Sukhna Lake:Chandigarh
Nestled at the foot of Shivalik Hills, Sukhna Lake in Chandigarh paints a pretty picture. Stretching for a distance of 3 sq. km., Sukhna Lake is a man-made lake and is the only one of its kind in the city created in the year 1958 by damming the seasonal Sukhna Choe (Stream) that flows down the Shivalik Hills. With its pristine blue water, the lake serves as a perfect location for a stream of morning joggers and walkers who can also enjoy the fresh air. In fact, the architect of Chandigarh – India’s first planned city – Le Corbusier claimed that this lake would be the centre of wellness pursuits for the residents. The promenade in front of the lake is frequented by walkers and joggers who carry out their exercise regimes here. Moreover, it also has one of the longest rowing channels in the country that host the Asian Rowing Championships. The best way to enjoy a tour of the Sukhna Lake is to go on a lazy boating tour on it. You can hire a boat for an individual or for a couple, which would cost you between INR 50 – INR 100.
Apart from serving as a delight for artists and photographers, the lake is also a great spot for sports activities such as rowing, trampoline jumping along with the recent addition of a Solar Cruise. It is home to several species of fish and migratory birds such as Siberian ducks and cranes. Bounded by a golf course and the famous Rose Garden, the lake offers a mesmerizing escape to its visitors at all times of the day.
Groundtruthing of the Sukhna catchment area map prepared by the Survey of India was conducted in 2019, nearly 15 years after the Punjab and Haryana high court accepted it as conclusive. However, findings of the exercise carried out in 2019 are yet to be made public.
Groundtruthing is the process of check the accuracy of remotely sensed data by means of in-situ (on the ground) observations, and helps in actual demarcation.
The entire catchment area of Sukhna Lake had been demarcated in the map prepared by the SoI in 1995, which was further reauthenticated in 2004.