Pandoh and the Mata Baglamukhi ropeway
viewpoint · 1.5 km away
dam34 min from Mandi
Pandoh Dam
Pandoh Dam, holding back the Beas River near Mandi with earth and rock embankments, was completed in 1977 and diverts the river for hydroelectric power.
What it is
A dam holding back the Beas River with earth and rock embankments, a drive from Mandi towards Kullu and Manali, completed in 1977 under the Beas Project. It's a run-of-the-river hydroelectric scheme — diverting water rather than holding a large reservoir — sending the Beas through a 38 km system of tunnels and channels to the Dehar Power House, which has an installed capacity of 990 MW.
Getting there
About 34 minutes by road from Mandi, roughly 21 km, on the main road towards Kullu and Manali — an easy stop for anyone already heading that direction.
The visit
The dam itself is a working piece of hydroelectric infrastructure rather than a recreational lakeside stop — the diverted water eventually reaches the Sutlej River after generating power at Dehar, connecting two of Himachal's major rivers artificially. The scheme has reduced the Beas's own flow through Mandi, particularly visible in winter when the river runs noticeably lower than it once did.
> its own — it pairs naturally with a day heading towards Kullu or back from Rewalsar Lake.
When to go
Any time of year — this is an engineering landmark, not a seasonal outdoor sight, though the approach road is more pleasant outside the heaviest monsoon rain.
Around it
Rewalsar Lake, on the same day trip, is the natural pairing — see the two-day plan. Closer to Mandi itself, Trilokinath, Ardhnareshwar and Panchvaktra temples fill the shorter one-day loop instead.
Plans that include this
All 1 plans that stop here →Nearby places
Questions people ask
What is Pandoh Dam?
A dam holding back the Beas River using earth and rock embankments, completed in 1977 under the Beas Project, built primarily for hydroelectric power generation. It's a run-of-the-river scheme rather than a large storage reservoir, diverting water rather than holding it back indefinitely.
Where does the water from Pandoh Dam go?
Through a 38 km system of tunnels and channels to the southwest, reaching the Dehar Power House, which has an installed capacity of 990 MW. From there it flows into the Sutlej, linking the Beas and Sutlej rivers together through the whole scheme.
How far is Pandoh Dam from Mandi?
About 34 minutes by road, roughly 21 km, on the way further into the valley towards Kullu and Manali. It's an easy stop on the same road most travellers already use heading in that particular direction anyway, without a real detour.