Lakes of Himachal Pradesh

Maharana Pratap Sagar

District : Kangra
Location : 170 Kms from Chandigarh, 110 km from Amritsar, 55 km from Dharamshala

Maharana Pratap Sagar, also known as Pong Dam Reservoir or Pong Dam Lake was created in 1975 building the highest earthfill dam in India on the Beas River in the wetland zone of the Siwalik Hills of the Kangra district of the state of Himachal Pradesh, in India. Named in the honour of the patriot Maharana Pratap (1572 –1597), the reservoir or the lake is a well known wildlife sanctuary and one of the 25 wetland sites declared in India by the Ramsar Convention.

The Lake has an aread of about 45000 hectares at max flooding. The Sagar is declared a bird sanctuary and over 220 spicies belonging to 54 families have been sighted these includes black headed gulls, plovers, terns, ducks, water fowl and egres the first sighting of the red necked grebe was made at the Sagar. The Lake's location at head of the Indian plains has made it a suitable habitat and stopover for migratory birds that enter India from Central Asia.

A branch of Direcorae of Mounaineering and Allied Sports is located at the Maharana Pratap Sagar. Year long activities include swimming, water skiiing, surfing, kayaking, rowing, canoeing,a dn sailing. The Directorate of Tourism and Civil Aviation provides equipment at the SAgar which includes sail boats. paddle boats, life buoys, water scooters etc.