Sukhna Lake, Artificial reservoir at Shivalik Hills foothills, Chandigarh, India

Sukhna Lake is a rain-fed reservoir of three square kilometres created in 1958 by damming the Sukhna Choe, a seasonal stream from the Shivalik Hills. The roof of the dam serves as a promenade, with a golf course to the south and Nek Chand's Rock Garden to the west. A slender pole with a white, blue and red flag stands on a stone promontory at the water's edge, and orange buoys float nearby.

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.