>Shyamsunder at 21:24, 31 October 2020

2020-10-31T21:24:50Z

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{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=May 2018}}
{{Infobox lake
| name = Hamirsar
| image = Hamirsar_Lake_Bhuj_2013-08-01_00-20.jpg
| caption = Northern shore of Hamirsar Lake
| image_bathymetry =
| caption_bathymetry =
| location = [[Bhuj]], [[Gujarat]]
| pushpin_map = India Gujarat
| pushpin_map_alt =
| pushpin_label_position = bottom
| pushpin_map_caption = Location in Gujarat
| coords = {{coord|23|15|5|N|69|39|51|E|type:waterbody|display=inline,title}}
| lake_type = [[Artificial lake]]
| inflow =
| outflow =
| catchment =
| basin_countries = [[India]]
| length =
| width =
| area = {{convert|69|acre|abbr=on}}
| depth =
| max-depth =
| volume =
| residence_time =
| shore =
| elevation =
| islands = Rajendra Park
| cities = [[Bhuj]]
}}
'''Hamirsar Lake''' is a [[man made lake]] situated in the centre of [[Bhuj]], the headquarters of [[Kutch district]], [[Gujarat]], [[India]].

==History==
Hamirsar lake is a 450-year-old lake named after [[Jadeja]] ruler Rao Hamir (1472-1524), the founder of [[Bhuj]].<ref>[http://www.sidewalkastronomynight.com/internationalsidewalkastronomynight/id6.html The famous Hamirsar Lake named after the founder of Bhuj]</ref><ref>[http://uqconnect.net/~zzhsoszy/ips/misc/kutch_tree.html Jadeja dynasty of Cutch Hamirji - Rao Khengarji I] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110613165408/http://uqconnect.net/~zzhsoszy/ips/misc/kutch_tree.html |date=2011-06-13 }}</ref> The lake was built during the reign of Rao [[Khengarji I]] (1548–1585), the founder of Jadeja dynasty in [[Princely State of Cutch|Cutch]], who named it after his father Rao Hamir. Rao Khengarji I chose this place as an oasis in saline and arid Kutch; and over several decades, developed canals and tunnels to bring together water from three river systems and recharge acquifier, to fulfill the needs of Bhuj, which was also declared as capital of his kingdom by him in 1549.<ref name=z>[http://bhujbolechhe.org/en/infos/understanding-water-system-bhuj Understanding the water system of Bhuj - on www.bhujbolechhe.org]</ref>
[[File:Hamirsar.JPG|320x240px|thumbnail|right|Multitude of birds in Hamirsar lake]]
The embankment of Lake Hamrisar was made during reign of [[Pragmalji II]] and further improvements done during early part of reign of [[Khengarji III]] under supervision of state [[Gaidher]], Jairam Ruda Gajdhar. The embankment work was done by local mason community - the [[Mistris of Kutch]].<ref>{{cite book|title=Kutch Gurjar Kshatriyas: A Brief History & Glory |author=Raja Pawan Jethwa|location=Calcutta|year=2007|page=63 |quote=Jairam Ruda Gajdhar of Mistri community was the Gaidher of the State during reign of Pragmulji II and part of reign Khengwarji Bawa, when Prag Mahal, Alfred High School, Fergusson Museum, embankment of Hamirsar Lake, etc. were constructed.}}</ref>

Even before the [[2001 Gujarat earthquake|earthquake of 2001 in Kutch]], Hamirsar had lost much of its catchments, and ability to energize the acquifiers of Bhuj. However, after the earthquake, with a view to revive the traditional water system and to develop its catchment to meet the domestic water needs of population of Bhuj, awareness campaign mobilized the citizens, municipality, local press to do the bare minimum repairs to fill up the lake in 2003. The lake became safe and sound before the monsoons of 2003 to impound water. Highest rainfall (22 inches) in the last 50 yrs of span was recorded in 2003 which overflowed the Hamirsar lake making it an occasion to celebrate.<ref name=z/>

===''Puja'' tradition===
There is a tradition from the days when [[Cutch State|Kutch was a princely state]] and the [[Puja (Hinduism)|puja]] was performed by the royalty, whenever lake overflowed due to rains and a [[prasad]] of [[ladoo]]s called ''megh laddoos'' distributed to citizens. Recently, in August, 2010, this historic tradition was once again en lived even though days of royalty have long gone, when the Bhuj municipal president held thanksgiving ceremony in the form of the traditional ''puja'' of the lake and offer ''megh laddoos'' to its residents at a community dinner. Records indicate that is only 18 times since independence that lake has overflowed.<ref name=b/><ref name=c/><ref>[http://deshgujarat.com/2010/08/08/bhujs-hamirsar-lake-overflows-kutch-starts-celebrating-it/ Bhuj’s Hamirsar lake overflows, Kutch starts celebrating it]</ref>

==Geography==
The lake is spread over an area of 28 acres and have a beautiful mid-lake garden just like [[Kankaria Lake]] of [[Ahmedabad]].<ref name=b>[http://daily.bhaskar.com/article/hamirsar-lake-ready-for-another-celebration-1564632.html Hamirsar Lake ready for another celebration]</ref><ref name=c>{{cite news | url=http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-bhuj-celebrates-as-hamirsar-overflows-1421788 | title=Bhuj celebrates as Hamirsar overflows | publisher=DNA | date=11 August 2010 | first=DV | last=Maheshwari | accessdate=29 May 2018 }}</ref> The mid-lake island in center of lake, which was earlier known as Green Island but has now been renamed Rajendra Park and is maintained as a beautiful garden.

==Leisure==
Hamirsar Lake is where people go to swim, or sit under a tree and enjoy the water besides walking along the edge of the lake one can see [[Aina Mahal]], [[Prag Mahal]], [[Kutch Museum]], [[Alfred High School, Bhuj|Alfred High School]] and many temples, which are located on eastern edge of the lake.<ref name=b/><ref name=c/><ref name=a>[http://khushboogujaratki.blogspot.com/2010/12/hamirsar-lake.html Hamirsar Lake]</ref>

==References==
{{commons category}}
{{reflist}}

{{Hydrography of Gujarat}}

[[Category:Lakes of Gujarat]]
[[Category:Geography of Kutch district]]
[[Category:Bhuj]]
[[Category:Tourist attractions in Kutch district]]

Hamirsar Lake - Revision history

>Shyamsunder at 21:24, 31 October 2020