Gobind Sagar Lake

Gobind Sagar lake is basically a man-made reservoir which is built in the year 1976. The main source of this lake is the hydel dam that is situated in Bhakra. Bhakra dam comes under the world’s highest gravity dams which is nestled at an elevation of 225.5 metres above its foundations. The Gobind Sagar lake that is actually a reservoir of Bhakra dam is 90 kilometres long and covers an area around 170 sq kms. Late Pt. Jawahar Lal Nehru was the person who thought about the well-being of the nation and thus designed this dam on 20th November, 1963, under the supervision of the American dam-builder, Harvey Slocum. The Gobind Sagar lake is named in honor of Guru Gobind Singh, the tenth Sikh guru.

Many localities say that there were around 28 temples that lie below the water and only rise when the water level decreases. Every year when the water lowers down, then the Gobind Sagar lake reveals the ruins of ancient temples and this take place during winter and the early summers.

Mythological Point

Address-It is located at River Sutlej, near Bhakra Dam, Bilaspur, Himachal Pradesh. located at River Sutlej, near Bhakra Dam, Bilaspur, Himachal Pradesh.
Best time to visit-The weather from March to October remains quite pleasant and that is the most ideal time to visit the Gobind Sagar lake.
Entry time-Eventhough the lake can be visited anytime but the dam gates are kept closed before sunset for the safety purpose.
Coordinates-31 degree 25 minutes North 76 degree 30 minutes East
Type- Reservoir
Primary inflows-4.4-8.0 million cusecs
Primary outflows-4.9-7.0 million cusecs
Maximum depth-163.07m(535.0 ft.)
Water Volume-7,501,775 acre

The visually appealing and attention-grabbing lake is popular for sightseeing, various adventure activities, bird-watching, etc. This place is best for nature lovers and adventure freaks as it is surrounded by different kinds of plants and flowers.

Gobind Sagar lake is located amidst the Himalayan range and is known for its ethereal beauty. The lush green mountains and the trees of various species add a natural charm to this place. Gobind Sagar was like a home to many birds and animals, therefore, around 1962, the lake was identified as the ‘waterfowl refuge’. Even today, the lake acts as a shelter for many animals like Wolf, Panther, Four-horned antelope, Hyena, Wild boar, Sloth bear, and many more. Fishing is a regular activity which is done in the reservoir. It also provides shelter to approximately fifty species and sub-species of fishes named as Tor Putitora(Mahasheer), Labeo Dero(Gid), Mirror Carp, and Mystus Seenghala(Singhara).

In accordance with climate change, the water level over here keeps on varying. The Gobind Sagar lake is one of the best tourist places you can encounter in Himachal Pradesh and one can enjoy numerous sports activities here like swimming, water-skiing, kayaking, surfing, rowing, river rafting, and canoeing. These sports courses are generally conducted at three levels that are beginners, intermediate, and advanced. There are several boarding, lodging, and equipment amenities provided by the tourism industry that assists the tourists to explore a bit more about the place. August to January is the best time period to play these water sports. The Himachal Pradesh tourism plays a very important role as they conduct all the water sports activities for the enjoyment of the people. The Department Of Tourism and Civil Aviation is really strict with its rules and regulations when it comes to people’s safety.

How To Reach

The Bhakra Dam is approximately 13 kilometers far from the town of Nangal which is situated in Punjab and can be reached through a taxi or a cab at a reasonable rate. You can also travel to Bilaspur which is located in Himachal Pradesh, which is linked by road to two of the major tourist destinations like Shimla and Chandigarh. Bilaspur is just 50 kilometers away from Gobind Sagar lake, so you can reach easily here and enjoy the serene view.