Adventure tourism to start in Pong Lake soon

Box: RWSC first in north to get infra

— The Regional Water Sports Centre (RWSC) is the first in north India to get the requisite infrastructure

— The activities will start after the water tourism, closed by the state on March 22, is resumed

— The centre has imparted training to 15 persons, who will run the activities in the lake

Rajiv Mahajan

Nurpur, July 23

For the first time in the northern India, adventure water tourism activities will start in the man-made Pong Lake on the foothills of Kangra. To attract tourists, the Society of Western Himalayan Mountaineering Institute, Manali, has set up requisite infrastructure in the Regional Water Sports Centre (RWSC) in the Pong Lake. The tourists, who used to go to Goa and Kerala beaches to enjoy adventure water tourism activities, need not travel thousands of kilometers now as matching facilities have been provided here.

The society is set to open the activities after resuming of water tourism by the state, which had been put on hold on March 22 due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Rakesh Walia, in-charge, RWSC, said three jet skis, four electronic foils, one jetovator (flying water-powered bike) and one high-speed motor boat had arrived at the RWSC. Apart from these, equipments of adventure water tourism jetties (PVC platforms) had been set in the lake. The RWSC had imparted training to 15 persons, who will run these activities in the lake, he said.

A special water rescue team will keep a close vigil on the tourists and act swiftly in case of any mishap. Atal Bihari Vajpayee Mountaineering Institute, Manali, had established the RWSC in the Pong Lake in 1991. It has been imparting water sports training and technical know-how to the sports lovers.

The adventure tourism activities are also being started in two other man-made water bodies of Larji and Tatta Paani in Mandi district.