Sursagar Lake is a lovely lake in the heart of Gujarat's Vadodara city. It is one of the oldest lakes in Vadodara and a popular place to visit in Vadodara.

Sursagar Lake, formerly known as Chandan Talao, gained its current name after Sureshwar Desai, who repaired and erected clay ghats with dams in the 18th century. Malharrao Gaekwad later built 'pucca' embankments. 

Numerous underwater gates in the lake empty it if it overflows. The lake's water flows into the Vishwamitri River. A concrete wall surrounds the lake, which is frequently in use by visitors to sit and enjoy the evenings.

The lake is always full of water, and in 2002, the Vadodara Mahanagar Seva Sadan built a 120-foot-tall statue of Lord Shiva in the middle of it. Special lighting performances take place around the lake on Saturday and Sunday evenings. 

During the Mahashivaratri Festival, people can also see the statue of Lord Shiva. The lake is home to a variety of fish and turtles. Still, fishing is illegal, and the lake serves as a location for idol immersion during religious festivals.

History 

The lake was reputedly grown in the 1750s by Sureshwar Desai (previously famous as Sureshwar Pandya), a Mughal Empire tax collector, hence the name Sursagar. Later, between 1870 and 1875, during the rule of Malharrao Gaekwad, retaining walls and 'ghats' were built around it. 

Various underground gates have been built to evacuate the lake if it begins to overflow. Water flows through these gates into the Vishwamitri River, which runs through the city. Previously, it was the city's sole primary source of drinking water supply. The lake is huge, measuring 1057 feet long and 665 feet wide, with an average depth of 12 feet. 

Where is Sursagar Lake?

This lake sits in the heart of the city of Vadodara. Originally, it was a small pond popular as 'Chandan Talav'. The Shri Sureshwar Desai constructed the lake and later got its name as Sursagar after him. Different Vadodara rulers renovated and adorned it over time. A beautiful lake worth visiting on the Vadodara tour package.