An Overview of Himachal Pradesh district Kangra Part XVI , Tourist places in district Kangra Continued

 An Overview of Himachal Pradesh district Kangra Part XVI , Tourist places in district Kangra Continued   :-  

One Another among beautiful tourist destinations  is Pong Dam reservoir named as Maharana Pratap Sagar ,. It one of the Ramsar wetland sites  in Himachal Pradesh other two are Chandra Taal in Lahul and Spiti and third one Renuka wetland Ramsar site in district Sirmaur .

Maharana pratap Sagar in  district Kangra Himachal Pradesh 

It is winter home to Syberian  migratory birds . The migratory birds come here every year in lacs of count . Very beautiful site from tourism point of view . 

Alpine goats grazing 

The construction of Pong Dam on river Beas just up stream of Talwara in district Kangra, Himachal , which was started in 1960and completed in 1974 has resulted  a 42 Km long and 2 Km wide beautiful lake spreading from Pong dam to Dehra , declared as Ramsar conservation site on 19-08-2002 . 

Pong Dam reservoir Landscapes 

The lake has an area about 307.29 square Kilometres. The lake is also called Pong dam lake or Pong Lake. The lake is now named as Maharana Pratap Sagar on the name of great warrior Maharana Pratap. The lake was declared a sanctuary in 1983. The pong dam lake is a loving place for migratory waterbirds. 

Lake view , Wildlife sanctuary Pong Dam Ramsar wetland 

Pong dam wetlands are major habitat for migratory waterbirds. On the onset of winters, thousands of migratory waterbirds from central and North Asia start arriving at Pong dam lake for their annual sojourn. Annually more then one lac migratory waterbirds about 115  species are roosting and feeding in pong dam lake. 

Beautiful View of Water birds near the lake .

Rednecked grebe Sweeming in the Lake

Red necked grebe is found only in Bharatpur in Rajasthan and Pong dam in India. Due to increase in numbers of birds , the pong dam lake has gained international importance. 

Beautiful View of Water birds 

In addition to the migratory waterbirds the sanctuary is supporting the fauna including mammals such as barking deer , sambhar, wild bear, fox, reptiles and nilgai etc. Some beautiful views are given below. 

View of Nilgai in the wildlife sanctuary                      

Sanbhar in wildlife sanctuary                        

Barking deer                             

Barking Deer 

Sambhar                                 

Above 440 metres from mean sea level in five Km radius of lake area about 20,000 hect. has been notified as buffer Zone. Unauthorized cultivation , cattle grazing and other unscientific activities around the lake is causing problems of silting in the lake. 

Bathu Lari Temples submerged in water 

Some salient feature are :- 

1. About 95 villages have been displaced and about 20,000 hect. of land was acquired for this project by Bhakra Beas Management Board. 

2. It is an earthen dam known as Beas Dam. The dam volume is 35,500,000 cubic metres. 

3. The catchment area of lake is 12561 square km. 

4. Capacity of Lake is 8570,000,000 cubic metres. 

5. Spillway capacity :- 12375 cubic metres per second. 

6. Surface area :- 240 square km in Normal. and 450 square km during floods. 

7. Surface elevation :- 436 metres from mean sea level. 

8. Height of Dam :- 133 metres. 

9. Max. Depth of water :-  97.84 metres. 

Panoramic view of the Lake

Near Dehra and Gaj Kund moderate number of water birds can be observed, the scenic beauty of the entire area is very much charming for nature lovers, tourists and Environmental scientists. One must enjoy the nature here. 

View of Maharana Pratap Sagar 

Lake view near Dehra 

Youths Enjoying Lake View near Dehra 

             

Video Clip of Lake near Dehra 

                               

  See the beauty of nature        

               

                                     

View of Maharana Pratap

 Sagar 

You may reach Pong dam  from Delhi to Chandigarh then Una , Una to Amb , Mubarakpur then Pong dam by bus . If you opt by air then take a flight from Delhi to Gagal Airport Kangra   from where cab and bus facilities are available to Pong  dam vi Dehra Gopipur Chintpurni Mubarakpur Pong dam .