Khanpur Dam is a dam located on the Haro River in Khanpur, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa about 50 km from Islamabad.[1] It forms Khanpur Lake, a reservoir which supplies drinking water to Islamabad and Rawalpindi and irrigation water to many of the agricultural and industrial areas surrounding the cities.

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Khanpur Dam
Official name	خان پور ڈیم
Country	Pakistan
Location	Khanpur, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
Coordinates	33.807°N 72.936°E / 33.807; 72.936
Purpose	to supply drinking and irrigation water to Islamabad–Rawalpindi metropolitan area
Status	Operational
Opening date	1984
Construction cost	1.385 billion Pakistani rupees (Equivalent to ₨26.4 billion in 2021)
Dam and spillways
Height	51 m (167 ft)
Reservoir
Creates	Khanpur Lake
Total capacity	79,980 acre⋅ft (98,650,000 m3)

The dam was completed in 1983 after a 15-year construction period at a cost of PRs. 1,385.1 million.[2] It is 51 m (167 ft) high and stores 79,980 acre-feet (98,650,000 m³) of water.[3][4]

Blue-green water and tourism

The blue -green water of dam attracts hundreds of tourists from all over the Pakistan. Every week, between 40,000 to 50,000 tourists visit Khanpur Dam.^{[citation needed]} Tourists enjoy various ground- and water-based activities, such as:

• Para Sailing
• Scuba Diving
• Cliff jumping
• Jet skiing
• Family boating
• Kayaking
• Zip-lining
• Camping
• Waketubing

Archaeological sites

There are several excavated Buddhist archaeological sites nearby that also attract local and foreign tourists.

Bhamala Buddhist Complex

Sculptures and heads dating back to second to fifth century AD have been discovered during excavation at Bhamala Buddhist Complex near Khanpur known as Bhamala Stupa. During excavation, precious coins of Kushan period were also found around the stupa. Bhamala archaeological site had been declared national and world heritage site located near Khanpur dam. The ruins dated back to fourth century BC. The stupa is cross-shaped and looks like an Aztec Pyramid.

Rajgan Mosque

The deserted Rajgan Mosque, locally known as the "Rajon ki Masjid", is believed to be over 100 years old.^{[citation needed]} It is now only used for Eid prayers, as people use the newly-constructed mosques in the nearby areas for everyday prayers. It has a large prayer hall and a time-worn brick courtyard in need of restoration and rehabilitation.

See also

• List of dams and reservoirs in Pakistan
• List of power stations in Pakistan

References

External links

www.dawn.com/news/1324364

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Khanpur Dam.