Pong Dam sanctuary, in the state of Himachal Pradesh, is basically a lake sanctuary that was originally constructed as a dam in 1975. Later in the year 1983, it was constituted as a wildlife sanctuary. It is situated along the Pong Lake (also referred to as Maharana Pratap Sagar) which is more than 2 km in length. This lake sanctuary is named after the patriot Maharana Pratap and is therefore, also commonly called as Maharana Pratap Sagar Sanctuary. Several migratory birds from Siberia and other far away realms visit this sanctuary every year.

Flora
Vegetation cover: alpine forests, deciduous pine forests and patches of grassland. Trees: Acacia, Shisham, Ficus, Amla, Jamun, Mulberry, Kachanar, Prunus and Mango

Fauna
Barking deer, leopards, sambar, wild boars, oriental Small-clawed otters and others.

Avian Fauna
Northern lapwings, Northern pintail, bar-headed geese, red-necked Grebe ruddy shelduck, Eurasian Coot Fulica atra, terns and many more.

Getting There
The nearest railway stations are located at Mukerian (approximately 30km away) and Pathankot (nearly 32km away). Gaggal Airport about 40km away is the nearby airport. Pong Dam sanctuary can be easily accessed by road from Dharamshala (around 55km), Kangra (about 50km), Pathankot (32km) and Mukerian (30km).

Tourist Information
Different small hostels located inside Maharana Pratap Sagar Sanctuary are available for staying. Better accommodation options are available at Dharamshala, Kangar and Guler. A canteen, offering basic meals, is located close to the entrance gate. Trekking, water skiing, canoeing, swimming, rowing, sailing and angling are popular tourist activities here. The Masroor rock-cut temples and Haripur Fort are important places of interest in the proximity of Maharana Pratap Sagar Sanctuary.

Additional Information
Location: Pong Dam sanctuary, Kangra district, Himachal Pradesh
Area: 42 km
Best visiting time: September and June
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