A lake is a low-lying part of the Earth’s surface in which rainwater or water from other sources accrues. Whether natural or man made, lakes are major source of water. They are abode for a large variety of aquatic life. Lakes make out the true aspect of one city. The lakes of India are categorized as fresh water and brackish lakes.

The soothing lakes of India exhibit great charisma. Indian states have wonderfully located lakes which take away the breadth of every visitor. Whether you are in Kashmir or in Rajasthan; in the Far East or down south, diversity of India is well reflected in the lakes over here. For a lake expedition one can check out:

Dal Lake: This beautiful Lake lies in the district of Kangra in the state of Himachal Pradesh. It is located at an altitude of 1,775m. The lake is 6.4 km long and 4 km wide and covers an area 10 square miles. It is one of the most beautiful lakes in India, a natures’ gift to mankind. Dal Lake is connected to other Lakes of the Kashmir Valley. One of the unique attribute of the lake is its Shikaras and wooden Houseboats. The lake is divided into four parts, called Gribal, Lokut Dal, Bod Dal and Nagin. The coast of the Lake is embroidered with gardens, parks and hotels. Mountains on three sides encase the lake.

Pushkar Lake: Pushkar is a man made lake located in the state of Rajasthan. It is situated near the Pushkar town. The lake is beautifully surrounded by the deserts and hills from all the sides. It covers the total area of about 5 km. This Lake is the sanctified lake of the Hindus, connected with Lord Brahma. The lake has around 400 temples, 52 palaces and 52 ghats. The lake is mostly known for its religious significance. Every year this sacred lake of Pushkar attracts thousands of pilgrims from all around the world. Devotees congregate here to take a dip in its holy water. It is believed that by taking a bath in the lake one can achieve moksha.

Pichola Lake: Located in the city of Udaipur, the panoramic lake, Pichola is surrounded by hills, palaces, temples and bathing ghats.The Lake at places is tapered and both its banks almost touch each other. There are islands at regular distance on the lake, which have either palaces or pavilions on them. The two most famous island palaces are- Jag Niwas and Jag Mandir. It’s a massive lake with a length of 4kms and 3km wide and a depth of 30 feet. Its beauty is at its best in winters, which counterpart the cool vicinity of Rajasthan. The sunset over this lake is truly idyllic. It is this beauty of the Lake Pichola which attracts a number of visitors every year. In the Southern part of Lake Pichola is the Machhala Magra Hill crammed with huge trees. If one stands here one can see the Eklinggarh Fort. From the Eastern side of the Lake one can see the entire Udaipur City.

Bhimtal Lake: Bhimtal Lake is situated in a small town of Bhimtal in Uttarakhand. It comes in the Nanital district (a famous hill station of Uttarakhand). Being the largest lake of the district and the second largest of Kumaon is situated at an altitude of 1370 meters. The lake derives its name from the Indian epic (Mahabharat).The Bhimtal Lake covers an area of 1701 metres by 265 metres. There is an island situated in the midpoint, which act as an exquisite gem. One can plan a boat sail to the Lake and enjoy the beautiful scenic beauty of the place. Nested amidst the green Kumaoun Hills, Bhimtal Lake is a popular tourist spot.

Hussain Sagar Lake: Hussian Sagar Lake, largest man made lake in Asia is located in the State of Hyderabad. The lake was fabricated to meet the water requirements of the people. This 24 kilometer long lake connects the two traditional cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad, popularly known as the twin cities. The place where the lake is constructed is known as Tank Bund. The Dam receives the water from the Balkapur River, which is connected to the Musi. The Bund contains an assortment of 33 statues of the famous personalities of the state. The major attraction of the Lake is a 16 meter tall, 350 tone colossal statue of Buddha that lies in the middle of the lake, on the rock of Gibraltar. This statue is made out of the single piece of stone and is the largest statue in India. Hussain Sagar Lake is surrounded by four major gardens i.e. Indira Park in the east, Sanjeevaiah Park in the north, Lumbini Park in the south and a green belt stretch squeezed in between the Raj Bhavan road and the Necklace Road. One of the interesting facets of this lake is that it offers wonderful time for water friends.

Vembanad Lake: Vembanad Lake lies in Kumarakom, 15 kms away from the Kottayam district of Kerala. It is the largest brackish lagoon in Kerala. It covers an area of two hundred square kilometers and is surrounded by the districts of Alappuzha, Kottayam and Ernakulam. Situated at sea level, the lake is separated from the Arabian Sea by a small island. The width of the lake varies from five hundred metres to four kilometers with a depth of one meter to twelve metres. The lake, an enthralling tourist spot and a Backwater Tour destination, provides boating, fishing and sightseeing experiences that are enlivening. Vembanad Kayal, as it is called in the regional language, is a tank that acts against the floods. The local people in their attractive clothing’s are found searching for the tasty Karimeen fish. The Kumarakom Tourist Village offers houseboat cruises and holiday packages. There are houseboats that take one crossways, making one’s trip unforgettable.

Chilka Lake: The Vast and beautiful Chilka Lake is situated on the east coast of Orissa. The lake has been formed at the mouth of the Daya River which flows into the Bay of Bengal. Chilka Lake is also known as the largest brackish water lake in the country. It is 70 km long and 32 km wide. A number of small islands are spread across Chilka Lake; the two important are the Barkul and the Rambha. One of the distinct features of the lake is its rich floral system. It acts as an abode to a large amount of aquatic plants. Apart from this it also holds an exotic wildlife. The Nalabana Island is a popular bird sanctuary, famous by the name Chilka Wildlife Sanctuary. The Lake is also a popular destination for the Eco tourism.

Roopkund Lake: This Lake lies in the Chamoli district of Uttranchal. It falls on the way of the Nanda Jat to Homkung and lies in the lap of mount Trishul. Sited at a height of 5029 m, the Lake is a destination of the Raj Jat Yatra. A famous trekking destination, Roopkund is often called the ‘mysterious lake’ as the ice on its surface begins to melt and presents a ghastly sight in the summers, as roughly three hundred human skeletons can be seen in the waters of the lake. It is a renowned destination for the adventure lovers, since it offers an energetic outdoor for the trekkers and the exciting option for the adventure holidays. The snow covered lake, surrounded by pebbly glaciers and snow clad peaks is a superlative sight.

Kangra Dal Lake: Kangra Dal Lake is located in the state of Himachal Pradesh, about 11 km from Dharamshala. This is a small mid Altitude Lake at 1,775 m above sea level near a very beautiful village “Tota Rani”. The lake is surrounded by deodar trees and is considered blessed as there is a small Shiva mandir (shrine) on its bank. A distinct characteristic of this lake is that it has green water. It is the place from where trekking and excursions in Himachal commence.

Thus India has a large number of lakes spread all over the country, from Kashmir to Kerala and from Rajasthan to Assam. The hundreds of lakes lying in the rich natural surroundings all over the country attract large number of tourists, and serve as hot picnic spots. Be near them to experience the best.

By: Kandpal Chandra Subhash