Hussain Sagar: Lake Lustre

360° Panoramic Views 1

Both Lumbini and Sanjeeviah are new parks. The entire Hussain Sagar complex comprising parks, statuary, recreation spots etc. was the handiwork of India’s most renowned architect Charles Correa who visualized the Buddha Poornima project with aesthetic ingredients. Lumbini, though referred to as an amusement park, is in reality the versification of nature. The park is named after the birthplace of Buddha whose monolithic statue dominates the lake and everything around it. The park has Japanese style rockery, ancient trees, formal gardens, cacti and imaginatively laid out pathways for strollers. A floral clock greets the visitors at the entrance itself. Then there is a musical colour fountain spouting water and playing to the tunes of popular film hits. Sanjeeviah park, being on the less populated northern side attracts fewer people which is why couples seeking privacy throng the site.

The lake radiates in the night the reflection of the Shri Venkateswara temple built by the Birlas on a hillock close to the Secretariat. The temple is a quarter century old and built of white marble and represents several schools of architecture, though the South Indian school is prominent in the construction of the rajagopuram. Utkal styles of temple architecture marks the tower over the main shrine called the Jagadananda vimanam. The towers over the temples for the Lord’s consorts Padmavathi and Andal are again in the South Indian style. The temple has a 42-feet high flagstaff and the main idol of the Lord is 11 feet tall.

The piece de resistance of the entire land and waterscape of Hussain Sagar is the 18-metre high and 350-tonne monolith of Gautama Buddha in the middle of the lake standing on what is known as the Rock of Gibralter. Two beautifully decorated floating decks shuttle between the statue and the Lumbini Park every day several times and are equipped to stage cultural and musical shows. Another boating point is likely to come up at the Sanjeeviah Park also. This apart, there are facilities for paddling. The boat rides are the most exciting experience of the tourists because they cover the most scenic spots around the lake like the Secretariat, the Raj Bhavan, Sanjeeviah Park, the Lumbini park, Shri Vennkateswara temple and the majestic Buddha statue.

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