Ome - Cho Lake, " Milky Ocean " , the present Hinsa Lake - Original name Himsa lake situated in Udaipur Sub-division near Famous Trilokinath Temple in district Lahaul-Spiti , Himachal Pradesh. "

 The present Hinsa Nalla was at one time called "Himsa Lake " and Saptatdhara of milky white water are flowing from it , is named "Ome-Cho" milky Ocean in Tibetan language . The lake is a sacred one and deeply concerned with Trilokinath temple built-up during about 8 th to 10 th century. The temple is situated in village Trilokpur about 45 Km from Kaylong, the district head quarter of Lahaul- Spiti district of Himachal Pradesh. 

          Trilokinath Temple in Lahaul-Spiti District

There is a story which is having concern between Trilokinath temple and  milky ocean, Ome-Cho lake. According to the story, there was a cowherd named Teerudh belonging to Teeru family, who used to graze the cows, goats and sheep of all villagers near Himsa lake. One day villagers made a complaint to Teerudh that someone might be milking their cows in the jungle, so  the cows have considerable reduction in milk. The cowherd by was very innocent and never noticed this but when this complaint was coming every day he kept a close watch on the cows and one day he saw that seven persons in white cower came out of this lake and used to drink milk of grazing cows. The cowherd boy caught one of them and remaining six disappeared in Sapatdhara of this lake. 

           The unique white milky  water of Himsa

Teerudh said to the milky person that you are the thief, and due to you I am facing very much harassment. The person told the Teerudh that he is Trilokinath you demand anything and make me free. 

Teerudh said, I don't require any thing, I will present you before villagers.Thus Trilokinath was brought to this  place, where the Lord Shiva  remained here and after due conversation and on the request of them appeared in the present marble stone statue. This is the first temple in the world where devotees of two religions Hindu as well as Buddhist used to worship. Here on the head of Lord Shiva in place of Ganga Lord Buddha is seated. 

              View of Trilokinath in Lahaul-Spiti

 Hindu considered it as Lord Shiva and Buddhist considered it as Arya Avalokiteshwar and Tibetan as Garja Fagspa. In every three years Trilokinath goes to Sapatdhara, the Hinsa lake in the Rath , all devotees gathered on this place with their goats, prepare Kheer and  worship of Trilokinath is done,offer kheer to Trilokinath in Sapatdhara. The Place is sacred one after Kailash and Mansrover. The view of Trilokinath is very beautiful and peace loving. 

                 Beautiful View of Trilokinath

          View at Trilokinath district Lahaul-Spiti

        The special about holy water of the Hinsa is that it is white in colour and it doesn't change it's colour even in heavy rains.                 

                                       

                                            By :- Er. R C Verma

 

Kamrunag Lake, " A lake situated in beautiful landscapes of Kumarwah valley, also known as "Kumarwah Lake " in district Mandi Himachal Pradesh."

 The Kamrunag lake which is also known as "Kumarwah Lake " is situated in tehsil Chachiyot  , district Mandi Himachal Pradesh,at an altitude of 3334 metres from mean sea level and about 56 Km on Mandi -Sundernagar -Karsog road up to Rohanda then about 6 Km on a trek from Rohanda to Kamrunag lake, on foot in Kumarwah valley between  beautiful forests. 

             View of Kamrunag lake during Snow

After trekking about 6 km through thick forests of Deodar and enjoying the scenic beauty of Dhauladhar and Balh valley on pilgrims reach this historic lake. 

      Mr. Manoj Thakur &Joiti Thakur at the Lake

The Lake is related to a character of Mahabhart, king Yaksha who is worshipped by Pandavs. The Yakasha is believed to live here. The lake is sacred one. There is beautiful temple of Kamrunag, the Devta of rains. Whenever people pray before Dev Kamrunag for rain to shower, it definitely comes. A fair is held every year on this place in the month of June &July.

                 Beautiful View of Kamrunag Lake

Pilgrims pay their offerings in the form of gold, silver and coins to Kamrunag on fulfilling their wishes. These offerings are used to be thrown in this holy lake, this tradition is continued from very ancient times. The treasure of the lake can not be estimated which is believed to be protected by Nagraj. 

                 Temple of Maharaj Kamrunag

The valley is very peaceful and a paradise of nature lovers. On fulfilling wishes people visit this holy lake to pay their offerings along their relatives and friends, which is known as "Yatra ".

            One another view of the  Kamrunag lake

During winter the lake as well as this Kumarwah valley experiences snow. So the  best time to visit the lake is summer season. 

                  Photograph at Kumarwah Lake

 "Mountains , rivers and lakes are having deep connection with biodiversity ecology , we must contribute for its protection for the generation to come on this earth. "

                                       By :-  Er. R C Verma

Shringtingu Lake, " A high altitude lake in Shringtingu mountains range of district Kullu, Himachal Pradesh."

 Shringtingu Lake is a high altitude lake situated in Shringtingu mountain range of district Kullu at an altitude of 4200 metres above mean sea level. The route to this lake is from Manali to Khanol then Tenta. From Tenta to Jammu Dugh Via Seri. 

The scenic beauty of Manali is enough enjoyable on this trek. 

         Beautiful view of Mountains at Manali

If we follow Gohru Nullaha, we can reach Shringtingu lake. From Shringtingu lake the panoramic views of Bara Banghal is a spellbinding one. 

                     View of Himalayas at Manali

The far off view of Shringtigu mountains can be enjoyed during the trekking to Deo Tibba. The Deo Tibba highest trekking point is 4480 metres from mean sea level.The route is from Manali to Jagatsukh ,then on foot trekking along the Jagatsukh Nallah about 16 Km reach Khanol. The Khanol is about 2200 metres from mean sea level. Then  Khanol to Chikka is about 8 km at an altitude of 3350 metres from mean sea level, further trekking from Chikka to Tenta about 10 Km via Seri meadow which was at one time a glaciated lake now a vast meadow blessed with varieties of herbs, flowers and velvety grass is very beautiful one. The Tenta is at an altitude of 4180 metres from mean sea level. 

                                View of Manali

From Tenta to base camp Deo Tibba, then from this place Chhota Chandertal with blue water is easily accessible. Then Tenta to Bhanara from where nature can be very deeply enjoyed and one can have panoramic views of Shringtigu mountains.

                  Panoramic views of Himalayas

                      Enjoy the nature at Manali

 * Nature is very beautiful and one who is associated with nature always feels happiness. "

                                     By :-  Er. R C Verma. 

Kol Dam Lake " A beautiful Man-made lake result of Kol Dam on river Satluj in districts Bilaspur and Mandi, Himachal Pradesh."

 When ever we think of world's highest gravity dam "Bhakra Dam ",the memories get afresh, Pt. Jawhar Lal Nehru our beloved first hon'ble Prime Minister had delivered a speech describing the Bhakra dam as " New temple of Resurgent India. " The speech of this great man , visionary and architect of modern India has very deep meaning. Today if we have an insight on the development and prosperity of modern India, it is only the result of these new temples of modern India. 

In the chain of these new temples of modern India, Kol Dam is one another gem constructed on river Satluj in districts Bilaspur and Mandi just upstream of Dehar Power House  about  18 Km from Bilaspur and 25 Km from Sundernagar in Himachal Pradesh. 

                               View of Kol Dam

The foundation stone of this project was laid on 5 th of June 2000 by the then hon'ble Prime Minister of India Shari Atal Bihari Vajpayee. The Kol dam is an earthen dam is accessible on Chandigarh - Manali National Highway 21,the road bifurcates from Dehar about 18 km from Bilaspur and is situated just at a distance of 5 Km from Dehar. 

                          View of Kol Dam Lake

Though the foundation stone was laid in June 2000 but the land acquisition and forest clearance took time and the actual work was started on January 14 th 2004 and was completed and commissioned in 2015.The main purpose of the the project is hydro-electric power generation. This project is generating 800 MW from four generating units of 200 MW each. 

                         View of Kol dam lake

The project is the miracle of National Thermal Power Corp. Ltd. Engineers who have achieved this mile stone in spite of various difficulties. The society salutes to whole engineering community in India and in the world who is associated in the service of mankind. 

The salient features of the project :- 

1. Earthen dam height including foundation -167 mt. 

2. Ht. above Ground - 153 metres. 

3. Elevation of crest :- 648 metres from M. S. L. 

4. Normal Elevation of Lake :- 542 mt. from M. S. L. 

5. Length at Top of dam :- 474 metres. 

6. Width at Top of dam :- 14 metres. 

7. Dam volume :- 120,00000 cubic metres. 

8. Spillway capacity :- 16500 cubic metres per sec. 

9. Length of Lake :- 40 Km. 

10. Lake capacity :- 576000,000 cubic metres. 

11.Hydraulic Head :- 131.2 metres. 

12. Annual power generation is 3055 million unit. 

The Lake and dam is a very beautiful tourist spot for every one and a good source of technology to students of engineering. To visit this project permission is to be sought from NTPC Ltd authority. One must visit this lake and enjoy the nature here. 

The project is a venture of agreement between NTPC Ltd, HP State Electricity Board and Government of Himachal Pradesh. 

We thank all the National thermal power corporation Engineers, other workers who have their contribution to build this new temple of modern India. 

                   Always associate with nature

                                         

                                          By :- Er. R C Verma. 

 

 

Man-Talai Lake " A lake situated in most beautiful Parvati valley, the origin of Parvati river in district Kullu, Himachal Pradesh."

 The Parvati valley is a very beautiful valley in district Kullu, Himachal Pradesh. The valley full of scenic beauty is having hot water springs at Kheerganga and Manikaran .The river Parvati flowing in this beautiful valley originates from a lake formed from melting snow and Man- talai glaciers is known as "Man- Talai Lake. "

             Beautiful view of Kheerganga hills               The lake is surrounded by beautiful range of Parvati peaks. The river Parvati merges in river Beas about 10 Km South of Kullu at Bhunter. The Man-Talai lake is a high altitude lake situated in Parvati hills at an altitude of 4116 metres above mean sea level. 

           

          View of Man-Talai glaciers in Parvati hills

The Man-Talai glaciers falls below Pin- Parvati pass and Parvati flows in transition curves from North , North-west to West, south- west besides Mankaran.

 

                  View of Parvati river near Kasol

The tourists and trekking parties take their way to Man-Talai from Pandu-Pul through hot springs of Kheerganga, Tunda Bhuj, Thakur Khan then Odi-Thach.

There are numbers of hydro power projects on this river in service of  national.The valley is very beautiful on must visit and enjoy the nature here in Parvati valley, district Kullu Himachal Pradesh. 

       River Parvati merges in Beas near Bhunter

       Beautiful View of Parvati valley district Kullu

  

                                          

                                                By :- Er. R C Verma

 

 

Saketi Lake " A lake near Shivalik Fossil Park at Kala-Amb in district Sirmaur, Himachal Pradesh."

 The Saketi lake was existing at one time on the left bank of Markanda river at a distance of about 5 Km from Kala Amb in district Sirmaur Himachal Pradesh but at present the lake has been filled with sand and debris from near by area. The lake could again be developed into a tourist center by removing the muck from the lake. Government must consider the development of this lake in public interest.  The Saketi lake was just near to the Shivalik Fossil Park at Kala-Amb at a distance of about 70 km from Chandigarh. 

At present we can enjoy the Asia's largest fossil Park also known as Saketi Fossil Park situated at this place not the lake. 

                  View of Dinosaur gad mammals

The shivalik fossil park is a National Geo-heritage Fossil Park in the state of Himachal Pradesh having collection of pre- historic vertebrate fossils and Skeltons received from the shivalik geological formation of rocks and clay at Saketi. The park has a museum being maintained by Geological Survey of India, Himachal Pradesh Department of Tourism and Himachal Pradesh Horticulture Department. 

  View of huge land  Tortoise at Shivalik fossil park

There are six life size fiber reinforced plastic models of extinct mammals displayed at the  park. The models include  Tortoise, Gharial, Four Horned Giraffe, Sabre- toothed Cat, large tusked Elephant and Hippopotamus. The park has a miniature form of Pre-historic biological record of fossils and rocks. 

                        Sabre -toothed Cat

The Shivalik fossil park has its importance in developing scientific interest and awareness in public, students and research scholars visiting from all over the world. 

     Large tusked elephant at Shivalik fossil park

The park is situated at village Saketi where the fossils were found, it located about 22 km from Nahan the district head quarters of Sirmaur district. From Ambala and Yamuna Nagar it about 48 Km. From Kala Amb to Fossil park the road is bit rough requiring maintenance.One can reach here by bus up to Kala Amb and then by taxi which is easily available here. one must visit. 

                                      By :- Er. R C Verma 

Maharana Pratap Sagar " A beautiful man-made lake on Pong Dam, declared as Ramsar conservation site in tehsil Dehra- Gopipur district Kangra, Himachal Pradesh."

 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 . 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. 

              View of Lake, Sanctuary for wildlife

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 lake

                Red necked grebe in Pong 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

                                     Sambhar

                                  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. 

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. Spilway 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. 

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. 

          Beautiful view of Maharana Pratap Sagar

   Pong dam lake view near Dehra district Kangra 

           Youth enjoying Lake view near Dehra

              Enjoy the evening near lake at Dehra

                                Video Clip of Lake

                          Beautiful view of Lake

                                         By :- Er. R C Verma

Karali Lake " A lake situated on Chhota Shali hillock near Shimla between the trees in district Shimla , Himachal Pradesh."

  The immense beauty of Shimla, the capital of Himachal Pradesh lies in its lush green hills covered with pine trees, beautiful architecture in its historic buildings, the beautiful temples, snow covered hills, water falls, the pleasant climate , beautiful hill roads, few lakes and much more in simple ,cool & clear hearted people Himachal Pradesh.Though the lakes in Shimla district are very few but have much importance in the geography of Shimla and ultimately, Himachal Pradesh. 

     Beautiful View of Church near Ridge at Shimla

After Chandranahan in Rohru tehsil and Tanu Jubbal lake in Kumarsain tehsil , there is an another beautiful lake known as Karali lake situated in Chhota Shali hillock in Shimla district in Shimla rural,Himachal Pradesh.

         View of Karali lake in Chhota Shali Tibba

Shali Tibba is a highest peak in Shimla situated at an altitude of 2872 metres from mean sea level. The Shali Tibba provides a  360° panoramic view of Himachal Pradesh, it is surrounded by Narkanda, Fagu, Shimla Kufri and Mashobra hills. There is a Bhima Kali mata temple on top of the Tibba constructed in Himalayan traditional architecture in wood and stones. The trail was constructed to this place by Raja of Faridkot in 1936 , the same is still in good condition. The base camp to Shali Tibba for trekking starts from Mashobra and Khatnol. 

There is a very beautiful picnic spot just on the other side of Shali Tibba  , named  Chhota Shali Tibba where  Karali lake is situated, surrounded by the pine trees. The size of the lake is just equal to Annadel ground in Shimla. 

               Beautiful view of Lake in Mountains

The village Karali is near Mashobra, the distance from Shimla is about, 7 km. The lake is a very good picnic spot and the scenery of the place is worth seen. People visit this place for its scenic beauty. The lake between the green trees looks like an emerald in the sun. One must visit this place. 

             Lake View surrounded by green trees

Thus  the wonderland Himachal Pradesh is full of nature which nourishes the life in its lap and one can feel health and happiness here. 

           Enjoy the scenic beauty of Mandi Hills

                      Beautiful  View of Mandi hills

"Always associate with nature for better health and happiness . "

                                    By :- Er. R C Verma

 

Tannu Jubbal Lake " A beautiful lake near Narkanda on Narkanda -Thanadhar road, district Shimla, Himachal Pradesh."

 Narkanda is a beautiful tourist place situated at a distance of 64 Km from Shimla, the capital of Himachal Pradesh on National highway No -22. The scenic beauty of Narkanda is a attraction to the tourists. 

           Beautiful View of Hatu Temple Narkanda

The Narkanda falls in tehsil Kumarsain district Shimla at an altitude of 2708 metres from mean sea level. The Hatu peak is about, 3400 metres from mean sea level. The peaks are covered with beautiful forests of conifers like oak and Deodar. 

           Beautiful view of Hatu peak Rest House

The Tani Jubbal lake is about 7 Km from Narkanda on Narkanda Thanadhar road situated in Shimla district. It is a  small beautiful lake surrounded by beautiful ever green trees. It is best picnic spot for nature lovers. 

                         View of Tani jubbal lake 

 Near the lake there is a temple dedicated to Nag Devta. The site is very beautiful and local people as well as tourists used to visit this place in large numbers. 

                           Another View of Lake

The Hatu peak is also famous for Hatu Mata temple, which is dedicated to Maharani Mandodari, the wife of Ravana. During winters the area is covered with snow, and tourists enjoy the nature. 

                        Hatu peak Narkanda

The beauty of nature has the power to nourish anyone who comes in its lap. Always love nature. 

                                     By :- Er. R C Verma.