Dams and Lakes in and around Rawalpindi/Islamabad

Dams And Lakes In And Around


Rawalpindi/Islamabad

Khanpur Dam, Mangla Dam, Misriot Dam, Rawal Lake, Simli Dam, Tarbela Dam.

Khanpur Dam

This beautiful lake/dam is 48 km from Islamabad on Taxila-Haripur Road. It is an ideal place for day trip/picnic, boating, angling and watching migratory birds during winter.


Mangla Dam

World's third largest earth-filled dam is only 115 km southeast of Rawalpindi. One has to turn left from Dina Town and there the dam on river Jhelum is about 16 km to the east. The dam is 3,353 meters long and 116 meters high above the riverbed. It is designed to store 5.88 MAF water and also used for power generation. In the center of the dam there is a Gakkhar Fort from where one can have a panoramic view of the lake. For permits to visit the dam, please contact PRO, WAPDA, Mangla. A NOC from the Ministry of Interior is required for foreigners.

Misriot Dam

Misriot dam is located 12 km southwest of Rawalpindi. This small dam has an artificial lake with boating and fishing facilities. Fishing permit may be obtained from fishing guard at Misriot. It has a pleasant landscape and walkways beyond the lake among eruptions of black rocks.


Rawal Lake

This glistening man-made lake covers an area of 8.8 sq. km. The terraced garden and the lake are ideal for picnic, fishing and boating. The highest point in the garden commands a panoramic view of the lake, Margalla and Murree hills, Rawalpindi and Islamabad.




Simli Dam

About 30 km from Islamabad lies Simli Dam. It can be reached via Lehtrar road or via Bhara Kahu. It is fed by the melting snow and natural spring of Murree Hills. The water stored in the lake is supplied to Islamabad for drinking purposes. Angling and boating is also allowed in the lake. The Capital Development Authority (CDA) has a Rest House at the Dam, which can be booked through its Head Office in Islamabad.

Tarbela Dam

This is the world's largest earth-filled dam on one of the world's most important rivers - the Indus and is 103 km from Rawalpindi. The dam was completed in 1976 at a cost of Rs. 18.5 billion. Over 15,000 Pakistani and 800 foreign workers and engineers worked during its construction. It is the biggest hydel power station in Pakistan having a capacity of generating 3,478 MW of electricity. Its reservoir is 97 km long with a depth of 137 meter while total area of the lake is 260 sq. km. Permits are required for visiting the Dam. For this we need to contact the Public Relations Officer (PRO), Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA), Tarbela (Tel: 051-568941-2). A No-Objection Certificate (NOC) from the Ministry of Interior (Shaheed-e-Millat Sectt.), Islamabad is also required for foreign visitors.