Hussain Sagar Lake, Hyderabad

Favorite thing: Hussain Sagar is not only a link between culturally different Hyderabad and Secunderabad, known as twin cities all over the country, but its a showcase of hyderabad, historically and contemporarily. This lake was built by Husain Shah Wali, hence the name, during the time of that great builder Ibrahim Quli Qutb Shah in the 1500s to meet the water needs of the city. This is i belivee was before the historic Charminar, which overshadows every other landmark in the city. It is now popularly known as Tank Bund, it appeals to tourists as well as the residents of the twin cities. Now the city has many spots to while away ur time but tank bund still offers an affordable way of relaxing.

The tank bund has parks, statues, sites of entertainment and the capital’s administrative hub, some of it ecologically damaging the shrunken lake. We residents read in the papers daily about the damage being caused to the the lake by commercial activity round it. Hope the govt does something worthhile on this

It also has NTR memorial, the Lumbini park, the Hyderabad Boat Club, a flyover nearing completion since a long time on one side of tank Bund, while the Secunderabad Sailing Club, Sanjeeviah Park and the recently resstored Hazrat Saidani Ma Saheba tomb, which we didnt know existed, are on the secunderabad side of the lake are appealing for the tourist. But the centre of attraction literally is the Buddha statue in the middle of the ancient lake.

The lake, its size and purity are threatened by the immersion of Ganesha idols every year and industrial waste, not to mention encroachments by politicians. Yet Hussain Sagar is the most popular spot and very scenic. On tank bund u have wrought iron benches for romance-prone couples to forget time and the world. With huge number of statues of intellectuals. The Necklace Road and the Tank Bund are places to see at night as a relaxing way of spending time in hyderabad which does not have a wild night life.

Fondest memory: Tank bund has been a place to have fun n relax n keep healthy for me for a long time. earlier as a kid we used to go there with my parents, my dad had an Enfield bike, where they used to sell kebabs, umm. or maybe icecream in summers. When we were growing up tank bund was used to learn driving or jus freaking out at high speeds at night on the bike. And now i regularly go there every morning for jogging, since my ingenious Chief minister has built an excellent jogging track for me.