Satluj Valley

Satluj is an ancient river, one of the tributaries of Indus River and one of the five rivers that give the state of Punjab its name. Satluj enters India near Shipki La Pass from where it traverses through the many Himalayan valleys before it merges with Beas River in Punjab that in turn merges with Chenab in Pakistan before landing into Indus. Many big and small rivulets merge into Satluj at every step. Travelling in the valleys of Kinnaur along the Satluj River you can see numerous nameless small streams carrying the waters from the freshly melted glaciers to Satluj. In fact the ancient name of river Satadru comes from these million streams that make the Satluj. Satluj is tumultuous and ferocious in monsoon months. It is in a rage and if you look at it for sometime it can easily scare you. Many medium sized boulders flow like a small ball in Satluj. The roar of water as it runs at the base of mighty mountains is all you hear within some distance of the river. It is the speed and force of the flow of Satluj that makes it perfect for the hydropower projects and no wonder India’s oldest power plant was built on Satluj at Bhakra Nangal. Karcham Wangtoo Hydroelectric Project near the villages of Karcham and Wangtoo stands out in the valley as the only major man made unit surrounded by nature.