X for 'Xtra in Himachal

This post is written for A to Z Challenge.

X for 'Xtra in Himachal

All through the 25 posts on Himachal I have tried to touch all possible aspects that a tourist can choose from while visiting Himachal. I have tried to list important pilgrim places, the new way of tourism, the sports, the driveways, churches, religion, people, jewellery, monasteries, Tibetan government, weekend tourist spots, lakes, yatras..... perhaps everything. Yet I have missed one - as that was not natural but more of Man - made Lake i.e. Pong Lake - the reservoir created due to the pong dam. This is 'xtra.


Pong Dam Lake 

Maharana Pratap Sagar Dam on River Beas in Kangra is also known as Pong Reservoir or Pong Dam Lake  and was created in 1975, by building the highest earthfill dam in wetland zone of the Siwalik Hills of the  kangra district of HP.the reservoir or the lake is a well-known wildlife sanctuary and one of the 25 international wetland sites declared in India.

Migratory Birds at Pong

The Pong Reservoir and Gobind Sagar Reservoir are the two most important fishing reservoirs in the Himalayan foothills HP. These reservoirs are the leading sources of fish within the Himalayan states.

It stands in the border of Punjab and Himachal and can be easily reached from Pathankot (32km) or Mukerian (30km). It is about 55 kms from Dharamshala and can be reached through Nagrota Surian or Jwali in Kangra. It is well connected by roads in these areas.

View in the evening

It has been declared as a bird sanctuary in 1983. Lacs of Migratory birds come to this area during the winters. The national, as well as international, significance of the sanctuary is enhanced because of its waterfowl diversity, which was evidenced by the increase of water fowl species from 39 prior to the reservoir to 54 species at post-reservoir stage. The number of birds reported, particularly during the winter period of November to March, has steadily increased over the years and is over lacs now. The main bird species seen here during winters are the barheaded goose, Anser indicus, northern lapwing, rudd shell duck, northern pintail, common teal, Spot billed duck, Eurasian Coot, Red necked Greebe, Black headed gulls, Black stork, water-fowl, egrets, Wagtails, Sand Larks, Pipits etc.

Birds at Pong

Its a budding tourists destination. There is also a regional water sports centre established in the Pong Dam Reservoir, which offers focused activities such as canoeing, rowing, sailing, and water skiing, apart from swimming. Training programmes are organized in water safety and rescue measures with three-tier water-sports courses are provided here.

Water Sports

With this I complete the A to Z challenge taking theme of travel in Himachal.

For other posts on Himachal written as part of A to Z Challenge  check - List of post on Himachal Pradesh written as part of A to Z challenge.

Aditya Sinha

For other participants in the challenge visit : A to Z Challenge