Hussain Sagar

Hussain Sagar is a lake in Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, India, built by Hazrat Hussain Shah Wali in 1562, during the rule of Ibrahim Quli Qutb Shah. It is spread across an area of 5.7 square kilometers and is fed by River Musi. A large monolithic statue of the Gautam Buddha, erected in 1992 stands in an island in the middle of the lake. Maximum depth of the lake is 32 feet.

History

Hussain Sagar was built across a tributary of the river Musi river in 1562 by Ibrahim Quli Qutub Shah. The lake was named after Hussain Shah Wali, who helped design it.

It is an artificial lake that holds water perennially fed by canals from Musi river. Hussain Sagar was the main source of water supply to Hyderabad before Himayat Sagar and Osman Sagar were built on river Musi.

Landmarks and Attractions

The road on the Tank Bund was widened in 1946 when Sir Mirza Ismail was the prime minister of Hyderabad Deccan. Further widening and beautification of the Tank bund took place during 1987-88 with the addition of fountains with dancing waters, tantalizing colored lights at night and bronze statues.

Patton Tank

The Pakistan M47 Patton tank is a war trophy given to the 54th Infantry Division and is one that the battalion had disabled during the Battle of Basantar in Pakistan, during December 15 - 17, 1971. It was given to the city by the 54th Infantry Division after India Pakistan war of 1971.

Buddha Statue

An 18-metre high monolithic statue of Gautama Buddha towers from atop a pedestal located in a small island in the middle of the lake.

The idea of erecting a giant monolith Buddha statue in the midst of Hussain Sagar lake on the Gibraltar rock was a part of the Buddha Poornima project in 1985. The statue was chiseled out of a white granite rock, weighting 450 tons by 200 sculptors in two years. The statue was erected on 12 April 1992 on a red lotus pedestal. Read More Lumbini Park Lumbini Park is an urban park of 7.5 acres (0.030 km2; 0.0117 sq mi) adjacent to Hussain Sagar. It was constructed at a cost of INR 2.35 crores on 5 acres of land as a part of the Buddha Poornima project. It has various attractions such as laser auditorium, boating facilities and musical fountains. Read More

Birla Mandir

Birla Mandir is a Hindu temple built of white marble on a 280 feet (85 m) high hillock called the Naubath Pahad located to the south of Hussain Sagar. The construction took 10 years and was consecrated in 1976 by Swami Ranganathananda of Ramakrishna Mission. Read More

Sanjeevaiah Park

Sanjeevaiah Park is a public green space and park located to the north of the lake. Built on 92 acres (37 ha), the park is named after Damodaram Sanjivayya, fromer Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh. The park is managed by the Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority and the park won the Best open landscape award during the 2010 Indian national trust for art and cultural heritage award presentations.

Prasad's IMAX

Prasad's IMAX is a multiplex of an area of 2,35,000 sq ft, housing an IMAX movie theater, a five screen multiplex, food court, multinational fast food outlets, a gaming zone and a shopping mall covering two levels of the complex. It is India's 3rd IMAX theater.

NTR Gardens

NTR Gardens is a small urban park of 55 acres (0.22 km2; 0.086 sq mi) adjacent to Hussain Sagar lake. Constructed in several phases since 1999,the park is presently being maintained by the Buddha Purnima Project Authority that functions under the directives of the Government of Andhra Pradesh. The park is named after and houses the memorial of N T Rama Rao, a matinee idol and former Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh.

Tomb of Saidani Maa Saheba

Sayedani Maa Tomb is an ASI declared heritage site located at the north end of Tank Bund. Saidani Maa Saheba was a saint of the Nizam era. An example of Islamic architecture, the tomb has been carved intricately with marble lattice work.

Sailing

Hussain Sagar lake is a popular spot for sailing. Regattas have been held here since 1971 jointly by the EME Sailing Association and the Secunderabad Sailing Club. Hyderabad Sailing Week has been conducted here since 1984 when the first laser boats were introduced by the Laser Class Association of India. The event has grown from 10 laser entries in 1984 to 110 laser entries in 2009. In August 2009 the lake was witness to the monsoon regatta in which sailors from all over India participated. Different classes of sailboats and yachts were raced including four J24, eighteen Hobie Cat and Fourtyseven Optimist (dinghy).

Statues of Icons of Telugu Culture

Former chief minister of Andhra Pradesh, NT Rama Rao commissioned 33 well-sculptured bronze statues mounted on high platforms, who played iconic role in the development of Telugu culture.

The following 33 personalities are commemorated in the order of appearance from Secunderabad.

Other Attractions

Andhra Pradesh Secretariat buildings, Hyderabad Boat Club on the southern side, Secunderabad Sailing Club, Hotel Marriott on the northern side and Raj Bhavan on the western banks. Eat street is a famous street for outdoor eateries and shops located on the west side of the lake.

Access Hussain Sagar is serviced by MMTS Train stations at Necklace Road, James Street and Sanjeevaiah Park. Necklace Road runs along the lake and connects important locations on its banks. Environmental Conditions and Conservation Hussain Sagar Lake forms an important part of Hyderabad but now has become the main sewage collection zone of the twin cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad. As a result of heavy anthropogenic pressures such as unplanned urbanization, the entire ecosystem of Hussain Sagar Lake has changed.

The water quality has deteriorated considerably during the last three decades. The lake has become shallow due to siltation and accumulation of plant debris. A 2008 study of the lake's water and sediment has found that it has exceeded its eutrophic condition, reaching hypereutrophic status. Many undesirable changes in the structure of biological communities have resulted, and some important species have either declined or completely disappeared.

Realising the importance of conservation of Hussain Sagar Lake, a project has been formulated. This project shall be implemented by APPCB, Hyderabad, India. In this respect, a project feasibility report has been prepared for the approval and financing. In spite of the commission of a sewage treatment plant on the western side, large amount of untreated sewage and industrial effluents continue to flow into the lake.

Getting There

The nearest airport to this attraction is Rajiv Gandhi International Airport (IATA: HYD, ICAO: VOHS), also known as Hyderabad International Airport, or simply RGIA. It is an international airport serving the metropolis of Hyderabad located at Shamshabad, about 22 km (14 mi) south of Hyderabad.