli) — fresh and sharp.
• Tungrymbai (fermented soybean preparation) — strong-flavoured and traditional.
• Doh-neiiong (pork cooked with black sesame) — rich and nutty.
• Pumaloi (steamed powdered rice) and kyat (local rice beer, where offered) round out a Pnar meal.

Vegetarians will find rice, dal, boiled vegetables and local greens, though pork is central to the cuisine. Carry water and snacks for the lake, and take your litter away with you.

Budget for a day trip

A day trip to Thadlaskein Lake is inexpensive because the lake itself is free; the real cost is transport from Shillong or Jowai. The figures below are an indicative planning estimate for two people on a day trip from Shillong, dated October 2026, assuming a shared or private taxi, a picnic and simple meals, and small on-site spends. Reconfirm current rates before you travel.

Adding a paid attraction such as Krang Suri Falls raises the cost; that site charges a small entry and extra for life jackets and boating, so budget separately for it and treat any quoted figure as indicative until confirmed on arrival.

Permits, entry and rules

No special permit is needed to visit Thadlaskein Lake: Meghalaya does not require an Inner Line Permit for Indian travellers, and the lake is an open, public picnic spot. Visitor accounts report no entry fee at the lake, which fits its character as a roadside picnic ground rather than a ticketed site. There is no fixed closed day; you visit in daylight.

• Entry to the lake is free as reported by visitors; any parking or local collection, if charged, is small. Carry cash as a precaution and reconfirm on site (as of October 2026).
• No Inner Line Permit applies to Meghalaya for Indian citizens; foreign nationals should check current registration requirements before travel.
• Meghalaya enforces anti-littering and single-use-plastic rules in many tourist areas. Carry your waste out, especially from a picnic, and avoid single-use plastic.
• Drone use near public and sensitive sites is regulated under national rules; seek local permission before flying, and follow DGCA requirements.
• The lake has ritual significance for local communities; treat it, any shrine and any observance with respect, and ask before photographing people.

Practical tips

The lake is an easy, low-risk stop, but a few practical points help. The main hazards are ordinary: wet, slippery banks in and after the monsoon, and the open water itself, so keep a close eye on children near the edge and in any boat.

• Carry cash. Mobile network and UPI coverage can be patchy on the Jaintia Hills roads and at the lake; the nearest reliable ATMs are in Jowai.
• For medical needs, Jowai (the district headquarters) has the nearest hospital and pharmacies; carry basic first aid and personal medicines for a day out.
• There are no altitude concerns here; Jowai sits around 1,365 m, high enough to be cool but well below any altitude-sickness range.
• Pack by season: a light layer for cool mornings October–April, and full rain protection plus non-slip footwear if you travel in the monsoon.
• Solo women travellers generally report the Jaintia Hills as calm and friendly; as anywhere, prefer daylight travel, a known taxi or shared Sumo, and a clear return plan.
• Bring your own picnic and water; facilities at the lake are minimal, and the better choice of food is in Jowai.

Nearby places

Thadlaskein Lake pairs naturally with Jowai’s own sights and the wider West Jaintia Hills, from riverside memorials to tall monoliths and a turquoise waterfall. The table below lists the closest options and why they are worth adding to the day.

Frequently asked questions

Where is Thadlaskein Lake located?

Thadlaskein Lake, also called Pung Sajar Nangli, is near Mukhla village in West Jaintia Hills district, Meghalaya, beside the Shillong–Jowai highway (NH-6, formerly NH-44). It lies roughly 8–10 km before Jowai town and about 55–60 km from Shillong, set in low pine-covered hills, and makes an easy picnic halt on the drive.

Who built Thadlaskein Lake and when?

According to local tradition, Thadlaskein Lake was dug by hand by followers of U Sajar Nangli, a rebel general of the Jaintia king, using only the ends of their bows. The Jowai record ties it to 290 clans and a clan exodus, placing it in the medieval period. This is legend, recorded in local sources, rather than documented history.

What is the best time to visit Thadlaskein Lake?

The best time to visit Thadlaskein Lake is the dry, cool season from about October to April, when skies are clearer and the picnic meadows are not waterlogged. One travel source calls the lake at its best from September to May. Avoid the June–September monsoon, when the Jaintia Hills see very heavy rain and slippery ground.

Is there an entry fee or boating at Thadlaskein Lake?

Thadlaskein Lake is a free, open picnic spot, and visitors report no entry fee as of October 2026, though small parking charges may apply on site. Boating is sometimes available informally, but reports are inconsistent, so treat it as a maybe and reconfirm on arrival. The district council also notes an annual fishing competition at the lake.

How do I reach Thadlaskein Lake from Shillong?

Reach Thadlaskein Lake by road from Shillong, driving about 55–60 km (roughly 2 hours) towards Jowai on NH-6; the lake lies 8–10 km before the town. There is no railway or airport at the lake: the nearest major station is Guwahati and the usual airports are Shillong (Umroi) or Guwahati. Shared Sumos and taxis run from Shillong.

What else can I see near Thadlaskein Lake?

Near Thadlaskein Lake you can combine Jowai town and its riverside Syntu Ksiar with the Nartiang monoliths (about 30 km north) and Krang Suri Falls (about 30 km, near Amlarem), known for its turquoise pool. Ialong eco-park and sacred grove sit close to Jowai too, making an easy full-day Jaintia Hills loop from Shillong.

Last updated and sources

Go to Thadlaskein Lake if you want a calm, free picnic stop with a strong local story, best folded into a Jaintia Hills day out from Shillong or Jowai. Aim for a clear, dry day between October and April, and give the lake and its traditions the respect they hold for the community.

Last updated: 23 October 2026. Fees, timings and permits change — reconfirm with official sources before you travel.

Sources: Wikipedia, Thadlaskein Lake (used to locate the Meghalaya Tourism reference); Wikipedia, Jowai (Sajar Nangli, 290 clans legend, Behdienkhlam, connectivity); Meghalaya Police, West Jaintia Hills district (Jowai); Meghalaya Tourism, Jowai; Meghalaya Tourism, Krangshuri Falls; Incredible India, Jowai; Wikipedia, West Jaintia Hills district; IndiaNetzone, Thadlaskein Lake (reported ritual tradition, single source). Accessed October 2026.