ThanhBertie49 at 17:03, 18 March 2026

2026-03-18T17:03:51Z

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{{Distinguish|Khajaguda Talab}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2019}}
{{Infobox body of water
| native_name = {{native name|te|ఖజగూడ లేక్}}
| other_name = Thavutoni Kunta
| location = Makthakousarali, [[Hyderabad, India|Hyderabad]]
| image = Lake_near_a_village.jpg
| image_bathymetry =
| caption_bathymetry =
| coords = {{coord|17.4148017|78.3573688|type:waterbody_region:IN|display=inline,title}}
|type = [[Natural lake]]
| date-built = 1897
| outflow =
| inflow =
| length =
| width =
| area = {{convert|37|acre|km2|adj=on}}
| depth =
| max-depth =
| volume =
| shore =
| elevation =
| frozen =
| residence_time =
| islands =
| islands_category =

| pushpin_label_position =
| pushpin_map = India Hyderabad#India
| pushpin_map_alt =
| pushpin_map_caption = Location in Hyderabad
}}

'''Khajaguda Lake''', also known as '''''Thavutoni Kunta'''''<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/hyderabad/2017/sep/29/nanakramguda-lake-reels-under-threat-of-destruction-1664371.html|title=Nanakramguda lake reels under threat of destruction}}</ref> is a [[lake]] in [[Ranga Reddy District]] in the Indian state of Telangana and on the western edge of the city of [[Hyderabad]], in the suburb of [[Manikonda]], in the middle of Makthakousarali, [[Khajaguda]] area.

==History==
Khajaguda Lake was built in 1897 during the reign of 6th [[Nizam of Hyderabad|Nizam]] Nawab [[Mahboob Ali Khan]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hyderabad/hyderabad-stink-rises-from-drinking-water-source-khajaguda-lake-is-now-a-dumping-yard/articleshow/101651745.cms?from=mdr|title=Hyderabad: Stink rises from drinking water source, Khajaguda lake is now a dumping yard}}</ref> This lake was spread over {{convert|618|acre|km2|adj=on}}. This lake supplied water to 900 acres of Ayakattu in [[Kamareddy]], Sarampally and [[Narsampally]] areas.

An official survey dated February 25, 2014 showed that the Full Tank level (FTL) of Khajaguda Talab is spread over {{convert|38.004|acres|2|abbr=on}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hyderabad/how-did-khajaguda-lake-shrink-hc-quizzes-t-on-2-different-maps/articleshow/76823270.cms|title=How did Khajaguda lake shrink? HC quizzes Telangana government on two different maps}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Hyderabad/furnish-maps-relating-to-khajaguda-tank-hc-tells-government/article32006595.ece|title=Furnish maps relating to Khajaguda tank, HC tells government}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hyderabad/telangana-seven-cops-join-duty-after-fighting-corona-in-rachakonda/articleshow/76815993.cms|title=Shrinking Khajaguda Lake: Telangana HC seeks explanation from Hyderabad development body}}</ref> and a resurvey dated September 18, 2019, showed that the lake is {{convert|37|acres|2|abbr=on}}.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hyderabad/why-khajaguda-lake-shrunk-to-37acre-hc-poser-to-hyderabad-metropolitan-development-authority/articleshow/94888184.cms|title=Why Khajaguda lake shrunk to 37acre? HC poser to Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/telangana/khajaguda-lake-area-shrunk-by-one-acre-hc/article66014816.ece|title=Furnish maps relating to Khajaguda tank, HC tells government}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.deccanchronicle.com/nation/in-other-news/121022/laying-of-road-near-khajaguda-lake-questioned.html|title=Laying of road near Khajaguda lake questioned}}</ref> Both the maps are not available on HMDA official website. At present, the lake is spread over {{convert|37|acre|km2|adj=on}}.

== Present status ==
The lake is gradually being destroyed and depleted reportedly due to encroachment from various builders, private residential projects and construction of roads. Sewage is also discharged into the lake which was once hosting various migratory birds and had rich aquatic life.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/hyderabad/2017/Sep/29/nanakramguda-lake-reels-under-threat-of-destruction-1664371.html|title=Nanakramguda lake reels under threat of destruction|publisher=[[The New Indian Express]]|first=Nilesh|last=V|date=2017-09-29|access-date=2024-10-04}}</ref> The lake has been handed over to Wipro as part of their CSR programme for rejuvenation and since then is also known as ''Wipro Lake''.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/hyderabad/2023/Apr/04/ghmc-re-allots-lakes-for-rejuvenation-under-csr-2562475.html|title=GHMC re-allots lakes for rejuvenation under CSR|publisher=[[The New Indian Express]]|first=Bachan Jeet|last=Singh|date=2023-04-04|access-date=2024-10-04}}</ref> Due to dumping of garbage, the lake still remains heavily polluted.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.deccanchronicle.com/nation/current-affairs/080618/wipro-lake-littered-with-garbage-plastic.html|title=Wipro lake littered with garbage, plastic|publisher=[[Deccan Chronicle]]|first=Durga Prasad|last=Sunku|date=2018-06-18|access-date=2024-10-04}}</ref>
The GHAC (Great Hyderabad Adventure Club) has been carrying out clean sweep days on the lake shore in 2013<ref>[http://blog.ghac.in/2013/06/cleanup-activity-at-khajaguda-hyderabad.html#.XOcoZo-kKUk Prasad Np: ''Cleanup Activity At Khajaguda Hyderabad by GHAC Volunteers '', In: blog.ghac.in, 10 June 2013].</ref> and 2014.<ref>[https://blog.ghac.in/2014/07/india-clean-sweep-clean-up-of-khajaguda_8.html#.XOcpGY-kKUk Akhila Manne: ''India Clean Sweep - Clean up of Khajaguda lake'', In: blog.ghac.in, 8 July 2014].</ref>

== Tourism ==
[[File:Fakhruddin Gutta Hyd.jpg|right|thumb|Khajaguda Hills (Fakhruddin Gutta)]]
With the Khajaguda Hills (Fakhruddin Gutta) to the South of the lake, the site is a popular spot for outdoor activities, such as hiking and bouldering.<ref>Mohammed Hasib: ''Khajaguda Hills – relishing SUNSET at the summit'', In: ''Adventures in Hyderabad, Travel Stories'', AtomicCircle.com, 8 October 2018, ([https://atomiccircle.com/sunset-at-khajaguda-hills/ Link]).</ref><ref>hyderabadclimbers.com - ''Khajaguda Routes'', ([http://www.hyderabadclimbers.com/khajaguda-routes.html Link])</ref> Fakhruddin Gutta granite rock formations (popularly known as Khajaguda Hills) are as old as 2.5 billion years.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/s-kaur-on-ten-things-to-do-in-hyderabad-1088037|title=A city as multifaceted as a diamond}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/telangana/2022/apr/20/hmda-finally-wakes-upto-khajaguda-destruction-2444138.html|title=HMDA finally wakes up to Khajaguda destruction}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/telangana/2021/sep/01/telangana-government-urged-to-save-fakhruddin-gutta-heritage-rocks-2352661.html|title=Telangana government urged to save Fakhruddin Gutta heritage rocks}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/telangana/yet-another-blow-to-hyderabads-rock-heritage/article38404425.ece|title=Yet another blow to Hyderabad’s rock heritage}}</ref> Khajaguda Rock Formation, which is [[Prehistory|prehistoric]] heritage site, is spread across {{convert|180|acre|km2|adj=on}}.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/travel/destinations/telanganas-khajaguda-rock-formation-is-as-old-as-the-earths-crust/articleshow/95272121.cms|title=Telangana's Khajaguda Rock Formation is as old as the Earth's crust!}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/telangana/2022/feb/23/prehistoric-connect-makes-khajaguda-unique-2422652.html|title=Prehistoric connect makes Khajaguda unique}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/telangana/a-year-of-challenges-for-built-heritage-in-telangana/article66298792.ece|title=A year of challenges for built heritage in Telangana}}</ref> The tomb of Saint Hazrat Baba Fakhruddin Aulia — spiritual mentor of [[Ala-ud-Din Bahman Shah]] (founder of the [[Bahmani Kingdom]]) who was buried here in 1353 AD; an over 800-year-old Annatha Padmanabha Swamy Temple and a cave where the revered saint, [[Meher Baba]] had meditated are situated on Khajaguda Hills (Fakhruddin Gutta).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hyderabad/250-hyderabadis-lace-up-and-run-to-save-fakhruddin-gutta/articleshow/69621456.cms|title=250 Hyderabadis lace up and run to...Save Fakhruddin Gutta}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hyderabad/khajagudas-heritage-rocks-turning-to-dust/articleshow/89602506.cms|title=Telangana: Khajaguda’s heritage rocks turning to dust}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Hyderabad/hyderabads-geological-heritage-turning-to-dust/article26557233.ece|title=Hyderabad’s geological heritage turning to dust}}</ref>
[[File:Rocks Fakhruddin Gutta Hyderabad.jpg|right|thumb|Rocks Fakhruddin Gutta Hyderabad]]
In the beginning of 2019, some illegal quarrying was carried out, and parts of the boulders have been destroyed, even though the High Court directed the [[Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation]] and [[Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority]] to ensure that the boulders were not damaged.<ref>[https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/hyderabad/2019/jun/04/heritage-rock-formations-in-hyderabad-losing-out-to-infrastructure-needs-1985769.html newindianexpress.com – ''Heritage rock formations in Hyderabad losing out to infrastructure needs'', 4 June 2019.]</ref><ref> Serish Nanisetti: ''Hyderabad’s geological heritage turning to dust'', In: ''The Hindu'', 17 March 2019, ([https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Hyderabad/hyderabads-geological-heritage-turning-to-dust/article26557233.ece Link]).</ref> In October 2023, Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority (HMDA) started work to fence the 2.5 billion-year-old Khajaguda rock formations and limiting access to motorists, visitors.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hyderabad/hmda-begins-work-on-fencing-khajaguda-hills/articleshow/104637923.cms|title=HMDA begins work on fencing Khajaguda hills}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Hyderabad/khajaguda-rocks-turn-vice-den-hmda-begins-work-on-limiting-access-to-motorists-visitors/article67435061.ece|title=Khajaguda rocks turn vice den, HMDA begins work on limiting access to motorists, visitors}}</ref>

[[Outer Ring Road, Hyderabad|Outer Ring Road]] -Lanco Hills link road is under construction as part of Corridor 39B.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/hyderabad/2022/mar/05/orr-lanco-link-road-to-be-realigned-tosave-khajaguda-rocks-2426531.html|title=ORR-Lanco link road to be realigned to save Khajaguda rocks}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/telangana/yet-another-blow-to-hyderabads-rock-heritage/article38404425.ece|title=Yet another blow to Hyderabad’s rock heritage}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hyderabad/3-booked-for-destroying-part-of-khajaguda-rocks/articleshow/89979773.cms|title=Hyderabad: 3 booked for destroying part of Khajaguda rocks}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/hyderabad/2022/feb/27/khajaguda-activists-allege-contempt-of-court-2424231.html|title=Khajaguda: Activists allege contempt of court}}</ref> This 3.89 km long link road is constructed alongside the Khajaguda Heritage Rock Formation.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.deccanchronicle.com/nation/current-affairs/290322/link-road-works-in-it-corridors-going-on-at-brisk-pace.html|title=IT corridors to get link roads to ease traffic}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[Manikonda]]
* [[Society to Save Rocks]]
* Manikonda Cheruvu (Yellamma Cheruvu)

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

==External links==
{{commons category}}

{{Hyderabad topics}}

[[Category:Lakes of Hyderabad, India]]

Khajaguda Lake - Revision history

ThanhBertie49 at 17:03, 18 March 2026