📍 Location: Near Barmana, ~18 km from Bilaspur Town, Himachal Pradesh
📅 Season: Best visited October–March for clear skies and crisp reflections
A reservoir born of hydroelectric ambition, now quietly reflecting the sky and solitude
🔱 The Dam That Built a Lake
Constructed by NTPC Limited, the Koldam Dam is a 167-meter-high rock-fill embankment dam on the Sutlej River, supporting an 800 MW hydroelectric station. While the dam itself is a marvel of engineering, the backwaters—stretching up to 40 km—have created a tranquil landscape of flooded valleys, forested ridges, and mirror-like water sheets.
🏞️ The reservoir’s surface area spans 12.5 sq km, with a catchment of over 53,000 sq km, making it one of Himachal’s largest man-made lakes.
🌿 What Makes It a Hidden Gem
Despite its scale and beauty, the backwaters remain largely undeveloped for tourism:
- No formal boating or food courts as of recent reports
- Restricted access near the dam site due to NTPC security protocols
- Local villagers and nature lovers occasionally visit for picnics, photography, and quiet reflection
Yet, the views from nearby ridges and forest trails offer breathtaking panoramas—especially at sunrise and dusk.
📸 Visual Highlights
- Blue-green water reflecting pine ridges and cloud banks
- Rocky cliffs and submerged tree lines creating surreal silhouettes
- Occasional sightings of migratory birds and river otters near quieter coves
- NTPC township and dam face visible from select viewpoints (ask locals for directions)
🧭 Plan Your Visit
| 🗺️ Travel Tips | 🏡 Stay Options |
|---|---|
| Reach via NH-21 (Chandigarh–Manali Highway) | Guesthouses in Bilaspur or Joginder Nagar |
| Nearest village: Barmana | Combine with Bhakra Dam, Gobind Sagar, or Naina Devi Temple |
| Best explored with local guidance | Carry snacks and water—no facilities on site |
✨ Why It Belongs in Your Guide
Koldam Backwaters reflect:
- The quiet beauty of engineered landscapes
- A rare fusion of hydropower and Himalayan stillness
- A potential eco-tourism site waiting for mindful exploration
It’s not just a reservoir—it’s a mirror to the sky, carved by ambition and held by silence.
