Sukhna Lake, Artificial reservoir at Shivalik Hills foothills, Chandigarh, India
Sukhna Lake is an artificial reservoir at the foot of the Shivalik Hills in Chandigarh, covering an area of three square kilometers and lined by a paved promenade one and a half kilometers long. The basin is bordered by forested slopes to the north, while grassy lawns and seating areas line the southern shore, and several jetties extend into the calm water.
The urban plan for Chandigarh after the Partition of India called for an artificial lake, and Swiss architect Le Corbusier dammed the Sukhna Choe, a small stream from the Shivalik Hills, in 1958. Over the following decades, the shoreline was gradually developed, and the planted trees grew into the dense forest belt that now surrounds the basin.
The waterfront path draws locals in the early morning for jogging, yoga, or quiet walks, while birdwatchers scan the vegetated edges for migratory species. On weekends, families gather on the lawns for picnics, and rowing boats glide past as the sun rises over the forested slopes.
Visitors arriving in the early morning find empty paths and can watch waterbirds, while late afternoon hours are busy, especially at sunset. The paved walkway is suitable for wheelchairs and strollers, and boats can be hired at the jetties along the southern shore.
During the monsoon season, water levels sometimes rise so much that excess water flows over the dam, creating a small waterfall visible from the promenade. In the dry months, the water level drops noticeably, and the exposed shoreline is used by fishermen casting nets from the muddy ground.
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