Bhakara Nangal Dam is split between two states, the Dam proper is in Himachal , and the Nangal town is in Punjab.
we generally take the GT road, uptill Ambala , turn toward ramgargh , country side roads , uptill mohali outskirts , crazy ass construction there , new roads , broken roads , but that lasts for half an hour , carry on straight up to rupnagar to Anandpur Sahib and onto nangal , now there are two ways up
Punjab Side : via the checkpost at nangal town , where your vehicle is registered at the Nangal Office ( uptill 5 pm only , you`ll need your car/ bike RC and Insurance ) i guess there is a fee of Rs50 , not sure ( my friend has a local panchayat card so we are waved off) , the cars are checked , any foreigner needs his Passport.
now you hit the hills, roads are well maintained and wide enough.
there is one more checkpost , himachal side , where a quick check of the vehicle is given ( more polite than punjab guys) , papers are checked and you are waived off.
PS: alcohol is cheaper (and chances of non adultration ) in Nangal town, stock up.
for Naina Devi , there is an turn off enroute to the damm , nerve been there thou.
once you are through the himachal check post , its a 15-20 min drive to the dam, you go through the lower half of the hills and are awed by this massive concrete wall rising up.
old trucks , earth movers (mostly Russian) etc used in the construction are lying around the offices.
just before the dam is a short tunnel, and when you emerge from the darkness, the Mighty Bhakra awaits you. (ps you cannot cross the dam) , but you can stop and marvel the splendor. there are cops around but dont bother much, (no photography thou )
the alternative route is you carry on from nangal to UNA ( Himachal ) and swing around to reach bhakra ( this is longer but more picturesque , as the size of the reservoir shocks you ) plus you ride/drive around the waters edge.
fishing is a great activity there , Mahaser, carp, some sole, fishing season is during the summer , but if luck have it even winters you can land a good catch , thou its closed during the monsoon (15th aug)
(sample of a monster pulled out last year , strictly catch and release )






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