Spanning more than 24,500 hectares, Pong Dam Lake—also known as Maharana Pratap Sagar—is an internationally recognised Ramsar site renowned for its rich biodiversity, large-scale fish production and thriving migratory bird population. However, despite its immense ecological, historical and tourism potential, the wetland has failed to emerge as a major tourist destination.
The Pong Wetland Wildlife Sanctuary attracts more than one lakh migratory and resident birds every winter and sustains the livelihoods of local communities through extensive fishing activities. Yet tourism stakeholders and residents allege that strict restrictions imposed by the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) around the dam area have discouraged tourism development.
Locals have urged the state government to develop eco-tourism infrastructure at key sites such as Bathu ki Ladi, Pong Wildlife Sanctuary and Rancer Island.
Rakesh Kumar, an eco-tourism expert, said facilities for birdwatching, cycling, hot-air ballooning, horse riding, photography and water-based recreation could transform the region into a major tourist hub.
Tourism stakeholders have also called for greater involvement of local communities in tourism activities to generate employment and strengthen the rural economy.
CM Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu inaugurated a five-storey Wildlife Interpretation Centre worth Rs 3.20 crore at Bassa near Nagrota Surian in the Jawali Assembly constituency in February 2025. However, apart from the cafeteria, the facility remains largely unused.
Similarly, 15 tourist huts constructed at Suknara in 2012 under NABARD funding have fallen into disrepair. Built by the Wildlife Wing of the State Forest Department to promote eco-tourism and provide accommodation for visitors to the Pong Wetland Wildlife Sanctuary, many of the huts are now damaged, overgrown with weeds and unusable.
Meanwhile, the seasonal re-emergence of the centuries-old temple cluster at Bathu ki Ladi has continued to attract tourists and devotees. The historic site remains submerged for nearly eight months and resurfaces only when the lake’s water level recedes in summer. Visitors gather in numbers to witness the rare sight of temples emerging from the waters of the wetland. The surrounding landscape of calm waters and sandy stretches has drawn comparisons with coastal beaches and has become increasingly popular for photography, pre-wedding shoots and birdwatching. Despite the growing footfall, tourism infrastructure at the site remains inadequate.
The Pong Wetland is also home to the country’s only Regional Water Sports Training Centre. Established in 1980 on 270 kanal of leased land following an agreement between the state government and the BBMB, the centre provides professional training in 10 water sports disciplines.
Under the agreement, commercial activities are prohibited within a 1.5-km radius of the centre. However, officials recently permitted commercial boating in the restricted area through an auction , a move that the many claim is affecting professional training activities.
Rancer Island, located within the wildlife sanctuary area, is also regarded as one of the wetland’s most scenic destinations because of its blue waters and lush green surroundings.
Vinay Dhiman, Tourism Development Officer for Kangra district, said the Himachal Pradesh Tourism and Civil Aviation Department had submitted a detailed project report worth around Rs 40 crore to the Centre more than a year ago under the Swadesh Darshan-II scheme for sustainable eco-tourism development at Pong Lake. He added that approval for the project was still awaited.