If you are exploring Ahmedabad but have less time then choosing some of the best places of city is important. And you can definitely count Kankaria Lake in your list of places to visit in this popular city of Gujarat. Let me tell you that this is the biggest lake in Ahmedabad and not to forget it is not a natural lake but a manmade artificial lake that too being built centuries ago in fifteenth century. The Kankaria Lake is located at a densely populated suburb called Maninagar which is in the southern part of Ahmedabad. The credit to create this artificial but beautiful lake goes to Sultan (emperor) Kutubuddin who took initiative in building this magnificent lake. The lake was ready to use by the year 1451. Initially this lake was named after the Sultan and called “Qutub Hojj” or Hauj – e – Kutub”. There used to be a water purification system but it failed with the timeThe lake is in the shape of a circle and the approximate circumference of the lake is 2.3 kilometres (1.4 miles). There is a garden at the centre of the lake connected by a walkway. This garden is called Nagina Wadi which is an Urdu word that means beautiful Garden. This beautiful Nagina Wadi used to be the summer palace of kings at that time. The Kankaria lake premises also houses a gym which is known as Ambubhai Purani Vyayamshala. This lake was the favourite spot for many Kings or Sultans who ruled Ahmedabad in the later centuries. That is why this lake has a royal history attached to it. Kings used to take bath in the lake during those times.This lake has become very popular among the locals as well as tourists. The attractive lightings with special effects on the walkways make it a heaven for visitors. The island garden at the centre adds to the beauty of the lake and makes the environment inviting. There is another reason to visit this place and that is the food served here. Yes, the restaurants here serve all sort of rich mouth watering fast food which a rare sight in entire Gujarat. The lake premises become alive in the night when the restaurants are packed with food lovers especially in summer season from March till June. The lake was renovated by Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) by spending a huge sum of thirty crore in order to make it a tourist spot. It was inaugurated after renovation on 25th December 2008 with a weeklong celebration known as Kankaria Carnival which was a unique event in the history by AMC. A special train which was imported from London is quite popular here. This train is named after Former Prime Minister Mr. Atal Bihari Vajpeyee, Atal Express. It circles the lake at a speed of 10 km/h on the 4.5 kilometre long track. Severn Lamb has manufactured this train. It can carry around 150 passengers at a time. It is a hit at this place and you also want to try it.The Kankaria Lake is a favourite among morning walkers, joggers, yoga lovers and runners. It is not all. There is a musical fountain, sound and light show, Kankaria Zoo, Balvatika, an aquarium, Garden and Nagina wadi as well to explore here. The zoo is popular for breeding rare species. This place is no doubt a popular tourist destination today in Ahmedabad.Ruchi Mahajan