Watery Paradise – Upper Lake

Sometimes we happen to think of doing something but land up doing something else which remains memorable. Such experiences surely make up our lives and we always wish that the unexpected happens. But it is the law of life that the unexpected doesn’t happen when you expect it. It happens only when you least expect it.

So while I was on my way to meet my brother and my train halted at the Bhopal station, en route, little did I know I would get stuck there? Yes, the whole country had gone on a rail rook agitation and there were a group of youngsters who were there right in front of my train. Sensing a lot of trouble I decided to get down and go round Bhopal and then manage my way to my brother’s house by road.

My brother lives in a village a little away from Bhopal city. He is taking care of the agricultural office there. So there I was looking around Bhopal city ready to see yet another place. Now isn’t that unexpected? After getting a tourist guide from a local shop for tourism, I went round the city and enjoyed my trip. But when I went to the Upper Lake here, I began to believe that paradise do exist.

As we made our way to the lake I knew I was headed towards a manmade lake which is incidentally the oldest in the country. In fact the locals call it the Bada Talab. This is actually an earthen bund which is across the River Kolans. It is said that the Indian King Bhoj constructed the Upper Lake. He had a skin disease, and he went to many doctors to get it cured. All the Vaidyas or doctors examined him and couldn’t cure him of the disease. Then one of the sages told this Raja Bhoj to build a lake whose waters were from 365 tributaries of a river. This could maybe cure his diseases. Raja Bhoj, it is said called many engineers to build the tank. The engineers scouted around and found this place near the Betwa River as ideal. This lay around 32km from the city of Bhopal. This river had around 359 tributaries. Then a person called Kalia who was the commander of the Gonds, solved the problem. He gave another river’s location and they combined this river with the tributaries and brought the number to 365. He then prayed and bathed in the waters of the Upper Lake, and got completely cured. So people come here with the belief that their health problems would be cured. This Upper Lake is actually separated from the Lower Lake with the help of a bridge.

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ass=”alignnone size-full wp-image-3345″ title=”Lower Lake” src=”http://blog.traveladda.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Lower-Lake.jpg” alt=”Lower Lake” width=”276″ height=”198″ />

I am an engineer so I was interested to know the technical details of the lake. The board read that the catchment area was around 36.1sqkm. It also read that the Bhopal people had this as their major water supply element. I walked around the lake and inhaled the lovely ambience around. All lakes have this unique beauty of making you feel closer to Mother Nature. I too felt the same and felt the scenic beauty increasing with each hour.

I went to the Kamla Park nearby which had great greenery. There were many water sports that were there. I missed Monica my wife. I would have gone on a boat ride had she been there. All alone, I didn’t have the mood to sit on the boat and enjoy the activities. But I did enjoy seeing others enjoy. I also took a lot of photos.

One thing I don’t like is to go to malls, and

I was glad I wasn’t in any mall instead in the most natural of surroundings and a great charming atmosphere. I was also happy to see so many families taking their weekend ride maybe on this lake.

The lake has been existing for generations together and I have heard my grandmother talking about it. Existing since the 11th century, the lake has today become a great tourist hub. For the locals it is a regular meeting point and evening venue for sharing views, gossip and opinions. The stroll on this lake is quite pleasant and in today’s world of concrete and only concrete around, such water bodies surely is a welcome relief.

The entire scenic beauty and the beautiful surroundings enhance the tourist to ask for more. There is a boat house here which I went into and loved the set up. I didn’t know that this lake is the largest artificial lake in Asia. Wow! That is so nice to feel. That I was in such a historical lake. As I saw the other tourists involved with activities like sailing, I felt this is a great paradise indeed. Then there were those were going around in motorboats. I went in one of them and was amused to see some others paddling their boats.

I proceeded to my brother’s house loaded with a lot of experience and happiness.