Uttarakhand, settled in the Shivalik ranges of the Himalayas, is also known as the land of the lakes. There must easily be over 45 lakes in the state, some of which have been famous for a while now, and a few others are now appearing on newfound tourist trails. One among these is Shyamalatal, in Tanakpur, in the Champawat district, in the river Sharda valley.
Reclamation And Rejuvenation
Recently the lake has been reopened for only paddle boating, which has come about after a gap of 13 years. As a part of the revival of the lake and employment opportunities, the Department of Tourism has installed a jetty at Shyamalatal for the convenience of visitors and the boat operators. Another lake, Kolidhek, in close by Lohaghat, is also participating in a similar effort.
Trained For Tourism
The boat operators were trained as part of the district scheme of the tourism department at the ITBP (Indo-Tibetan Border Police) Academy in Tehri. At the Academy, 14 of the 18 trainees assigned there for training have completed it. Following this, three Veer Chandra Singh Garhwali Tourism Self-Employment Scheme beneficiaries received subsidised financial aid. They were then granted licenses to begin boating operations. Sachin Kurve, Tourism Secretary, Uttarakhand Government, applauded the programme and said that the tourists arriving in Uttarakhand, especially Champawat, will be thrilled with the start of this boating activity. He also added that apart from boating, other, more adventurous activities, such as zip-lining and the zorbing ball, will also be started soon at Shyamalatal.
Largesse Of Lakes
You will find a lake or two in any corner of Uttarakhand that you visit, and all of it is an absolute must-see. Naini Tal is its most famous lake, along with Bhim Tal, the state&rsquos largest lake Saat Tal, one of its most beautiful ones Naukuchiatal, the nine-cornered lake, and Deoria Tal, with its innate connection to the epic story of the Mahabharata. Summer is around the corner. Pack your bags for the mountains, and head to the land of the lakes.
The Information
How to get there
By air Pantnagar Airport in Udham Singh Nagar is 170 kilometres from Champawat. You can take state transport, a private bus, or a taxi from the airport.
By railway Tanakpur in Champawat is the primary railway station 75 kilometres away.
By road Champawat is well-connected to the rest of the districts, next-door states, and even the neighbouring country of Nepal.
