Govind Sagar Lake " The Unsurpassed Model Of Engineering "

The India 's third largest lake created by constructing world's largest reinforced cement concrete gravity dam on river Satluj at village Bhakra district Bilaspur, Himachal Pradesh is an "unsurpassed model of Engineering " named on the name of Shikhas 's tenth Guru Shri Guru Govind Singh "Govind Sagar. "

                           Govind Sagar View

The salient features of this man - made lake are  :-

It is created by constructing the Bhakra dam , highest in the world,  226 metres  (741 feet) high, 520 metres  ( 1700 feet) long at the top, 9.10 metres (30 feet) wide on crest and 191 metres (625 feet) wide at base. 

Temple of Modern India ,Bhakra Dam,(Pt.JawaharLal Nehru, The First Prime Minister of India) 

The Govind Sagar is spread over an area of 168.035 square Kms from Bhakra to Slappar  then Lathaiyani

in Bilaspur, Mandi and Una districts of Himachal Pradesh. The lake traverses through Lathaiyani, Raipur, Kodara Brahmnighat Jaddu Kuljar, Malraon, Dhani -Pukhar, Bagh-Chhal, Bharoli -kallan, Narlaghat, Rishikesh, Bilaspur, Kandrour, Dehar, Slappar, Jagat -Khana, Jeori- Pattan, kala -kund,  Nakrana, Khulwin and Bhakra villages. The lake has covered 88 km length  between Bhakra to Slappar. 

             View of Govind Sagar at Brahmnighat 

The Govind Sagar has 9.34 billion cubic metres water storing capacity, the third largest lake in India. The first is Indira Sagar in MP with a capacity of 12.22 billions cubic metres and second is Nagarjuna Sagar with storing capacity of 11.56 billions cubic metres of water on Krishna river in Andhra Pradesh. 

          View of Govind Sagar near Bilaspur Town 

 The Bhakra Dam is situated at a distance of 11 km from Nangal , road running through Brahmla, Goalthay, Nehla, kala-kund to Bhakra.  The dam is at a distance of 37 Km from Sawarghat ( kenchi -morning) and 20 km from Naina devi. 

   View of Govind Sagar from Bilaspur (Temple submerged in water)

The crystal clear water of Govind Sagar , surrounding  hills with green forests adds immense beauty to dam and looks very beautiful. 

The Govind Sagar is country's largest fishing lake and has created employment opportunities to a large numbers in fishing. Numbers of fish landing centres have been constructed at various locations around the lake. 

Water sports are becoming major attraction of the lake. Visitors from various parts of the country are regularly visiting the dam and lake every year. There is a Nehru Centre at the dam displaying all photographs and models of dam ,Pt. Jawhar Lal Nehru's photographs along other leaders and Er. Slocum under who's guidance this project was executed. Audio of Nehru 's Inaugural speech is also available at Nehru centre. 

Now silting is main problem to the lake, tonnes of silt is flowing to the lake from the large catchment area every year. It must be checked. 

                      View of Govind Sagar

The Govind Sagar lake is  supplying water to generate 1325MW electricity at Bhakra and regularly supplying water for Irrigation to Punjab , Rajasthan  and Himachal thus adding to the green revolution. 

We must visit Bhakra dam and enjoy boating In Govind Sagar. 

We honor and salute to all those Engineers and workers who were associated with this unsurpassed model of Engineering and also to all the scientists, Engineers and all other Technocrates  who are associated with real development of humility. 

                          Beautiful View of Lake

       

            

                Sun set view of Govind Sagar

              By :-

                                               Er. R C Verma. 

 

NALDEHRA " The beautiful Landscape for those, who love nature, Shimla Hills, Himachal Pradesh "

 "Naldehra " as the name indicates " house of Mahunag " the king of snakes, is a beautiful place for those who love nature. Naldehra is situated at an altitude of 2044 metres from mean sea level and at a distance of 23 Km from Shimla, the capital of Himachal Pradesh. 

                       Beautiful View of Naldehra 

The nature has showered  the immense  beauty and wonderful attractive landscape with the tall Cidar and Deodar trees, beautiful flowers and other mountain 's flora & founa. Due to its beautiful landscape and pleasant climate it is centre of attraction for tourists. 

                               Nature's Beauty 

Naldehra was discovered by Lord Curzon the Viceroy of India during 1920. The beautiful place was very much appealing to Lord Curzon as a result of same he established a natural Golf Course club at this spot. Now Himachal Pradesh Department of Tourism is maintaining the Golf course club , It is only open for members only. 

 

                                  Beauty  of Hills

                       View of Golf course club

The Shimla is capital of Himachal Pradesh, a beautiful hill tourists station which remained summer capital of India under British rule. The Kufri, Mashobra , Narkanda, Hatu, Jakhu, Ridge ground, Lakkar Bajar, HP University at Chaura Madan , Scandal Point and other historic buildings are places of tourists importance. 

                                  Shimla Hills

Shimla is 86 Km from Kalka from from where, we can reach Shimla by train. Chandigarh is 112 Km from Shimla. Bus services are regularly plying on Chandigarh Shimla route. Jubber Hatti air port is another facility for those, who would like to travel by air. 

The Naldehra has  temples of Mahunag Dev, the King of Snakes, the people of Himachal Pradesh are devoted to Mahunag and used to offer prayers to Mahunag devta. 

There is another temple situated at Naldehra  , which is Bhima Kali the Goddess of Power. people used to visit both the temples. 

              Landscape architecture of Naldehra

Naldehra is very beautiful picnic spot having attractive landscape. people reach Naldehra by buses, by taxi and by their own vehicles. Tourists

Horse riding is also interesting to reach the picnic spot. Tourists also trekk to picnic spot after road journey. There are small children games at this spot. The spot is very peaceful, one can enjoy the nature here. During winter the place experiences snow, tourists also snow covered beauty of this land. 

There one another place, named Tattapsni at a distance of 32 Km from Naldehra famous for hot water springs. Tourists also used to visit hot water spring, which has medical value for skin. 

So the beautiful hills  of Naldehra is one of the wonders nature 's landscape architecture, one must visit. 

 

 Torist Mr. Manoj Kumar enjoying Nature at Naldehra

                      Morning View of Beautiful Hills

     For better Health & stress free life adopt  yoga 

                                             By :-

                                                      Er. R C Verma. 

Lohari [ लोहड़ी ] " Welcome of Northward Movement of Surya Naryan on eve.of Makar Sankranti the 13 th. January ."

Lohari the festival of bonefire is celebrated on 13 th January every year in the welcome of God Sun also called " Surya Narayan " on its Northward transit on one day before Makar Sankranti which comes on 14th January. 

I welcome and greet all my friends,  sisters brothers on the event of Lohari Festival. 

            welcome of Bhgwaan Surya Narayan

On this event bonefire is enlightened in the evening after sun set at a place near home and friends, family members, relatives and other gests gather around bonefire, then offer prayers and put aahauties in the bonefire with different grains such as Til ,gur rice,mugfali  and revari  ect. in the welcome of Lord Sun as it starts journey towards North. 

View of Lohari Bonefire

Then after prayers the Lohari parv is celebrated by performing Lohari folk songs, gidha and other local folk dances. The gifts are  given to friends and relatives. This is winter festival of North India, in Punjab, Haryana, Himachal & J&K.

                                            

Welcome to  Surya Narayan In North

On Makar sankranti the people used to take bath in  holy Ganga, Yamuna and in other famous rivers and lakes nearby before offering their prayers to Surya Narayan. 

In the Welcome of God Sun. 

On this day a special meal known as Khichari (खिचड़ी) is served with Ghee and curd prepared with rice and black mash indicating that irrespective of colour, caste , creed  religion we are one and have no difference. The huminity is one and must love each other and live peace fully considering universe as one family. 

Happy Greetings of Lohari to all Sisters and brothers. 

Welcome to God Surya

This event indicates the end of cold & welcome to beautiful spring which  gives new life to plant kingdom, humans, animals and birds. 

Greetings of Lohari. 

Happy Lohari to all sisters and brothers in India &abroad.

By

 Er R C Verma 

Sat- Sar " Seven Lakes in foot hill of Shri Nainadevi ji ,beautiful hills of Mandi Himachal Pradesh."

The Sar ki Dhar in  Dhar Vairkot is known for its seven lakes called sat Sar, above Rewalsar town , about 8 Km from Rewalsar town and  1Km from Goverta when approach from Patrighat, Dhalwan- Jahu  side. 

No 1. Lal Sar :-

The Lal Sar is located just in the feet of Shri Nainadevi hill at an altitude of about 1780 metres from mean sea level. 

                           View of Lal -Sar

It is so called Lal -Sar because the colour of its water appears clayee red. It experiences snow fall in winter. The water level in rainy season is quite good but in the month of November to July it is very low.

The local people used to say this Lal -Sar  Khadla Sar because of its clayee colour. 

No 2. Kunt -Bhayo :-

It is located near the junction of Rewalsar Shri Nainadevi ji  & Patrighat Goverta Nainadevi road. It is  situated at an altitude of 1700 metres from mean sea level. It depth at cetre is about 12-15 metres. The water is permanent through out the year. Drinking water supply scheme to the nearby villages is taken from Kunt Bhayo lake. 

        Beautiful View of Kunt -Bhayo Lake

No 3. Sukh-Sar :-

It is also called Varu - Sar because a grass named Varu grows in this lake when it is dry. Most of the time this Sar remains dry, this is why it is named Sukh-Sar means dry. Though in rainy season it holds the water. 

            View of Varu-Sar {Sukh -Sar }

The lake is dry at this time but holds water during rains. It is surrounded by green Chir trees. 

            Another  View of Sukh -Sar ( Varu-Sar) 

No 4. Kufri Dohru -Sar :-

It is situated just ahead of Varu-Sar, it is surrounded by beautiful Chir trees forest. 

                View of Kufri -Dohru -Sar

    Another beautiful view of Kufri Dohru Sar

The water level gets full during rainy season, it looks very beautiful. 

No 5. Dawaru -Sar :- 

              Beautiful View of Dawaru -Sar

This Sar is also surrounded by green Chir trees forest and is just ahead of Kufri Dohru -Sar. It having little water, but after snow or rains it becomes full with water and looks very beautiful.  4 Popular trees in the Sar. 

                  Another View of Dawaru -Sar

No 6.Kala -Sar :- It is situated at an altitude of 1755 metres from mean sea level. It is just ahead of Dawaru -Sar. It's water appears to of black in colour, that's why it is called a Kala -Sar. This also experiences snow. 

                            View of  Kala -Sar

No 7 Kunala -Sar :- It is a bowl shaped lake, it is also a seasonal lake, in winter, when it gets dry people used to sow wheat in this lake. 

So these are seven Sar in these beautiful hills,thousands of pilgrim used to visit this place every year. 

                 Here's the View of Kunala -Sar

So these are the seven lakes and is a very beautiful picnic spot. people used to enjoy the peace and nature here. The famous Shri Nainadevi ji temple and Lomas Rishi cave, Pandav cave is about 1.5 to 2 Km from this place. 

Kunti Mata and Hanuman temples are on the bank of Kunt -Bhayo lake. The climate in summer is pleasant.  One must visit this place. 

                  View of Kunti Mata Temple

               " Life is nature, save nature "

                                 By Er. R C Verma. 

                             

Kala Sar " The historic lake in the lap of nature in Sar ki Dhar in Dhar Vairkot beautiful hills of Mandi Himachal Pradesh "

 The nature is always beautiful and is attractions for human beings, the beautiful place Sar ki Dhar in Dhar Vairkot also called Vaira- Bagra by Local people is situated just above Rewalsar at a road distance of about 8 Km. The famous Shakti Peeth Shri Nainadevi temple is about 2 Km from the village. The village is known as " Sar ki Dhar " because of a group of seven historic lakes related to Mahabharat, specifically the exile period of Paandavas are existing at this place. The seven lakes have remained centre of attractions for tourists and nature lovers visiting Shri Nainadevi temple. Out of seven lakes one Kunt bhayo called Neela Sar is having permanent water flowing from ground, the complete story of this lake  has been given in previous article.  Kala Sar is next center of attractions for visitors. 

 Beautiful View of Kala- Sar in Sar Ki Dhar Mandi

It is known as Kala - Sar because it's water seems  like black in colour. The Kala -Sar is situated at an altitude of 1755 metres from mean sea level. It is situated just on the top of Rewalsar town from North East and on the top of Patrighat Goverta from West Side. The lake is surrounded by beautiful green forest of Chir which always attracts the tourists. The area experiences snow fall during winter. 

             Another beautiful view of Kala -Sar

There is a katcha  ring road around Kunt bhayo lake the Kala -Sar is easily viewed from this road. The beautiful views of surrounding hills is a charm for visitors. 

                   View of Shri Nainadevi Hills

The distance from Rewalsar is about, 8 km and that of from Patrighat on Mandi Rewalsar Bhambla Una (Old Road) is seven km. The people from Hamirpur Bilaspur , Lahaul, Mandi and other various parts of country used to visit this place, connected with temple tourism to visit Shri Nainadevi temple. 

                   Beautiful View of Kunt bhayo

For the  good health & better quality of life go with Yoga and nature. Enjoy the beautiful seen of moon on sky and sun set on earth. 

             View of Moon on sky Sun set on Earth      

                                         By Er. R C Verma. 

Kunt Bhayo Lake " The nature 's beautiful creation in Dhar Vairkot beautiful hills of Mandi Himachal Pradesh.."

Mandi , the centre of Himachal Pradesh, situated between 31° 23' 50" and 32 ° 04' 30" North Latitude and 76° 37' 20" and 77° 23' 15" East Longitude is surrounded  by Kangra on North West, Hamirpur and Bilaspur in West, Arki in South. Shimla  on the South West and Kullu in the East. The district is having beautiful hills except Chauntra in Jogindernagar and Balh valleys in Sundernagar. 

The district receives highest rainfall in the state with an average annual precipitation of 2029 mm due to which the district has good forest density and greenery. 

The hill ranges of Mandi are Dhaula Dhar, Ghogar Dhar, Sikandad Dhar and Dhar Vairkot. 

District Mandi has many beautiful lakes of religious and tourism importance situated in the above named hill ranges. 

Today I  shall introduce my friends  with a very beautiful lake situated in Dhar Vairkot also known as Sar ki Dhar near  famous  Shari Nainadevi temple. 

This beautiful lake is named on the name of Mata Kunti mother of Pandvas who used to spend their exile time in these hill. 

The name of lake is " Kunt Bhayo Lake. " 

                The View of Kunt - Bhayo Lake

This lake is situated on the hill top of Rewalsar and above Patrighat and Goverta Village of Mandi district. The lake is at an altitude of 1700 metre from mean sea level. The depth of lake is about 15 metres. The Lake is just below Shri Nainadevi temple and is about 8Km from Rewalsar connected with pucca road. The lake is also connected with road from Patrighat side. The distance from Patrighat to lake is 6 Km but the road is unmetalled  beyond 3 km both the roads are in rising gradient when going to Shri Nainadevi ji temple. 

                     Mata Kunti TemplTemple

There is a small temple of Mata Kunti on the bank of lake. On another view of Kunti temple. 

               Side View of Mata Kunti Temple

According to a historic saying, when Paandva were on exile along with their mother Kunti ,came at this place then she felt very thirsty but there was no water on hill top. The Arjuna hit the ground with teer of his Gaandeev bow ( गा ण्डी व ध नु ष)  the water came out and this lake is formed and she quench her thrust. A local person, shri Dina Nath of Sar ki Dhar village also told this history of this lake and further added that at that ancient time, the lake started over flooding, then Arjuna made an under ground way to discharge the water from the lake with  hitting another teer (बाण)  thus Nakthaudi  (Nostal) was formed. from where water is flowing  and is being supplied as drinking water to near by villages. 

The lake has its historic and religious values related to Mahabharat kal.  Some beautiful views from this beautiful place are :-

        One beautiful view of Kunt Bhayo Lake

The kunt Bhayo is also called  "Neela Sar " means lake having blue water view. The lake has one Hanuman temple on the bank of Lake. 

    

 Shri Dina Nath  Resident of Sar ki Dhar village

              View of Veer Hanuman temple 

The place is some times covered with snow . The hill just half an km ahead having Monastery where Lama's can be seen saying "OM Mani Padme Hum " the hill have many caves of sages. 

The hills are pollution free, very cool and  peaceful. 

There is a jeepable road around the lake which needs upgradation, Government must consider it's upgradation keeping in view it's historic and tourism importance. 

      Beautiful View of Kunt -Bhayo Neela Sar. 

People from Mandi, Bilaspur and Hamirpur districts always used to visit this place, when visit Shri Nainadevi temple. 

The view of Monastery looks very beautiful, one must visit this place. It is a beautiful hill station to visit. 

The View of Monastery

I love Mandi, I love Himachal

By Er. R C Verma

Ghadasaru Mahadev Lake " The beautiful wonderland of Lord Rudra " district Chamba Himachal Pradesh.

 The Himachal Pradesh is well-known for its natural beauty of mountains, rivers and lakes. Chamba district has two most beautiful places, the Mini- Switzerland "Khajjiar " and " Manimahesh " on the tourism map of the world. 

Apart from these two beautiful lakes  Chamba district has other lakes of religious and trekking importance.

Ghadarasu Mahadev lake is one of these lakes. The other lakes are Lama dal leke, Mahakali lake and Chanderkup lake. The lakes are always have great importance for human beings, birds and other leaving crestures. 

           View of Ghadarasu Mahadev Lake 

It is one of the high altitude lakes situated at an altitude of 3505 metres from mean sea level. The circumference of this lake is about one Km. This lake is in the North of upper Churah, the unique place in Pir Panjal range, wonder land for " Lord Rudra " the Ghadasaru Mahadev. 

The Snow covered beautiful view of Ghadassru Mahadev in district Chamba Himachal Pradesh. 

It is located at a distance of 24 Km from Tissa and, 96 Km from Chamba. The lake is mostly visited by local people to offer their prayers to Mata Kali and Lord Shiva. The Ghadassru Mahadev Yatra commerce at the same time as Manimahesh Yatra in the Month of August and September. 

                   Beautiful View of the Lake 

The visitors used to travel from Chamba to Devi -Kothi by bus and after that on feet trekking via Chandru and Gauri kund after passing  through,forests, small streams and glacier Points. Some devotee of Lord Shiva used to launch Lungers for pilgrims on the way to Ghadasaru Mahadev. On reaching the lake visitors used w take bath in the holy lake and then offer their prayers in the Kali temple located on the bank of this lake. Visitors also do " Parikrama " of this holy lake. Har -har Mahadev slogans always empowered the visitors with enthusiasm. 

                                  Lake View

The back journey can be made  via Bhanjraru. (Tissa) . The journey is beautiful one . The Lake is 24 Km from Tissa. 

                      Har -har Mahadev. 

"Now enjoy the moon on sky and sunset on earth"

I Love Chamba, I Love Himachal The beautiful Wonderland

By Er. R C Verma