Tanda Dam is a reservoir and picnic spot about 10 km east of Kohat city, ringed by hills on three sides, with an embankment on the fourth. Families go for boating, fishing and lakeside picnics, and it is also a Ramsar-listed wetland that draws migratory birds in winter. Boating there needs to be taken seriously: a 2023 accident on the lake killed 51 people.
This guide covers what there is to do at Tanda Dam, how to get there, and the safety picture, both for boating and for the wider district.
| At a glance | |
|---|---|
| Where | About 10 km east of Kohat city |
| Built | Inaugurated 1962, operational from 1967 |
| Purpose | Irrigation reservoir, also a Ramsar wetland site since 1976 |
| Activities | Boating, fishing, picnicking |
| Best months | Winter (also the best season for birdwatching) |
| UK advice (September 2026) | Against all travel to Kohat district |
What Tanda Dam is
Tanda Dam was inaugurated in 1962 by President Ayub Khan and became fully operational in 1967, built to store water for irrigation and supply canals serving villages including Jerma, Tappi, Baqizai, Dhoda and Shahpur. The reservoir covers roughly 400 hectares and was designated a Ramsar wetland of international importance in 1976, which means it is recognised for the migratory birds, including species that arrive from Siberia and the Caspian region, that use it in winter.
Locally it has long doubled as Kohat's main leisure spot: a lake set among hills, with a natural island, used for picnics, fishing and boating. The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has approved funding in recent years for redeveloping the site as a more formal park, though the pace of that work has varied.
Boating: what to know
Boating on Tanda Dam is popular, but treat it carefully. On 29 January 2023, a boat carrying children from a local madrassa on a day trip capsized on the lake, and 51 people, 49 of them children, drowned. It remains one of the worst boating accidents recorded in Pakistan and is a sobering fact to know before you or your children get on the water.
If you do go boating:
- Don't overload a boat. Ask what its rated capacity is and stick to it, even if more people want to go on.
- Wear a life jacket if one is offered, and ask if it isn't.
- Keep younger children off the water rather than on a crowded boat, and supervise them closely at the water's edge instead.
- Avoid the lake in poor weather or when the water is visibly rough.
Picnics and the rest of the day
Away from the water, the appeal of Tanda Dam is straightforward: hills on three sides, open ground for a family picnic, and, outside the summer months, cooler air than the city below. Bring your own food and rubbish bags, as facilities are basic, and take your litter back with you.
Winter is also the best time for birdwatching, when migratory waterfowl use the lake. Bring binoculars if that interests you, and keep a respectful distance from the birds.
Getting there and safety in the district
Tanda Dam is about 10 km from Kohat city, a short drive by local transport or taxi. The district it sits in, Kohat, is one the UK government currently advises against all travel to, following a suicide bomb and gun attack on Kohat's police lines on 18 September 2026 that killed at least 23 people. Our guide to Kohat has the full picture on the district's current security situation.
If you do travel to the area, go in daylight, check local news beforehand, and follow any checkpoint instructions. Overseas visitors should check their own government's current advice before planning a visit, since it may say not to go.
Who is Tanda Dam for?
On its own merits, it is a pleasant, unpretentious local picnic and birdwatching spot, and one Kohat residents have used for generations. It is not developed or promoted for outside tourists, and given the current advisory covering Kohat district, it is not somewhere to build a visit around from further afield in 2026.
Frequently asked questions
Is Tanda Dam safe for boating?
Take real care. A boating accident in January 2023 killed 51 people when an overloaded boat capsized. Check a boat's capacity, use a life jacket if offered, and keep young children off crowded boats.
How far is Tanda Dam from Kohat city?
About 10 km, a short local taxi or car journey.
What is Tanda Dam known for?
It is an irrigation reservoir, inaugurated in 1962, that doubles as a picnic and boating spot and a Ramsar-listed wetland known for migratory birds in winter.
Is it safe to visit Tanda Dam right now?
Tanda Dam sits within Kohat district, which the UK government currently advises against all travel to, following a serious attack on the city's police lines in September 2026. Check current local news before travelling.
