Sukhna Lake, a popular artificial lake and tourist spot, is located in which Indian city?

Introduction / Context:
India has many important lakes that are frequently asked in competitive exams, especially when they are associated with major cities or unique geographical features. Sukhna Lake is one such artificial lake that is both a recreational hotspot and a landmark in its city. Knowing where Sukhna Lake is located helps in static GK, tourism geography, and map based questions.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The water body in question is Sukhna Lake.
• It is described as a popular artificial lake and tourist attraction.
• The options are four major Indian cities: Jaipur, Chandigarh, Hyderabad, and Pune.
• We assume the standard association as given in geography and tourism references.

Concept / Approach:
To answer such questions, you should remember specific “landmark city” pairs. Sukhna Lake is closely associated with the planned city of Chandigarh, located at the foothills of the Shivalik Range. It was created by damming the seasonal Sukhna Choe stream. Jaipur is famous for lakes like Man Sagar, Hyderabad for Hussain Sagar and Osman Sagar, and Pune for reservoirs like Panshet and Khadakwasla. Matching Sukhna Lake with Chandigarh allows you to pick the correct option easily.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that Chandigarh is a planned union territory and serves as the capital of both Punjab and Haryana. Step 2: Remember that Sukhna Lake is an artificial lake created by constructing an embankment across the Sukhna Choe stream at the foothills of the Shivaliks near Chandigarh. Step 3: Recognise that Sukhna Lake is a well known picnic spot and recreational centre for boating and walking in Chandigarh. Step 4: Compare with other cities: Jaipur is associated with Man Sagar Lake and Jal Mahal; Hyderabad with Hussain Sagar; Pune with several dams and reservoirs, not Sukhna Lake. Step 5: Hence, among the given options, the city where Sukhna Lake is located is clearly Chandigarh.

Verification / Alternative check:
Tourism brochures, official websites of Chandigarh administration, and NCERT texts all mention Sukhna Lake as a key attraction in Chandigarh. Photographs of the lake often show the backdrop of the Shivalik hills and the city's skyline. No such linkage exists between Sukhna Lake and Jaipur, Hyderabad, or Pune in standard references. This consistent documentation confirms that Chandigarh is the correct answer.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Jaipur: Known for Man Sagar Lake and Jal Mahal Palace, but not for Sukhna Lake. Hyderabad: Famous for Hussain Sagar Lake, Osman Sagar, and Himayat Sagar, not for Sukhna Lake. Pune: Associated with reservoirs like Panshet, Khadakwasla, and the Mula–Mutha river system, not with Sukhna Lake.

Common Pitfalls:
A common mistake is to pick a city at random when you see a lake based question, especially if you vaguely recall similar sounding names. Another pitfall is to confuse Sukhna Lake with Hussain Sagar or Man Sagar because all are urban lakes. To avoid this, make a list of famous lakes and their cities: Sukhna Lake–Chandigarh, Hussain Sagar–Hyderabad, Dal Lake–Srinagar, Man Sagar–Jaipur, and so on. Regular revision of this list will help you quickly and accurately answer such MCQs.

Final Answer:
Sukhna Lake is located in the city of Chandigarh.