INTRODUCTION:Himachal is nature’s paradise, replete with beautiful landscape, river catchments and forest wealth. A hill state of Indian Union- Himachal Pradesh lies in the north westernly direction of the country with Himalayas in the background and Shivalik foothills in the fore front. A part of Hindukish Himalayas, the state abounds in natural herbal wealth and a large  population of wild life and varied climatic zones and topography. The hilly and semi hilly areas are capable of sustaining a very large number of animal species,amphibians,reptiles and globally threatened birds. 

The land symbolizing the culture of ancient India and antiquity can be visualized as beautiful hill yard, endowed with the places of human interest for cross country adventurers, hikers and the people loving to get involved in micro geographical studies, anthropology as well as monumental history of the state. Capsuled here, among the low lying range of Shiwaliks, is a man made deltoid lake of Maharana Pratap sagar also known as Pong lake, shining like a jewel in the locket of Kangra valley, a valley known for its snow clad Dhauladhar ranges, ancient temples of incarnate goddess and manifestations of lord Shiva and stony castles of the feudal times.

Pong wetland,situated in the Kangra District of Himachal Pradesh, is one of the largest   man made wet lands of the northern India formed by the construction of Pong Dam during 1974 across the Beas( pronounced Bias) river. This wetland is the first major wetland which potentially offers a transitory resting reserve for the migratory birds coming from the Trans Himalayan zone in the winter season when the wetlands in the Europe and North and Central Asia become frozen due to onset of winters. Flocks of waterfowls that breed in these areas in summer undertake migration to Pong to spend winter in more congenial climatic conditions every year during the winter season from October to March.  An increased trend in the bird’s number has been noticed during the last five years.