A Guide To Pandoh Dam, Mandi

Pandoh Dam
Tenissa
Tenissa 
Published
| 3 min read

Himachal Pradesh is one of the destinations to visit when talking about vacationing in India. The state is known for its tons of attractions, such as Mandi, a major town situated in Mandi District. The town features numerous attractions that let you appreciate the beauty of nature, and one of the most popular ones is Pandoh Dam. Built on Beas River in 1977, the dam’s main purpose is to provide enough electricity that is used for various purposes by the local people who reside in the nearby rural areas. It can generate Hydroelectric power. This dam attracts a lot of tourists, both local and international, because of its water that boasts a greenish-blue color, which is very pleasant to the eyes. Moreover, the surrounding area of the dam is lush greenery. If you’re planning to visit this fascinating attraction, Check out this guide to Pandoh Dam, Mandi.

Things to do/highlights

Pandoh Lake
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Shailenguleria3 used under CC BY-SA 4.0

Enjoy the calm and relaxing vibes

Surrounded by pine forests, the dam itself already exudes a calm and relaxed atmosphere. Once you set foot at the dam, take a moment to close your eyes and forget the world around you as you breathe in the peace and tranquility of the area.

Enjoy a sunbath or take a rejuvenating dip in the water

The turquoise water of the dam, which is also referred to by many people as a lake, invites you to relish a sunbath on a fine morning or afternoon. Or, you can simply take a short dip in the water and feel how rejuvenated you are in an instant.

Go camping or have a picnic in the surrounding area

If you come with your loved ones, it will be a great time for bonding while camping in the surrounding area. As this is an isolated area, you can enjoy camping or a picnic in the middle of a picturesque landscape. If you travel solo or with a partner for a romantic getaway, you will also have a heavenly island feeling after you spend the night here. In the morning, a flock of birds singing beautifully will wake you up.

Visited this place?

Travel tips

Himachal Pradesh
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Balaji.B used under CC BY-SA 2.0

Best time to visit

You are welcome to visit the dam at any time throughout the year. Any time you visit, there will surely be a lot of other tourists. But, if you want to marvel at the powerful flow of the dam water then the best time to visit is during monsoons. However, if you love the snow and you want to see how beautiful it is when the snow starts covering the water, then you should visit during the winter months. Mandi is one of the areas in Himachal Pradesh that is blessed with snowfall.

Watch out for pickpockets

As you already know that India is one of the most populated countries in the world, and when there are a lot of people, there will always be pickpockets waiting to seize the opportunity to steal from careless tourists. That is why you should always be mindful of your surrounding. When you are enjoying the water or taking pictures, always take care of your belongings. If possible, keep your belongings where you can see them, that is in front of you.

Indulge in various adventures

There is part of the water that is the ideal place to conduct various water activities and sports. To experience the best of Pandoh Dam, you should try the most popular activity, whitewater rafting, which is suitable for rafters of all levels. Another exciting activity is trekking. Overcome the challenges presented by the rugged terrain surrounding the dam.

Visited this place?

How to get there

HRTC bus from inside in rural Himachal
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Snjsharma used under CC BY-SA 4.0

Private taxi

Getting anywhere in Mandi is quick, easy, and convenient when you hire a private taxi. You can just inform the driver that you would like to go to Pandoh Dam. As a local, the driver should be knowledgeable about this popular tourist attraction. Prepare small money in case the driver does not have any change and do not forget to tip them as well.

Himachal tourism bus

If you want to travel by bus, you can always choose to get on an official bus, the Himachal tourism bus. It is safe and will get you right to the designated destination.

Public bus

An alternative to the Himachal tourism bus is a public bus. This is for tourists who are interested in living like the local people, understanding their lifestyle, and having a chat along the way. One thing to take note of is safety. The public bus in India is likely to be packed with passengers, and you should watch out for pickpockets around you.

Train

For those traveling from outside Mandi, you can catch the Delhi-Una Himachal express that terminates at Kiratpur Sahib. From there, board a bus that should reach Mandi in about 3.5 hours.

Visited this place?

Pandoh Dam Information

Pandoh Dam
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Narender Sharma, ... used under CC BY-SA 4.0

Pandoh Dam

Address: Mandi, Himachal Pradesh, India

Department of tourism: Visit Mandi

Visited this place?
Any must-sees we missed? Tell us about them in the comments section or write a post here to help out fellow travelers!
Disclosure: Trip101 selects the listings in our articles independently. Some of the listings in this article contain affiliate links.

History


Get Trip101 in your inbox

Unsubscribe in one click. See our Privacy Policy for more information on how we use your data

Tenissa is a content writer, translator and editor. She enjoys being a globetrotter and has traveled to many countries around the world. So far, her favourite destination is Switzerland. She looks...Read more

 Want to contribute as a Local Expert?
Explore Pandoh Dam
x
Good things are meant to be shared!
Back to top
Visited any of these places? Click this button to activate our "Add a Tip" feature to share your experience.