12 August 2015
Tourist Attractions In Chandigarh, India - Sukhna Lake
Below is a personal video of my visit to Sukhna lake...
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About Sukhna LakeSukhna Lake is a man made lake that was created by Le Corbusier, the French architect-designer and Chief engineer P L Verma in 1958, at the foothills of the Himalayan range, the Shivalik Hills, in Chandigarh city, India. It is a 3 kilometer square lake that is rainfed. It was made by containing the seasonal stream, Sukhna Choe, that streams down the Shivalik Hills, by building a dam.
As a lot of silt entered the lake, via this seasonal stream a sizeable amount of land before the catchment area was grown with vegetation, to prevent silt flowing into the lake. In 1974, however, the Sukhna Choe was diverted and now it bypasses the lake completely. Instead, the lake is now fed by 3 siltation pots. The top of the dam, since then, has become a favorite promenade. One can see early morning joggers going through their routine savoring the fresh, crisp morning air. Others find it a tranquil spot to meditate, while many others like to amble on the dew covered grass, that is widespread in the garden which is in the close vicinity.
People can be seen picnicking and some having a siesta. Tourists, couples and families can be seen thronging the promenade to have a glimpse of the beautiful sunset as well as to enjoy some of the many joyrides like the boat rides, mini train ride, camel rides, etc as also to consume the local cuisine dished out by the many fast food shops situated the promenade. In winter, Sukhna lake becomes a useful sanctuary for the various migratory birds like the Siberian ducks, storks and cranes, that throng here annually. Sukhna lake is a gift by the founding fathers of Chandigarh city, to the people of Chandigarh. It was ensured to become a calming retreat from the hustle and bustle of the ever growing city, where men, women and children could come to enjoy some moments of peace and tranquility in the lap of nature. To the South of the lake is the golf course while to its west, is the world famous Rock Garden. The promenade is curvilinear in shape and is dotted with trees. A garden with loads of flower bearing plants and other greenery adorn the proximal end of the promenade. Various festival celebrations are held at Sukhna lake. The Mango festival held here during the monsoon season, is one such very popular and famous festival. Food festivals along with cultural performances of different states of the country are held here throughout the year.. The lake club at Sukhna lake offers membership with facilities of lawns, indoor games, a gym, swimming pool and tennis courts. Sukhna lake is a must see tourist spot for visitors to Chandigarh city. Note:
All photos are the author's personal property |
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