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| Kankaria Lake |
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History
Kankaria Lake is a polygonal lake located in the southern district of Ahmedabad in Gujarat. The lake was constructed in 1451 by Sultan Qutb-ud-Din and was earlier known by the name "Qutub Hojj" or "Hauz-e-Qutub”. The lake has a circumference of around 1.4 miles and stands for the enchanting history of Ahmedabad. Its significance lies not only in its construction but also in the fact that it was the bathing place of numerous kings throughout its history.
Kankaria Lake, because of the scenic beauty it offers and its surroundings has now become the most popular picnic place of the whole city. A huge number of locals and tourists descend upon the place throughout the year to enjoy the serene environment. The place is also a favourite among the locals for jogging, walking, yoga etc all due to the suitable timings and reasonably priced entry ticket to the place. There is also a gym in the lake campus. A train named 'Atal Express', which was named after former Prime Minister of India Mr. Atal Bihari Vajpayee, circles the lake on a 4.5 km track and provides joyrides to adults and children alike. Kankaria Lake is also a popular recreational centre and is surrounded by parks, 'Bal Vatika', children's gardens, a boat club, Natural History Museum and a zoo.
At the centre of the lake is a garden themed entertainment ground called Nagina Wadi (meaning ‘beautiful garden’ in Urdu) that is connected to the outside by concrete walkway lined with trees. This garden is popular for its laser light shows in the evenings and attracts crowds from all over the state. Also present inside the garden are the local food vendors if one might have inkling to try the local cuisine.
Another attraction that no one can miss on the lake campus is the Ahmedabad Eye, which is a tethered hot air balloon ride. The balloon can fit 30 people at one time and allows the visitors to take in the magnificent view of the city from a height of 350 feet.
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Best time to visit
When taking a trip down to Ahmedabad, it is always recommended that the summer months between April and June be avoided due to the extreme temperatures witnessed during the time. The weather in summers is very arid and dry with maximum temperatures reaching 43 degrees. The monsoon enters the city in June and the rainy season lasts till September. Monsoon season should also be avoided due to the uncertainty and sometimes torrential rain. Therefore, the best time to visit Kankaria Lake and Ahmedabad is during the winter months of October to March when the climates is extremely pleasant.
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Trivia
Kankaria Lake is an artificial lake with 34 sides and with almost 8000 people visiting it every day and up to 20000 on Sundays!
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Timing
Kankaria Lake is open on all days from 4:00 am to 11:00 pm.
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Travel Tools
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