Gobind Sagar

Gobind Sagar is the reservoir formed on the Sutlej River by the Bhakra Dam in northern India; it is one of the major storage reservoirs in the region and was created during the mid 20th century. The lake is named in honour of Guru Gobind Singh and functions as an important water and power resource.

Shoreline communities use the reservoir for fishing, boat access and limited water-based recreation. The water level fluctuates with seasonal inflows and dam operations, and the shoreline includes towns and agricultural areas that depend on its storage.

The reservoir was created by the Bhakra Dam, a large post-independence infrastructure project completed in 1963 that transformed the Sutlej valley for irrigation and hydroelectric generation. The dam and reservoir have been central to regional water management since their completion.

Gobind Sagar lies in the lower Sutlej valley in northwestern India, near the Bhakra Dam and the Bilaspur area of Himachal Pradesh. The reservoir extends along the Sutlej and influences districts on both banks.

• Name and origin: The reservoir was formed by the Bhakra Dam project and is named after the tenth Sikh Guru, Guru Gobind Singh.
• Uses: The lake serves as a major water-storage and hydroelectric resource for northern India and supports irrigation and local fisheries along its shoreline.

What to See #

• Bhakra Dam: The concrete gravity dam that created the reservoir; completed in 1963 and forming the eastern end of the lake. It provides irrigation storage and hydroelectric generation for the region.