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 . 

                 

Scenic beauty of Nature In Kullu Manali under Snow

 Scenic Beauty  of Nature  in Kullu Manali Under Snow  :- 

Kullu Valley near Gojra Village, Apple Orchard , Dheeraj & Anita Verma  enjoying the nature 

Kullu Manali  comes among very beautiful landscapes  of India in Himachal Pradesh  .

The diversity in nature , climate , pollution free atmosphere and  panoramic landscapes of Kullu Manali is attractions for tourists from around the world .

Dhriti Verma at Manali , cheerful moments 

The first fresh snowfall of the winter season gifted on 13th. January 2023 which  covered with the valley with white blanket . It was very exciting for tourists . 

Though the wheather was chilling cold even then it was exciting one .

At Manali 

Snow beings charm , excitement , newness and life on the world . It is very cheerful moments  for children  , youngsters  and in the upper age groups  when snowflakes come from the sky . The entire landscapes change colour . The mobiles of every visitor start clicking the beauty of nature in snowy mountains . 

Apple Orchard in Kullu Valley 

The ways we get happiness when snowflakes come :- 

When we see flakes of snowfall coming from the sky we receive gift of happiness in the following ways :-

Our senses of excitement goes High : - 

When we see flakes of snowfall in mountains and we are making our foot print on Fresh Snowfall our senses of excitement goes very high and we feel happy .

It gives us Relaxing and calm bives :-

When flakes of snowfall coming from sky ,it gives us calm and relaxing moments , because every thing gets off . We enjoy the moments with a cup coffee  or tea in the balcony or start making foot print on Fresh snow . What happy moments are  ?

Links Us  with memories of Past  :- 

When ever we experience snow fall  the memories of our childhood starts sweeming in our minds ,we  talk about those moments we have already enjoyed in snow games in our childhood  during Snowfall .

Brings us moments of Fun games and Treats  :- 

Snow balls throwing on friends , much of laughing  , fun games and treats  are the best gifts of snowflakes and give us abundance of pleasure . Many snow games like skiing and ice scating   also offer happiness .

It Makes Us to Enjoy Present Moments  : - 

Falling snowflakes from sky make us to enjoy and keep enjoying the present moments , it very much pleasure ful exciting moments  we live . Kullu Manali the Kashmir of Himachal Pradesh is one of the best destinations to enjoy snowfall .

It Brings Friends Together  :-

When  we to  mountains to see snow  it is the time when we meet new people , our old friends and make new friends .Thus it brings people together .

It Brings Us Close to Beauty of Nature  :- 

Why people prefer to exhibit the scenic beauty of nature in Kullu Manali  ? 

The answer is it brings us very close to nature and reminds us about the beauty of nature for our pleasure.

So scenic beauty of nature under snow is different experience than in summer when Kullu Manali is much green as compared to white snowy in winter . Every one must experience it .

Beauty of nature in Kullu Manali 

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

 An Over Himachal Pradesh district Kangra Part XV , Tourist places in district Kangra , Continued 

View of Heritage  Villages Pragpur 

Kangra district is situated in the escarpment of Himalayas has panoramic landscapes which invite tourists from all over the world to spend some moments in the lap of Dhauladhar Himalyan ranges and it's Shivalik hills . In this series we are going to introduce you with two Heritage Villages Garli and Pragpur and one religious temple of Kaleshwar Mahadev in district Kangra Himachal Pradesh .

Judges's Court Building Pragpur Heritage Village 

Heritage Village Garli &  Pragpur :-    

Garli and Pragpur are two Heritage Villages in district Kangra Himachal Pradesh declared Heritage Villages by the state government on 9 th. December  1997 . Very beautiful villages situated in the  shadow of Dhauladhar Himalyas , Pragpur at a distance of about 44 Km from Kangra district headquarters and about 10 Km from Dehra Gopipur town which is only 11Km from Jawalamukhi  .

View of Judges's Court Building Pragpur 

Village Garli is a near by village to Pragpur about 50 Km from Kangra and 15 Km from Dehra Gopipur Sub divisional headquarters .

Pragpur is an old splendid beautiful village in the shadow of Dhauladhar Himalyas  founded by Patials late in the 16 th. century in the memory of Princess Prag Dei , Princess of Jaswan princely state .

View of Garden Heritage Village Pragpur 

The Chief of Jaswan princely state under the leadership of Kuthiala Sood charged a band to find a suitable place to  commemorate Princess Prag Dei of his Royal family  in 16 th.  or early in 17th. Century. This way the Pragpur was founded .

The Pragpur a very beautiful village with its old style architecture buildings , coble stone paved streets , water tanks , Havelis , gardens  ,mud plastered slate roofed brick colour red houses  State government of Himachal Pradesh declared this village along with Garli as Heritage Villages in December 1997 .

Judges Court Building Pragpur Heritage Village 

Judges Court Pragpur is a resort built on 12 acres of green in Anglo Indian style architecture . This building was built in 1918 by Kuthiala Bhandari Lal for his son Mr. Jai Lal Judge who was a prominent figure in judiciary completed his law study from England . Mr Lal also restored his 300 years old ancestors property . Now it is very beautiful resort .

The heritage Village Pragpur has Lala Rerumal Haweli built in 1931 by a Rais of Pragpur .It has has a beautiful Mughal style garden , pleasure terrace  and a large water reservoir .

Heritage Village Garli :- 

Village Garli is just near to Pragpur both part of Heritage Village as about 50 Km From Kangra and 15 Km from Dehra Gopipur in district Kangra .

Chateau Garli , The Heritage Building Garli  Now Heritage Hotel 

At Garli you can visit " Chateau Garli " a heritage Hotel  built by Lala Mela Ram Sood in 1921 with the blend of colonial , Portuguese  , Rajasthani , Mughal and Kangri style architecture .

Chateau Garli Heritage Hotel 

For two decades this heritage structure remained un attended by anyone but in  2012  his  great - grandson Amish sud and grandson Yatish sud planned to restore the building and they restored it .

Heritage Hotel Chateau Garli 

Garli Pragpur is easily accessible through surface transport  as these villages are well connected with good roads , buses and taxies are easily available to visit this heritage Village .

Kaleshwar Mahadev temple :-  

Kalinath Kaleshwar Mahadev temple 

Kaleshwar Mahadev also called Kalesar is a faith of centre of devotees of Lord Shiva, a beautiful templ Lingam was established her situated on the bank of river Beas just 8 Km from heritage Village Pragpur in district Kangra Himachal Pradesh. Lord Shiva was appeared here to cool down Maa Kali when  Adi Shakti Maa Kali  was doing massacre on the earth  then Adi Shakti came to  her peaceful form and Shiva Lingam was established here .

Kaleshwar Mahadev temple 

This temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva  and 11 Rudra Lingam are also established here and worshipped . It is said that this temple is  built by Pandavas .    

11 Rudra Lingam in Kaleshwar Mahadev temple 

From Dehra , temple is accessible via Sunehat , Nehanpukhar  . A fair is held here on Baishakhi and a rush can be seen during the month of Shravan . Pilgrims from Himachal , Punjab and other parts of the country come to take blessings of Lord Shiva .  

Baba Sidhb Chano Temple Pragpur :-  

Baba  Sidh Chano Temple is also situated in Pragpur   and thousands of people used to take blessings of this Diety. Sidh Chano is a Diety of justice .

How the Mist Looks From Mountains

How The Mist Looks From Top of The Mountains  :-

On 27 th. January 2023 I was traveling by car in the morning  about 8 AM and just crossing the Dhalwan area  in district Mandi with my grandson , Samar Verma , he is of 6  years  asked me , " Dada the clouds have come on earth  and looking like heaven .  Why it is so ? "

He was waiting for the answer.  Then he was made to understand That what is mist  and how it occurs .

The kids always have series of questions of regarding various phenomena  occurring in the nature . They must be answered in scientific way   to strengthen their learning skills .

View Showing Mist 

 I answered the question of 6 years grandson and made him clear that Cloud made up of very tiny particles of water  in the air just above the ground making difficult to see   is referred as mist .

Beautiful View of Nature showing some parts under Mist .

It is a phenomenon happened in nature  due to small droplets of water suspended in cold air  usually by condensation .

Some areas like Jahu , Bum , Bhambla , Baldawara and Kuthera  of district Hamirpur , Bilaspur and Mandi  Along the Seer Khad ,a tributary of River Satluj  are under Mist .

Thus when we see the mist from top of Mountains then it looks that clouds have come on earth .