Manimahesh Lake

Manimahesh Lake. 4080 m above sea level 

Location - 

In district chamba, 32 km from Bharmaur. Held sacred to Lord Shiva this lies in the Budhil valley at the foot of the Manimahesh ranges. The peak of Manimahesh Kailash is regarded as one of the mythical abodes of Shiva. This tarn is the venue of the annual Manimahesh yatra. 

Karyali Lake

Karyali Lake

Location:

   karyali lake located in district Shimla,on the Chhota Shali hillock just on the other side of Shali peak. The size of the lake is almost equal to the size of the Annadale ground of Shimla. The water of the lake is not very clean but from a great way up the hill, its first sight between the trees is unforgettable, because of, it is shining like a big emerald in the Sun. The location of the lake is beautiful and worth a visit. this water body lies on the northern face of the peak of Chhoti Shali. This peak is visible from Shimla. 

Khajjiar Lake

 Khajjiar Lake. 1900 m above sea level 4

Location :- 

In district Chamba 16 km 'corn Dalhousie and 25 km from Chamba.

Fed by slim streams, this small lake rests in the centre of the large glade of Khajjiar. The glade and the lake are held sacred to Khajjinag - after whom the place is named. Khajjiar has the thick forest of the Kalatooe sanctuary surrounding its soft green grass.

Accommodation - 

HPTDC's Hotel Devdar, hotels in the private sector and Rest Houses are available.              

Dal Lake

Dal Lake : 1775 m above sea level .2 41

Location:- 

In district Kangra, 11 km from Dharamsala.Surrounded by deodar trees, this is on the motor road to TaInu.

Held sacred, this has a small Shiva temple on its banks. The banks of the lake are enlivened every September by a fair attended - amongst others - by a large number of migrant Gaddi folk.

Accommodation - Hotels and Rest Houses. The HPTOC has hotels in both Dharamsala and Mcleodganj. 

Renuka Lake

Location – 

Renuka lake is connected by road and lline in sirmour district it is 123 km from parwanoo, 60 km from Paonta Sahib and 37 km from Nahan.

  With a circumference of 3214 m, Renuka ji is the largest natural lake is Himachal, Shaped like the profile of a reclining woman, this is regarded as the embodiment of the goddess Renuka. Near the lake’s feet is another lake held sacred to her son,Parshurama, Both have temples built around them and the main temple to Renuka is regarded to have been built overnight in the eighteenth century, the lake rests in a long valley and the surrounding slopes are vovered with a variety of vegetation and thick wooods, Boating is available on the lake.

Other attractions – 

renuka has mini zoo with spotted deer, lion –tailed macaques, nilgai, mithun, barking deer and Himalayan black bears – and a lion safari, Fishing is possible on the river girl, at nearby Jataun.

Accommodation – 

The HPTDC has the hotel Renuka Ji by the lake. Dadah(2km) has Hotels, PWD and forest Rest Houses.

Sirmaur also has a lake at the Saketi Fossil Park. Nahan, the district headquaters has four large tanks - Kalisthan tank, Pukka tank, Kutcha tank and ranital. And, there is another large pond at Trilokpur.

Shimla, Himachal Pradesh

   Shimla, also known as Simla, the former summer capital of the British in India, and the present capital of the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh, located in northern India. Shimla has been blessed with all the natural bounties which one can think of. It has got a scenic location, it is surrounded by green hills with snow capped peaks. The spectacular cool hills accompanied by the structures made during the colonial era creates an aura which is very different from other hill. It is bounded by Mandi and Kullu in the north, Kinnaur in the east, the state of Uttarakhand in the south-east, and Solan and Sirmaur to the south. The elevation of the city ranges from 300 to 2200 metres, Shimla is well known as a hub for India's tourism sector. It is among the top 10 preferred entrepreneurial locations in India.

   In 1864, Shimla was declared as the summer capital of British India, succeeding Murree, northeast of Rawalpindi. After independence, the city became the capital of Punjab and was later named the capital of Himachal Pradesh. 

   As a large and growing city, Shimla is home to many well-recognized colleges and research institutions in India. The city has a large number of temples and palaces. Shimla is also well noted for its buildings styled in Tudorbethan and neo-Gothic architecture dating from the colonial era.

   Owing to its scenic terrain, Shimla is home to the legendary mountain biking race MTB Himalaya. The event was started in 2005 and is now regarded as the biggest event in South East Asia.

Passenger train Kalka-Shimla  

     The Kalka-Shimla railway line, constructed in 1906, added to Shimla's accessibility and popularity. The railway route from Kalka to Shimla, with more than 806 bridges and 103 tunnels, was touted as an engineering feat and came to be known as the "British Jewel of the Orient".[7] In 2008, it became part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site, Mountain railways of India.

Skiing is a popular tourist activity in Shimla.

Places to visit 

The Mall

 The Mall is the main shopping street of Shimla. It also has many restaurants, clubs, banks, bars, Post Offices and tourist offices. The Gaiety Theatre is also situated there.

Christ Church

Situated on The Ridge, Christ Church is the second oldest church in Northern India. It has a very majestic appearance and inside there are stained glass windows which represent faith, hope, charity, fortitude, patience and humility.

Jakhu Hill

2 km from Shimla, at a height of 8000 ft, Jakhu Hill is the highest peak an offers a beautiful view of the town and of the snow-covered Himalayas. At the top of the Hill, is an old temple of Lord Hanuman, which is also the home of countless playful monkeys waiting to be fed by all visitors. A 108 feet (33 metre) statue of Lord Hanuman, a Hindu deity, at 8,500 feet (2,591 metres) above sea level, is single statue to stand at the highest altitude among several other master pieces in the world, overtaking the Christ Redeemer in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Jutogh

Located just 8 km away from the city centre, this army cantonment is near Totu, an important suburb of Shimla city.

Shimla State Museum

The Museum, which was opened in 1974, has tried to protect hill-out and the cultural wealth of the state. There is a collection of miniature Pahari paintings, sculptures, bronzes wood-carvings and also costumes, textiles and jewellery of the region.

Indian Institute of Advanced Study

This institute is housed at the former Viceregal Lodge, built in 1884-88.

Summer Hill

Situated at a distance of 5 km from The Ridge is the lovely township of Summer Hill, at a height of 6,500 ft on the Shimla-Kalka railway line. Mahatma Gandhi lived in these quiet surroundings during his visits to Shimla. Himachal Pradesh University is situated here.

Annandale

Developed as the playground of Shimla, Annandale is 2–4 km from The Ridge at a height of 6,117 ft. It is a very big beautiful ground, but not meant for playing as it comes under the Indian Army.

Tara Devi

11 km from the Shimla bus-stand. Tara Devi hill has a temple dedicated to the goddess of stars on top of the hill. There is a military Dairy Town here as well as the headquarters of Bharat Scouts and Guides.

Sankat Mochan

A very famous Lord Hanuman temple is located here.

Junga

Junga is near Tehsi, 26 km from Shimla. Its original name (with diacritics) is Jūnga and is a former royal retreat of the princely state of Keonthal. It is also known as the Keonthal Estate.

Anand Vilas

Midway between Shimla and Junga. "Sarva Dharma Mandir", Temple of all Faiths, is a spiritual group dedicated to Mother Nature. Thousands of visitors and devotees come here every year. There is an "Art is Values" school with students from all over India. Classes are provided free of cost.

Totu 

A major developing suburb of Shimla on NH-88. Houses Jutogh railway station & HimFed under Govt. of Himachal Pradesh.

Mashobra 

13 km from Shimla, site of the annual Sipi fair in June.

Kufri

16 km from Shimla at a height of 8,600 ft, Kufri is the local winter sports centre, and it also has a small zoo.

Chharabra

13 km from Shimla on route to Kufri.

Naldehra

22 km from Shimla, with a nine-hole Naldehra Golf Club. The annual Sipi fair in June is held in Naldehra.

Chail

Chail was built as summer retreat by the Maharaja of Patiala during the British Raj, it is known for its cricket pitch, the highest in the world.

Tattapani

Location of sulphur springs which are found near the Tatapani mandir(holy temple)

Sanjauli

The main suburb of Shimla.

Pandoh Lake

RESERVOIR

Location

   19 km from Mandi, on National Highway 21 which leads to Kullu and Manali.

Targeted at the generation of hydel power, an earth and rock-fill dam has created this lake from where a tunnel diverts the water of the river Beas and pours it into the river Sutlej and the combined waters feed the Gobind Sagar. Fishing and boating are available.

Chamera Lake

RESERVOIR

Loacation

   In district Chamba, this the reservoir of the Chamera dam built over the river Ravi.

   Phase 1 of the project generates 540 Mega watt of electricity. Phase 2 which is under way will add another 300 Mega Watt. The lake offers a variety of water sports.

Gobind Sagar

RESERVOIR

Location:

   This vast reservoir lies in the district of Bilaspur and Una. The town of Bilaspur is 83 km from the railway station of Anandpur Sahib.

   The Gobind Sagar over the river Sutlej is the result of the huge hydel dam of Bhakra and is named in honour of Gobind Singh the tenth Sikh Guru. One of the world’s highest gravity dams, the Bhakra rises 225.5 m above its lowest foundations. Under the supervision of the famous American dam builder, Harvey Slocum, work began in 1955 and was completed in 1962. Incidently, Slocum had no formal training as an engineer, but his conceptions and designs had been proven successful. To maintain the level of water, the flow of the river Beas was also channeled to the Gobind Sagar by the Beas-Sutlej Link which was completed in 1976. Today, this dam feeds electricity and water to several states of north India. Its reservoir – the Gobind Sagar is 90 km long and encompasses an area of approximately 170 sq km.

   As far back as 1962, the Gobind Sagar was declared a ‘Water Fowl Refuge’ and even today, hosts a variety of water and shore birds, fishing is a regular activity and fifty-one species and sub-species have been recorded. The varieties found, include Labeo dero, Tor putitora,mystus seenghala and mirror carp and allied species. Fishing licences may be obtained from the Department of Fisheries at Bilaspur.

   Water sports are available – as are speed – boat and ferry rides. In October and November, when the water level of the reservoir is at its peak, a series of regattas are also organized by the Department of Tourism and Civil Aviation. Water-skiing, sailing, kayaking and water-scooter racing become available at this time.

Other Attractions

   Connected by a rope-way, the shrine of Naina Devi overlooks the Gobind Sagar. The adjoining wildlife sanctuary holds sambhar, wild boar, barking deer and red jungle fowl. Several old forts and the towns of Swarghat and Bilaspur are near the Gobind Sagar. Bilaspur has a large sports complex. The mirror carp hatchery is also accessible from the lake.

Maharana Pratap Sagar

RESERVOIR

Maharana Pratap Sagar

Maharana Pratap Sagar. 450 m above sea level.

Location

   Maharana Pratap Sagar is 32 degrees North and 76 degrees East. In District Kangra. 170 km from Chandigarh, 110 km from Amritsar, 55 km from the district headquarters at Dharamshala. The closest railway stations are at Mukerian-30 km, and Pathankot-32 km. The settlements of Nagrota Surian and Jawali-which are located on the Sagar’s periphery-are connected by the charming narrow gauge Kangra Railway Line that connects Pathankot to Jogindernagar. The closest airport is at Gaggal-40 km. the lake is well served by a network of roads.

   Named in honour of the great patriot Maharana Pratap, the Maharana pratap sagar was once known as the Pong Dam Reservoir. India knows the Maharana Pratap Sagar was once known as the Pong Dam Reservoir. India knows the Maharana as a man who struggled valiantly for his kingdom of Mewar-as for the principle of independence. In the words of the chroniclers James Tod and William Crooke,”Hespurned every overture that had submission for its basis”. Over the river Beas, the ‘Pong Dam’ was completed in 1976. Its reservoir has an area of about 45,000 hectares at maximum possible flooding-the level varies with every season and overages around 30,000 hectares. Over 200 villages with a population of over 85,000 people lie along the wetland.

In 1983, the Sagar was declared a wildlife sanctuary and over 220 species of birds belonging to 54 families have been sighted over the waters and the fringing mud-banks-these include black-headed gulls, plovers, terns, ducks, water-fowl and egrets. The first sighting in the region of the red-necked grebe was made at the Sagar. The wetland’s location at the head of the Indian plains has made it a suitable habitat and stopover for migratory birds that enter India from central Asia.

   The land portion of the sanctuary has barking deer, sambar, wild boars, nilgai, leopards and claw-less otters.

   Twenty-seven species and sub-species of fish belonging to six families have been recorded in the Sagar’s waters. Some of the important commercial varieties are-Labeo dero, Labeo rohita, Labeo calbasu, Tor Putitora and Mystus seenghala. Since 1976, fishing has been a major economic activity in the area and today, this provides employment to some 1,500 fishermen and the annual catch is valued at over a crore rupees.

   There is a branch of the Directorate of Mountaineering and Allied Sports at the Sagar and year-round activities include swimming, water-skilling, surfing, kayaking, rowing, canoeing and sailing. The Directorate of Tourism and Civil Aviation provides equipment at Sagar this includes sail boats, paddle boats, speed aero boats, life buoys, water scooters, speed boats, rafts, life jackets, water skis and wet suits. Various courses-beginners, intermediate and advanced-are also conducted at the Sagar.

Other Attractions

   The sagar is close to several places of Hindu pilgrimage-Jawalamukhi, Chamunda Devi, Chintpurni, Brajeshwari Devi, Mahakalesar, Bagolamata and Naina Devi. The seat of his holiness the Dalai Lama at Mcleodganj and the Namgyal monastery are a short drive away. The other Buddhist monasteries at hand are Tashijong and Bir-Billing.

   The Kangra area is rearded as amongst the best in this part of the world for Paragliding. There are many sites of architectural importance, old forts and palaces that are close to the Sagar. For example, the forts of Kangra, Mangarh, Tira(Sujanpur) and the monolithic temple of Masrur.

   This area was the cradle of the Kangra school of miniature painting. Near the Sagar is Haripur-Guler which was a major centre of the art. There are rare exhibits at the Kangra Art Gallery at Dharamsala.

   The area has several trek routes for which the sagar can act as the base camp.