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Bhakra
Dam |
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Gobind Sagar Lake |
New
Bilaspur Town |
Kandrour Bridge |
Deoli
Fish Farm |
Namhol |
Kol Dam |
Swarghat |
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Bhakra Dam : Bhakhra
Dam, the highest straight gravity dam in the world situated in Naina Devi Sub-Tehsil about
14 Kms. from Nangal town occupies the predominant position amongst the places of tourist
interest.
The idea for the construction
of this dam was conceived by Sir Louis Dane the then Lieutenant Governor of Punjab, who
travelled from Sunni to Bilaspur and then onward to Ropar. The project could not make
headway due to prohibitive cost of construction. In the year 1938-39 the districts of
Rohtak and Hissar of the then Punjab State experienced severe drought resulting in great
loss of human life and cattle. The scheme was again mooted out but was not executed due to
second world war. It was only after independence in March, 1948 that the work was taken in
hand for execution. On the historic day of 17th November, 1955 later Prime
Minister Shri Jawahar Lal Nehru placed the first bucket of concrete at the foundation. The
constructin of dam was completed in October, 1962.
The height of the dam is 226
metres, length at the top is 518 metres and width 9 metres. It has a length of 99 metres
at the bottom and width 402 metres. The project derives its name from two villages Bhakhra
and Nangal situated on the foot hills of the low Himalayan ranges.
Bhakhra occupies a very
important place on the Indias tourist map and has rightly been described as a
New Temple of Resurgent India, by the late Prime Minister Mr. Nehru. The
project authorities have set up a Public Relation Office in Nangal Township which provides
necessary help and guidance to the tourists. |
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Gobind Sagar Lake : The Gobind Sagar on river
Sutlej, has been created by the
huge hydel dam at 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. Incidentally, Slocum had no formal training as an
engineer, but his conceptions and designs have proven successful. To maintain the level of
water, the flow of river Beas was also channeled to Gobind Sagar by the Beas-Sutlej link
which was completed in 1976. Today, this dam feeds electricity and water to a large area
the Gobind Sagar reservoir is 90 k.m. long and encompasses an area of approximately 170
sq. k.m.
There are
provisions for water sports speed boats and ferry rides. In October and November, when the
water level of the reservoir is at its peak, a series of regattas are also organizing by
the department of Tourism and Civil Aviation. Water-skiing, sailing, kayaking and water
scooter racing are popular water sports activities during this period.
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New
Bilaspur Town
: The
old Bilaspur town, has now been submerged in the Govind Sagar, was founded in year 1663 when the
capital of the state was shifted from Sunhani to this place, it was situated on the south
east side of the Satluj. New Bilaspur Town is situated just above the old town of Bilaspur
at a height of 670 metres above the mean sea level. The New Township Bilaspur has been
conceived, planned and built on modern lines and should be regarded as the first planned
hill town of the country. The new planned township, 64-km from Kiratpur on the Manali
National Highway No-21, has come up which is the seat of district headquarters. The
pleasure of a visit will be enhanced manifold when a motor launch is preferred as the
means of travel, gliding through cool and enchanting waters of the lake. The best months
from visiting this place are from September to December.
The Nalwari or Annual cattle fair is held at Bilaspur for four or five days in March
months, the occasion is marked by wrestling and other amusements. A good trade is usually
done. Cattle are brought from Nalagarh and neighboring parts of Punjab sell over here.
It is easily approachable as regular bus services are maintained from and to Shimla,
Mandi, Hamirpur and Chandigarh. The places of interest were the temples of Sri Naina Devi
Ji, Raghu Nath Ji, Gopal Ji, Khanmukheshwar and Deomati where fairs are held. |
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Kandrour Bridge
: The very beautiful and fascinating Kandrour Bridge is 8 kilometres from Bilaspur on
National Highway No-88. It is across the river Satluj. Its construction was started in
April,1959 and was completed in 1965. The total cost of construction came to Rs.
28,12,998. The span of the bridge is about 280 meters with a breadth of about seven meters
and the height above the lowest river bed below is about 80 meters, making it one of the
highest bridge in the world. It is ranked first in Asia for its height. It has provided a
link between Bilaspur, Ghumarwin and Hamirpur district, and is a marvellous engineering
feat. The pillars supporting the bridge are hollowed. The bridge was opened by Shri Raj
Bahadur, Minister of Transport in 1965. |
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Deoli Fish
Farm : Deoli Fish Farm is
situated at a distance of 15 Kms from New Bilaspur township towards Mandi just below the
Shimla-Mandi Road. It comprising 4.4 hectares comes in existence 1962. It consists of two
big brood stock tanks and 14 nursery ponds. The total outlay on setting up this hatchery
was 3.68 lacks. In beginning the farms activities were limited to meet the seed stocking
requirements of Gobind Sagar reservoir, but its targets were increased year to year and
research, training, technique and demonstration brought under the farm programmed. During
1978 fish species being record at the farm were demonstrated to the people by constructing
a small aquarium and its aim was to apprise the popular. During 1989 a training center and
Hostel were constructed within the farm premises so that training course be imparted to
the departmental personnel and interested fish farmers. Now training camps are being
conducted with modern fish breeding and culture technique training are imparted.
This farm has not only historic
importance but is can be known as a center breeding excellent training in fish culture
and research programmed. Keeping in view the commendable work done in the field of
breeding, the Punjab University extended its recognition for undertaking research work at
this farm. The Deoli fish farm has played a major role in breeding fish population in
Gobind Sagar reservoir, income of the reservoir fishermen and their lives prosperous. For
the first time Silver Carp fish was stocked in Gobind Sagar reservoir from Deoli farm.
Every year 30-40 lacks mirror carp
fingerlings are being produced at the farm and these are stocked in Gobind Sagar reservoir
and other water bodies in the State and distributed to the private fish farms. Due to
regular stocking in Gobind Sagar reservoir for the last decade at has a unique capacity of
fish production per hectare in the country and this credit goes to Deoli farm.
The
scientists of ICAR and State Fisheries Department initiated a joint research project viz.
Genetic Rejuvenation of Fish Stock in HP. The Bio-Science
Department started this project entire funded about 18.00 lacks. A quality strain of
fish is being reared under this project and distributed to the fish farmers.
Under
this technique demonstration programme a new scheme namely Fish Culture in Running
Water was introduced for the first time at the farm. This scheme was observed
suitable especially in high altitude of Himachal Pradesh on the basis of success of this
technique the Govt of India incorporated this scheme under the Centrally Sponsored Fish
Farmers Development Agency subsidy programme. The NABARD Bank has also approved this
scheme namely Fish Culture in Running Water which resulted in setting up of
about 1000 units in the State.
In
recent years sport fisheries is fostering in the Gobind Sagar reservoir which clearly
indicates vast potential of attracting tourists. The Deptt regularly organizes angling
completions every year. In Gobind Sagar and Mahseer
fish which is a famous and most liked fish of the anglers is an important fish of this
reservoir. As the breeding of Mahseer fish is
not a easy job hence the Punjab University and State Fisheries Department jointly prepared
a project of Rs. 19.00 lacks it was got approved from ICAR. Present hatchery set up at the
Deoli farm has been constructed under this scheme. Under this scheme matured Mahseer fish would be brought from his habitat and
bred in comfortable situation. |
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Namhol :
Namhol an small hamlet is situated at about 24 kms. from Bilaspur and 68 Kms. from Shimla
on the Bilaspur-Shimla motorable road on which regular bus service is maintained. There is
a Thakurdwar which was built by Raja Amar Chand in 1883 A.D. Brass idols of Ram, Lakshman,
Sita and Hanuman are installed in the temple. The place is the main centre of ginger
trade. There are a Police Post, a Senior Secondary School, an Ayurvedic Dispensary, a
Branch Post Office, a State Bank of India and a PWD Rest House. |
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Swarghat :
At an elevation of 1128 meters from the sea level, Swarghat, once the
summer capital of Raja Bilaspur, is situated at a distance of about 42 Kms. from Bilaspur
on the Bilaspur-Chandigarh NH 21. Surrounded by pine trees it is a beautiful place and is
elevated to the status of a tehsil headquarters of Naina Devi. Naina Devi Ji temple
and Bhakra Dam, are also approachable from here. There is Lakshmi Narain Temple in the
village. This is an ideal spot for a quite over night stay. In the night, the view, while
lights twinkle in the plain of Punjab, is worth seeing. It is a perfect halting place for
tourists traveling from plains which once can take the breath of cool breeze. HPTDC, has
recently constructed a 8 room hotel Hill Top here. The building site on the Hill Top
is overlooking the plains of Punjab and thick forest of the Pine. In winter the
temperature is mild in Swarghat when heavy woolens are required. Summer is very pleasant
and cottons are recommended. |
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