Pavana Lake, Artificial reservoir in Pune district, India
Pavana Lake is an artificial reservoir in Pune district, formed behind a concrete dam and stretching for several miles through the valleys of the Western Ghats. The water surface lies calm among forested slopes, with patches of exposed rock along the shoreline and small islands that appear during dry months.
The dam was completed in 1973 to store water for the growing population of the region, permanently altering the valley landscape. Flooding submerged several small settlements and created a new geography for the surrounding villages.
The reservoir has developed into a gathering place where local residents and visitors participate in traditional outdoor activities and community celebrations.
Visitors can reach the reservoir by taking a turnoff from the Mumbai-Pune Expressway near Kamshet, with local roads leading down to the waterfront areas. The best time to visit is after the monsoon season, when the reservoir is full and the surrounding vegetation is green.
In 2018, fishermen caught an alligator gar in the waters here, a freshwater fish from the Americas not normally found in India. The incident sparked discussions about introduced species, possibly released from private aquariums, now breeding in Indian waterways.
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