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Pong Dam Transforms into Thrilling Water Sports Destination
17 Oct
Summary
- Kangra Water Sports Society selects operator for water sports at Pong Dam
- Tourists to enjoy Shikara rides, pedal boating, and floating bird-watching decks
- Activities to be conducted in a designated 2 sq km area under ABVIMAS

On October 17, 2025, the Kangra Water Sports and Allied Activities Society announced that it has selected an operator to run water sports activities at a specific zone in Pong Dam, one of India's largest man-made reservoirs located in Himachal Pradesh's Kangra district. This development means that tourists will soon be able to enjoy a range of thrilling water-based experiences at the dam.
The designated area, spanning around 2 square kilometres, is already being used by the Atal Bihari Vajpayee Institute of Mountaineering and Allied Sports (ABVIMAS) for water sports training. This zone is leased to ABVIMAS by the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB). With the selection of the new operator, tourism-based activities like Shikara rides, pedal boating, and a floating bird-watching deck will be introduced in this area.
In addition to the training activities conducted by ABVIMAS, the selected operator will now manage the tourism-focused water sports at Pong Dam. The Kangra district tourism development officer, Vinay Dhiman, stated that the technical committee has already inspected the equipment, and the certification process is underway. Once the certification is completed, the operator can commence the new water sports offerings for visitors.