KOHAT: The picturesque Tanda Dam with a natural island in the middle of it is providing an eye-catching view to the tourists visiting the lake.

Located at a distance of 10 kilometres from the Kohat city, the beautiful picnic point is one of its kind covered by mountains on the three sides with an embankment on the one side.

The dam water is also attracting different kinds of migratory ducks coming from Russia and other countries.

The dam’s lakesides and natural environment provide scenic, calm, and quiet excursions to the tourists both in summers and winters.

But a great rush is witnessed on weekends and Eid holidays. The guests of local people from Punjab throng it during Eid and in summers, enjoying barbeques of the lake’s fish and ram.

The island has two approaches, one from Shapur from the city and the other from Hangu Road, Kalo Khan Banda.

These approaches are twisting and curling with fascinating greenery on both the sides dotted with mud houses.

A newly-constructed road along the bank also offers a dazzling view point to the pedestrians, motorcyclists and motorists.

The canals originating from the dam irrigate 30 per cent of Kohat villages, including Shahpur, Kamardhand, Sorgul, Chambai, Jarma, Tappi, Merozai, Dhodha, Kot, Khartmato, Ghulam Banda, Togh, Bahadar Kot, Kalo China and Shiekhan.

Shahid Khan, a wildlife department officer, told Dawn that the number of migratory birds which once came in flocks to the dam had dropped due to climatic changes.

He said though the department had banned hunting of more than five birds in the area, the hunters violated the law and killed dozens of birds.

Published in Dawn, November 24th, 2020