Police
Renuka Lake, the largest natural lake of the state, is situated in:
Answer (Detailed Solution Below)View answer ▾Hide ▴
Answer: Option B — Himachal Pradesh
Detailed Solution
Renuka Lake is located in the Sirmaur district of Himachal Pradesh, at an altitude of about 670 metres. It is the largest natural lake in Himachal Pradesh, with a circumference of about 3.2 km.
About Renuka Lake:
It is named after Renuka, the mother of the sage Parashurama (an incarnation of Vishnu). The lake is shaped like the profile of a reclining woman, which is believed to represent Renuka.
According to legend, Renuka's husband, the sage Jamadagni, ordered their son Parashurama to kill her; after obeying, Parashurama asked for her to be brought back to life. Renuka is believed to have turned into the lake.
A smaller lake nearby is called "Parshuram Tal".
Every year, the "Renuka Ji Fair" is held in November, around the Ekadashi of the Kartik month, to celebrate the reunion of Renuka and her son Parashurama. Thousands of pilgrims attend.
The area around the lake has the Renuka Wildlife Sanctuary and a small zoo, one of the oldest in Himachal Pradesh.
Renuka Lake was designated a Ramsar site (Wetland of International Importance) in 2005.
The "Renukaji Dam Project" is being built on the Giri river (a tributary of the Yamuna) in the same district. It is a national project meant to supply drinking water to Delhi and generate electricity.
Other lakes of Himachal Pradesh:
Gobind Sagar: the largest man-made lake in Himachal Pradesh, formed by the Bhakra Dam on the Sutlej. Named after Guru Gobind Singh.
Pong Dam Lake (Maharana Pratap Sagar): on the Beas river; a Ramsar site (2002).
Chandratal Lake: in Lahaul and Spiti; a Ramsar site (2005); called the "Lake of the Moon".
Prashar Lake: in Mandi district; known for its floating island.
Rewalsar Lake: in Mandi district; sacred to Hindus, Buddhists and Sikhs.
Khajjiar Lake: near Dalhousie; Khajjiar is called the "Mini Switzerland of India".
Other famous natural lakes:
- Wular Lake (Jammu and Kashmir): one of the largest freshwater lakes in Asia.
- Nainital Lake (Uttarakhand).
- Tsomgo (Changu) Lake (Sikkim).
Why not the other options?
- ✗Uttarakhand is known for Nainital and Bhimtal lakes.
- ✗Jammu and Kashmir is known for the Dal and Wular lakes.
- ✗Sikkim is known for Tsomgo and Gurudongmar lakes.
Quick tip
Remember: Renuka Lake = largest natural lake of Himachal Pradesh (Sirmaur; shaped like a reclining woman; Renuka Ji Fair; Ramsar 2005); largest man-made lake = Gobind Sagar (Bhakra Dam).
💬 Discussions on this question
Ask a doubt ›Still stuck on this question? Ask our faculty and fellow students — answers appear here.
Ask a doubtMore Rivers, Lakes & Dams of India Questions
View all ›- Q1.The world's largest river island, Majuli, is located in the:
- Q2.Which is the largest river of peninsular India?
- Q3.Which is the largest tributary of the Indus river?
- Q4.The Mettur Dam, built on the Kaveri river, is located in:
- Q5.Kolleru Lake, one of the largest freshwater lakes in India, is located in:
More General Knowledge Questions
- Q1.The techniques of Rasa and Bhava used in Indian classical dance trace their origin to which ancient text?Indian Dance Forms
- Q2.Lavani, Powada, Koli, Waghya Murali and Dhangari Gaja are folk dances of which state?Indian Dance Forms
- Q3.The one-act play associated with the Sattriya tradition of Assam is called:Indian Dance Forms
- Q4.Which dance form of Goa is known as the 'Warrior Dance'?Indian Dance Forms
- Q5.Manipuri dance is based on the Rasleela themes of:Indian Dance Forms
Rivers, Lakes & Dams of India — Preparation
This question tests your understanding of Rivers, Lakes & Dams of India, a key topic in the General Knowledge section. The detailed solution above uses a step-by-step approach to show the reasoning, and where available, a shortcut that helps you solve similar questions in under 90 seconds during the actual exam.
This topic covers India's drainage system: the Himalayan rivers (the Indus, Ganga and Brahmaputra systems), the peninsular rivers (Godavari, Krishna, Kaveri, Narmada, Tapi and Mahanadi), their tributaries and origins, waterfalls, lakes, and the major dams and multipurpose river projects. Exams ask about the origin of a river, its tributaries, the cities on its banks, and the river on which a dam is built. For example, the Bhakra Nangal Dam is on the Sutlej, the Hirakud Dam on the Mahanadi, and the Sardar Sarovar Dam on the Narmada. Remember that the Narmada and Tapi flow west into the Arabian Sea, while most peninsular rivers flow east. Practise the rivers, lakes and dams of India questions below, written in the style of the general awareness sections of exams such as SSC, banking, railways, CUET GAT, MAH CET and CLAT. Each question comes with a detailed explanation that adds related facts, so every question helps you revise more than one point.