Gandipet Lake is situated some 20 kilometers away
from the Hyderabad city center. It flows in the western direction of the
Hyderabad city. Gandhipet Lake is also known as Osman Sagar Lake. Mir
Osman Ali Khan, the VIIth Nizam of Hyderabad city built a dam across
river Musi when the violent floods destroyed the city in 1908.
Mokshagundam Vishweswarayya did the planning for the construction of the
Lake. It covers a catchment area of 46 square kilometers. The best time
to visit the lake is right after the monsoons, from October to March.
The twin cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad receive their water
supply from this lake. The surroundings here are very pleasant and
landscaped gardens with a swimming pool are among the recently added
attractions. The Lake is always buzzing with activity be it summers or
winters. The flow of tourists remains almost constant throughout the
year. This should give an idea as to how popular the lake is among
tourists.
Most tourists, who come with family and friends to Osman Sagar Lake,
spend a major chunk of their time here reveling with food, playing games
and having a lot of fun and enjoyment. The shores of the lake are well
maintained and serve as picnic spot for tourists and locals alike. For
those who want to stay overnight at the Lake, the Andhra Pradesh Tourism
provides a guesthouse called "Sagar Mahal" which used to be
the summer resort of the erstwhile Nizam. It has about ten double rooms
with proper arrangement of food. The Osman Sagar Lake also has
additional attractions in the nearby surrounding areas. The Ocean Park,
Treasure Island, Elless World are most popular amusement parks among
kids and adults as they provide entertainment packed with fun and
excitement.
