Bilaspur district in Himachal Pradesh is set to launch water sports and new tourist attractions at Gobind Sagar Lake and Kol Dam, inspired by the tourism models of Kerala and Goa. The announcement was made by officials on Sunday, signaling a major step toward boosting local tourism.
Chief Minister Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu will inaugurate cruises and shikara rides on Gobind Sagar Lake after September 15, according to officials. “The cruises and shikaras are expected to arrive within the next 10 to 15 days,” said Bilaspur Deputy Commissioner Abid Hussain Sadiq. So far, jet skis, advanced motorboats, and rescue boats have already arrived in Bilaspur.
Tourism activities in Bilaspur will center around Gobind Sagar Lake and Kol Dam, with development efforts modeled after successful ventures in Kerala and Goa, according to Sadiq. He noted that Bilaspur would be the first district in Himachal Pradesh to offer these kinds of attractions.
The state’s tourism department has now officially approved year-round water sports at Gobind Sagar Lake, which will provide consistent opportunities for tourists. Sadiq also mentioned plans to develop Mandi-Bharari, located along the Kiratpur-Nerchowk highway, into a tourism spot with features like a zipline and a skywalk bridge.
In a separate development, Chief Minister Sukhu reviewed projects related to the Dehra assembly seat on Sunday and urged officials to expedite their completion.
During his visit to Dehra in Kangra district, Sukhu addressed delays in construction projects, particularly the government college building, which has been held up by forest department-related issues. He called for swift progress on various key projects, including a circuit house, an indoor stadium, a superintendent of police office, a critical care unit at Dehra hospital, and new offices for the Public Works Department, Jal Shakti, and the Electricity Board.
Sukhu highlighted Kangra’s priority development as Himachal Pradesh’s “tourism capital,” with several projects in the Dehra constituency planned under this initiative. He also pushed for faster progress on the construction of a zoological park at Bankhandi and emphasized the importance of developing infrastructure around Pong Dam to attract more visitors. Potential tourist sites in the region are currently being identified as part of these efforts.