Hussain Sagar Lake is one of the most popular landmarks and tourist attractions situated just 2km away from the heart of Hyderabad city. It is also called as the Tank Bund that connects both the twin cities Hyderabad and Secunderabad and is acclaimed as one of Asia’s largest man-made lake. Hussain Sagar Lake is named after Hussain Shah Wali, who helped in designing the lake and it was built across a tributary of the Musi river in 1563 AD during the reign of Ibrahim Quli Qutub Shah. Initially, this lake was built to provide irrigation and other water needs. The lake has been declared as the heart of the world because of its unique heart-shaped outline by the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO).
At the lake’s center, you will find a giant monolithic statue of Gautama Buddha that is 18 m in height and almost weighs 350 tonnes. It was the idea of the then chief minister N.T. Rama Rao. The statue was installed on the platform in the year 1992 and in the year 2006 it was consecrated by the spiritual leader the Dalai Lama after performing a ritual. The statue was carved out of a single white granite and stands on a Gibraltar Rock that was sculpted by almost 200 sculptors. Apart from this statue, there are other 34 well-sculpted bronze statues of various famous personalities from political and religious history along the Tank Bund road.
Eventually, Hussain Sagar Lake has become a popular recreational spot that attracts visitors of all age groups. The four major green sections of the lake are bordered by Sanjeevaiah Park in the North, Indira Park in the East, a green belt stretch in between Raj bhavan road and Necklace road in the West and Lumbini Park in the South. There are various options of boating such as speed boats, motor boats and launches at the lake. The 48-seater launch offers dinner and even allows to conduct private parties. Other water sport activities include yachting, water skiing and parasailing, but remember, all these things come at a nominal price.
Foodies can rejoice, there is a popular food court on the necklace road, Eat Street which promises a culinary treat and also offers various recreational choices for the children. This food court lives up to its name with many famous fast food gaints such as Minerva Coffee Shop, Pizza Hut, McDonald’s, SubWay and Baskin Robbins. Just adjacent to the eat street is the Water Front restaurant which also offers great food, and also a picturesque experience. The nearby attractions to Hussain Sagar Lake include NTR gardens, Jalavihar Park, Prasad’s IMAX, Snow world, Birla Mandir and the Tomb of Saidani Maa Sahebaa.
Hussain Sagar Lake is well connected from the rest of the city and easily accessible by local trains, buses, taxis and autos. For all the tourists visiting Hyderabad and even for the localites, Hussain Sagar Lake is a must-visit place.