Sukhna Lake
Sukhna Lake is a refreshing place that keeps you away from the bustling city life of Chandigarh. The huge man made lake was created by the architect of Chandigarh, Le Corbusier. The lake draws water from the surrounding Shivalik Hills which marks the beginning of the mighty Himalayas. The main source of water to this lake is from a small stream called Sukhna Choe. The lake is named Sukhna Lake after this stream.
The lake was the integral part of the Chandigarh city planning. As Chandigarh was going to be the capital of two states, Le Corbusier felt that the residents of the city would require a recreational space to divert their minds away from the daily routine of city life. The lake was designed and created with two conditions set to the administration (which is not broken till date)! First, there would be no vehicular movement around the lake. Second, no motor boats would be allowed in the lake.
The water that flows in to the lake also brings in a lot of silt. Until recently, an annual program was conducted where volunteers would lend a hand to desilt the lake. Lots of volunteers and children from schools used to participate in this program year after year. However, recently, the program was cancelled as the number of volunteers dropped, and were replaced by many machines that served the same purpose. However, during heavy monsoon, the water still gets a lot of silt with it that gets accumulated in the lake. If you look at the lake today, you can clearly make out the difference in the color of the water at the banks of the lake as compared to the middle portion of the lake!
Irrespective of the issues being faced by the lake, it still provides a refreshing change from the busy city life. It is an awesome sight to see the huge lake and the surrounding hills. A stroll around the lake feeling the gentle and chilly breeze attracts quite a few visitors to this place. Visitors can also opt for pedal boating around the lake. From the boat house, you can also take a boat ride to the nearby “Shoe Island”. The island is named because of its shape that resembles a shoe. You can see a variety of birds in and around this tiny island.
Locals fishing at Sukhna Lake
In addition to admiring the natural beauty, Sukhna Lake also has several attractions that can keep the visitors busy. Apart from going for a pedal boating, or a shikhara ride, visitors can take a ride around the lake on a camel! Kids/Children can enjoy mini bungee jumping, mechanical bull ride and several slides too! You can take a break at the cafe near the boat house, or visit a souvenir shop, or even look for sketches from Le Corbusier himself! If you visit early in the day, or towards the evening, you can witness amazing sunrise and sunset views over the lake!
If you are in or around Chandigarh, Sukhna Lake is definitely worth a visit.
Location
Where to stay?
Chandigarh
Distance Chart
From | Distance (in km) |
Shimla | 115 |
Dehradun | 165 |
Amritsar | 230 |
Delhi | 255 |
Well written!
The beauty of this place has been portrayed with an utmost flow of words. Hope you find my experience of visiting Sukhna Lake worth a read. Visit here: Sukhna Lake- The Manmade Poetry
Thank you for your kind words 🙂