Hussain Sagar Lake, the glory of Hyderabad is the biggest manmade lake in the country. Dividing the twin cities Hyderabad and Secunderabad, it is built on a tributary of the River Musi in the city itself. The lake is named after the person who built it, Hazrat Hussain Shah Wali in during rule of Ibrahim Quli Qutb Shah in 1562. This lake had to be built artificially in order to meet the water and irrigation requirements of the city. The lake had been completed by 1562 but had remained empty for many years thereafter. It was only after some years had passed that one of the channels from River Musi had been brought to fill this lake. The lake water was said to be very tasty and water from the lake used to supply to the city for drinking and consumption besides providing the tasty Murrel fish.
This 451 year old lake has a total depth of 32 feet. The actual size of the lake had been 24 square kms when it had been dug. But now it has shrunk to a mere 13 square kms.
The lake has been witness to many historical events. The first negotiation truce between the Mughals under the leadership of Aurangzeb and the Qutb Shahs dynasty under the leadership of Abdul Hasan Qutb Shah took place on the banks of this lake in 1647.
The lake had been witness to the social and economic development of the city as well. The first thermal power station in South India had been built in 1920 on the banks of this lake by Nizam Mir Osman Ali Khan. The Power station was also named after the lake as ‘Hussian Sagar Thermal Power Station’. The power palnt was operational till 1983. Prasad’s IMAX and the NTR gardens have now taken up the place.
The then palace of Nizam Mehboob Ali Pasha’s palace on the banks of the lake has been now converted as the secretariat of AP. The pavilion on Tank Bund had been first built by Nawab Dawood Jung and was later renovated on a regular basis to make the walk on Tank Bund appreciative.
The lake finds the mention of its name in the 19th century book ‘Confessions of a Thug’ by Phillip Meadows Taylor. It describes the beauty of the lake. The 18 meters high Buddha statue that we see today at the center of the lake had been erected in 1992. Tours to the Buddha Status are also available through the motor boats.
A walk along the tank bund in the evening cools the mind of the people and instills confidence in them.
Indeed the Hussain Sagar Lake remains a gift to the city by the Nizams. However, the lake that was once the life saver of the city has now changed completely due to unplanned urbanization and industrial waste flows to the lake.
Attractions Around Tank Bund:
- NTR Garden for Children.
- Lumbini Park Famous for its Laser Show.
- Birla Mandir
- Indira Park
- Snow World
- Prasads IMAX
- Buddha Statue
- B.M. Birla Planetarium
- The Yacht Club
- Jalavihar
- Sanjeevaiah Park
- NTR Samadhi
- Telangana Secretariat