History of Pawna Lake

Pawna Lake is an artificial reservoir created by the construction of the Pawna Dam (also known as Pavana Dam) across the Pawna River in the Maval taluka of Pune district, Maharashtra, India.

Here are the key historical details:

• Origin: The lake is essentially the backwaters of the Pawna Dam.

• Construction Start: The construction of the dam began around 1962/1963 (some sources say 1964).

• Construction Halt: The work was reportedly under a stay for a year due to the Indo-Pak War in 1965.

• Completion: The dam was completed in 1972 (some sources cite 1973).

• Purpose: The main objective of the Pawna Dam was hydroelectric power generation and providing water supply to the Pimpri-Chinchwad area, and for agricultural use. It was built to mitigate frequent droughts in the region.

• Operation: The dam is operated by the Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC).

• Tourism Development: While the dam was constructed in the early 1970s, the areas around the lake (the backwaters reservoir) have seen a rapid rise in tourism, especially for camping and picnicking, in recent years, becoming increasingly popular since around 2010 due to its proximity to Pune and Mumbai, and the scenic beauty provided by the surrounding hills and historic forts like Lohagad, Tikona, and Tung.

In summary, Pawna Lake is a relatively modern feature of the landscape, a result of a major infrastructure project in the early 1970s, which has since transformed into a major tourism and recreation hub.