Whenever Khanpur Dam is mentioned, it is perceived as a tourist spot, but the land of Khanpur, which is adjacent to Haripur, is a sacred place for the followers of Buddha. Khanpur Dam was built along with the Haro River and it comes from Abbottabad to Haripur. Its foundation was laid by the then President Ayub Khan in 1953, and it was completed in 1983, with its inauguration in 1984. The construction of Khanpur Dam took 15 years, costing 1385 million. The dam is 51 meters high and 51 meters deep, and its water has the unique colors of blue and green.
Khanpur Dam serves the purpose of fulfilling the water needs of twin cities, Rawalpindi, Islamabad, and Attock, along with other areas. It generates 200 megawatts of electricity. In terms of tourism, the months from June to October are crucial for this region, and a large number of domestic and international tourists enjoy the facilities already available here. According to a cautious estimate, more than 50,000 tourists visit here every week, with over 2.5 million people visiting annually.
Distance!
The distance from Islamabad to Khanpur Dam is 61 kilometers, which takes about 3 hours. However, with the construction of the Skandar Azam Road, being built from Shah Allah Ditta, the journey from Islamabad to Khanpur will be significantly reduced. This mentioned road is being constructed from Margalla Avenue, which is 7 kilometers within the limits of Islamabad and 11 kilometers within the limits of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
After the construction of the Skandar Azam Road, the distance to Khanpur is as follows:
From Zeropoint: 14 kilometers
From Chakri: 50 kilometers
From Gujar Khan: 55 kilometers
From Khursheedabad: 40 kilometers
From Mandra: 45 kilometers
From Fateh Jang: 45 kilometers
From Burhan: 50 kilometers
Bhamala Stupa!
Bhamala Stupa is a place where international tourists come regularly. The government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, under the supervision of Dr. Abdul Samad, from 2014 to 2016, carried out excavation work, and during this time, objects made of clay, valuable artifacts, and ancient walls were discovered, including another ancient stupa made of conch shells.
The preservation of Bhamala's ancient artifacts is protected under the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Antiquities Act 2016. According to Section 18 of this act, if someone damages or defaces protected artifacts, they can be imprisoned for a period of time. In Bhamala, a small stupa is built around the central stupa when a devotee fulfills a vow, and once a year, all people gather here and perform rituals around the central stupa.
Farm House!
On the magnificent and serene site of Khanpur Dam, a renowned real estate company, "Super Builders and Real Estate Private Limited," is introducing a project that might be the realization of your dreams. This project, "AQUA FARM," will introduce the idea of "Club Living" and will provide all modern amenities. This project is considered important from both recreational and religious perspectives, where followers of Buddhism can easily establish and perform their religious rituals.