Salumbar lake

The Salumbar lake lies just behind the office of Vishakha. Next to it is the very centre of the city - the vinding streets of the older town, the bazaar and the palace. You can still see the old walls and main gate to the city built close to the waterline.

The lake is a special place for the locals. During the festivals I've witnessed here in April you usually can find most people gathered by the lakeside, meeting friends and relatives and letting the fish enjoy the celebration as well - feeding the fishes is a popular way here during festivals. There's a good reason for the crowds to gather by the lake. The cool, relaxing atmosphere around this body of water is a good place to come and enjoy your evening. The comfort off the lake has attracted many temples to be built on the waterfront, even one built on a tiny island there. You can see at least five good-sized temples, both hindu mandirs and a muslim mosque, built there in proximity to each other.

A path on a narrow garden goest along the southern shore where you can find families on an evening stroll. From there you can see a tree full of noisy bats getting ready for the coming night and making swoops over the lake hunting for food. What surprised me with the bats was that they splashed themselves in the water while flying, perhaps fishing? I've never heard of bats that fish but then again my knowledge of flora and fauna isn't that good. They also might've been catching some small insects on the surface of the water for all I know. Maybe they are the reason why the lakeside isn't filled with mosquitoes.

Of all things in Salumbar - the big palace of Hadi Rani the winding streets in the older city, the gorgeous jain temples around the area - the lake is the place most fond to me. A perfect place to take a walk after day's working in a beauiful, tranquil scenery. And by all that I've seen the lake is a favourite spot for the locals as well.