|
|
Named in honour of the great patriot 'Maharana Pratap' (1572
- 97 AD), 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, "He
spurned 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 45,0000 hectares at maximum possible flooding - the
level varies with every season and averages around 30,000 hectares. Over
2,000 villages with a population of over 85, people are lying along the
wetland.
THE WILDLIFE SANCTUARY
In 1983, the Sagar was declared a wildlife sanctuary and over 2,20
species of bird 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 borars,
nilgai, leopards and claw-less others.
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 (Gid), Labeo rohita, Labeo Calbasu, Tor
putitora (Mahsir), and Mystus seenghala (Singhara). Since 1976, fishing
has been a major economic activity in the areas and today, this provides
employment to some 1,500 fishermen and the annual catch is valued at over
a corore rupees.
TOURIST INFORMATION
There is a branch of the Directorate of Mountaineering and Allied Sports
at the Sagar and year-round activities include swimming, water-skiing,
surfing, kayaking, rowing, canoeing and sailing. The Directorate of
Tourism and Civil Aviation provides equipment at the Sagar, this includes
sail boats, paddle boats, speed aero boats, life jackets, water skis and
wet suits. Various course-beginners, intermediate and advanced - are also
conducted at the Sagar.
Air: The closest airport is at Gaggal 40-km. The
lake is well served by the network of Roads.
Rail: The closest railway stations are at Mukerian - 30-km, and
Pathankot - 32-km. The settlements of Nagrota Surian an Jawali - which are
located on the Sagar's periphery - are connected by the charming narrow
gauge Kangra Railway Line that connects Pathankot to Joginder Nagar.
Road: Located in district Kangra
and is 170-km from Chandigarh
, 110-km from Amritsar, 55-km from the district headquarters at
Dharamsala.
Hotels, Guest Houses, Forest and PWD Rest Houses are
available at nearby Dharamsala,
Dehra, Sansarpur Terrace, Dada Siba and Nagrota Surlan.