Kankaria

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Kankaria Lake
File:Kankaria Carnival 2 Ahmedabad.JPG
Kankaria Lake during the Kankaria Carnival in Ahmedabad
Location Ahmedabad, Gujarat
Coordinates Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
Lake type Artificial lake
Basin countries India
Shore length1 3.15 km (1.96 mi)
Islands Nagina Wadi
Settlements Ahmedabad
1 Shore length is not a well-defined measure.

Kankaria Lake is the biggest lake in Ahmedabad in the state of Gujarat, India. It is located in the southern part of the city, in the Maninagar area. A lakefront has been developed around it, which has many public attractions such as a zoo, toy train, kids city, tethered balloon ride, water rides, water park, food stalls, and entertainment facilities. The lakefront was revamped in 2008. Kankaria Carnival is a week-long festival held here in the last week of December. Many cultural, art, and social activities are organised during the carnival.[1]

History

File:Supply sluice of Kankaria Lake Ahmedabad 1866.jpg
The supply sluice of Kankaria Lake, 1866

Kankaria Lake was built by Sultan Qutbuddin in the 15th century. The work was completed in 1451 CE and was known as "Qutb Hauz" or "Hauz-i-Qutb." It was used for bathing by the kings. It had a water purification system but it has been lost with the time. At one point of the circular lake, there opens a walkway which later merges into a garden called Nagina Wadi (which means beautiful garden in Urdu) that is located in the centre of the lake. With an approximate circumference of 3 miles (4.8 km), it represents the regale history of Ahmedabad. It is a 34-sided polygon having steps which leading down to water level.[2]

File:Cupola Kankaria Lake Ahmedabad 1886.jpg
Cupola near one of the approaches of lake which no longer exists

Renovation

The central garden and the walkway had been revamped and utilities are enhanced.[3] Upon completion of the renovation the lake was officially inaugurated in a week long event known as "Kankaria Carnival".[4] The inauguration ceremony for renovated Kankaria lakefront was held on December 25, 2008.[5]

Panorama of Kankaria Lake
Panorama of Kankaria Lake

Attractions

Kankaria Zoo

File:Kankaria zoo bird.JPG
Kankaria zoo bird

Kamla Nehru Zoological Park was established by Rueben David in 1951 CE spread over 21 acres. It was rated the best zoo in Asia in 1974.[6] They are 450 mammals, 2,000 birds, 140 reptiles in a 31-acre zoo. It is a treasure of wild animals like tigers, lions, python, anaconda, snakes, elephant, albinos (white), like the rhesus monkey, spotted deer, white blackbuck, chinkara, elephants, emu, jungle babbler, bush-quail and common palm civet. Kankaria Zoo has also records in breeding of rare species in Zoo like pythons, crocodiles, bearcats and wild asses.[7] Reuben David was awarded Padma Shri in 1974 for it.[6]

Balvatika

It is a children's park named after Jawaharlal Nehru. Balvatika has a boat house, playroom, butterfly and weapon displays, mirror house, toy house and planetarium.Presently most part of the park is under renovation. New rides will be introduced soon.

Amusement Park

Netherlands based company installed five rides in the amusement park in 2014. It includes the Boomerang Roller Coaster, the Flipping Arm, the Torching Tower, Disk 'O' pendulum and the merry-go-round. It will also have a kids play zone for computer games.[8]

Kids City

Kids City is a miniature world designed for kids. It is spread in 4240 sq.metre area having 18 activity centres[9] including banks, fire station, science lab, radio station, police station, court room and prison, dental as well as medical hospital, theatre, BRTS, heritage gallery, town governance, IT centre, News room, ice-cream factory, etc.[10] AMC had applied for copyrights and patents on the individual games in the premises, the unique point system, Virmo (Virtual Money) and the design of the different venues in games.[11]

Toy Trains

File:Atal Express - Kankaria.jpg
Atal Express - Toy Train

A train named Atal Express (Named after Atal Bihari Vajpayee on his birthday 25 December 2008) was imported from London, the train circles the lake on a 2.3 km track at a speed of 10 km/h.[12] The train has the capacity to carry 150 passengers, including 36 adults. The train is manufactured by Severn Lamb.[13] During the first 11 months of introducing the train, it attracted nearly a million visitors.[14] After the success of this train, another train was also started which named Swarnim Jayanti Express.[15] All trains on the railway, and hence the railway itself, are 2 ft (610 mm) narrow gauge.[16]

Balloon Safari

Ahmedabad Eye is a tethered balloon ride set up near Kankaria Lake after renovation. The tethered balloon complex spread over 3000 square yard, is divided into four sections including a restaurant, tethered balloon, heritage exhibit and an exhibition displaying the making of the Ahmedabad Eye. SKYZ is a balloon themed restaurant located at the Ahmedabad Eye complex. It is managed by Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation.[17][18] Rainforest theme restaurant is also there.

Nagina Wadi

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Main article: Nagina Wadi
File:Way to Naginawadi Kankaria Lake 1891.jpg
Way to Naginawadi in 1891
File:Kankaria Lake - Nagina Wadi3.JPG
Musical Fountain at Nagina Wadi

There is an island in center of Kankaria Lake which houses a small summer palace and a musical fountain.[19] Food stalls are also there.

Stone Mural Park

India's biggest Stone Mural Park named Gurjar Gaurav Gatha[20] on the side walls of the circular lake in which sculptors are depicting, in pink sand stone, the history and rise of Gujarat is under construction.[9] It has murals covering 3150 sq feet depicting the history of Ahmedabad right now but when completed, it will measure 6000 feet in length and will be world's largest mural (30000 sq.metre).[21]

Following subjects are being included in murals: folklores and history of Ahmedabad, great rulers of Gujarat, ports, commerce and good practices(ethical business-trade traditions), education, freedom fight, cultural heritage, art and literature, expression of culture, today’s Gujarat, global Gujaratis, selected stories of common Gujaratis in past centuries.[20] It will also includes stories about ancient sage Dadhichi, Mahatma Gandhi, Sardar Patel, Jhaverchand Meghani and Indulal Yagnik[9]

Dutch and Armenian tombs

File:Dutch Tombs Kankaria Lake Ahmedabad.jpg
Dutch Tombs near Kankaria lake, 1866

The Dutch and Armenian tombs are on One Tree Hill embankment which shows strong trade presence of Dutch East India Company in city during 17th century. They are Saracenic in style with domes and pillars. The dates of the tombs are deciphered range from 1641 to 1699. The Armenian tombs perhaps belonged to brokers in the Dutch factory.[2][22]

Panorama of Kankaria Lake at Night
Panorama of Kankaria Lake at Night

Joyrides

Segways are introduced for people for easy movement around lake. A mini golf course; Aqua Kart and other water sports; Vertical Swing, Paint Ball Shooting, Black Flash and rides, Sky Fly and other joyrides were introduced.[23]

File:Motorboat, Kankaria Lake, Ahmedabad.JPG
Motorboat at Kankaria Lake

Other

Other attractions include historical Dadu Dayal temple, Natural History Museum, desert safari, aquarium, gardens like One Tree Hill garden, Butterfly Park, football ground, water sports and rides, open-air theatre, Jaldhara water park, boating and small amusement park. It is a good place for yoga, walking, and running, especially early morning. There is also a gym on campus known as Ambubhai Purani Vyayamshala.

See also

References

  1. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  3. ↑ Official website of government for ahmedabad municipal corporation
  4. ↑ Celebration of cultural and historical heritage of Ahmedabad
  5. ↑ Kankaria Carnival in Ahmedabad from December 25th to 31st
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  7. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  8. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  10. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  11. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  12. ↑ Modi dedicates Atal Express to children
  13. ↑ Kankaria toy train on way from London
  14. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  15. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  16. ↑ Severn Lamb - Lincoln model
  17. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  18. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  19. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  21. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  22. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  23. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.

External links

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