Lakes in and near Hyderabad to beat the heat

There is nothing more refreshing on a hot summer day than cooling off by a lake. There are several lakes scattered around the city that offer a variety of experiences to take the heat off when temperatures soar. 

The best part about these lakes are that you can gather up in a group, go for a walk through its rough path and also set up a nice picnic for a long day ahead. Here, are a few cool lakes with plenty of amenities to please everyone and enhance your 
outings.

Durgam Cheruvu

This place is located in Jubilee Hills, near Inorbit Mall. It was named as ‘The Secret Lake’. The lake has been developed as a major tourist attraction by the AP Tourism Department and it deserves every praise that it gets. 

Activities one can do in the lake include boating, camping, and trekking the hills that surround it. People visit this place only because they feel it’s away from the crowd and they could have their time alone.
Distance: 15km

Jurala

The Jurala Dam has located around 10 km from Kuravpur, Mahbubnagar. This place is also known as Indira Priyadarshini Project.  The left and right canals of this project are supplying water to thousands of acres of agricultural lands and also drinking water to many villages and towns. This place is also a major tourist attraction of Mahbubnagar district. Deer Park is available at a distance of 1.5 km.
Distance: 173km

Kadam

Kadam Dam is also known as Kadam Narayana Reddy dam, named after popular politician of the region. It is a major reservoir constructed over Kadam River, a tributary river of Godavari. The main purpose of this dam is to irrigate about 25,000 hectares in Adilabad district. The dam is popularly known as the Godavari North Canal project. 

The Project has been integrated with Sriram Sagar Project. It has two major canals for water distribution, the Left Canal length is 76.8 km and Right Canal length is about 8 km. Boating facility is available in the reservoir.
Distance: 303km

Hussain Sagar

The main attraction of this place is Buddha statue. More popularly known as Tank Bund, you will find that Hussain Sagar, is the most visited lake in Hyderabad. You can hang out with your friends here; there are many restaurants that have opened around it. 

You will also find couples hovering around it, families having picnics in the park and People’s Plaza, where several important exhibitions and events are organised.  Boating and parasailing are organised by the Hyderabad Boat Club. And you need to be a member to enjoy the facilities of other water sports. Boating is however open to the public for minimal charges.              
Distance: 6km

Sriram Sagar

Sriram Sagar also known as the Pochampadu Project falls in Nizamabad district of Telangana. It is one of the largest irrigation projects in Telangana and also one of the best places to visit in Telangana during the rainy season. The dam’s capacity is 75 billion cubic feet and it has 42 floodgates. It also includes Kakatiya Canal covering 284 km, Laxmi Canal, Saraswati Canal and Flood flow canal.
Distance: 208km

Osman Sagar

The Osman Sagar Lake is located about 20 kilometers from Hyderabad. It was created by damming the Musi River, both to provide water for the twin cities as well as to save them from floods. The lake was named after the last Nizam of Hyderabad.

During the rainy season, it’s a sight to catch because its beauty just surpasses anything you have ever seen.  The heritage monument Sagar Mahal, the Nizam’s summer resort is open to the public so that they can book a room if they want to enjoy the view.
Distance: 20km

Singur

This lake is located at a distance of 92 km from Hyderabad, near Sangareddy town of Medak district in Telangana. This is one of the popular tourist destinations in the vicinity of Hyderabad. The deep waters of the reservoir are home to 1000 crocodiles. 

It is also declared as a national wildlife reserve with a lot of waterbird population. A boat ride is also available at the reservoir. The best time to go there is during Octobers.
Distance: 92km

Shamirpet Lake

Shamirpet is located 24 km north of Hyderabad. Aside from being known for its beautiful rocky terrain and grand sunsets, there is also a deer park where visitors can see different deer species in their natural habitat. The lake is one of the better ones for picnics as the shady groves around it keep cool and pleasant, and the distance from the city means that the hustle and bustle of city life will never be a disturbance. Bird watchers will also get a treat as Shamirpet Lake attracts a lot of species of birds.
 Distance: 30km

Kinnerasani 

Kinnerasani is an important tributary of river Godavari flowing through Warangal and Khammam districts of Telangana and West Godavari district of Andhra Pradesh. Kinnerasani Dam is situated in a beautiful location surrounded by greenery and natural landscape. 

A glass house constructed by Singareni Collieries at Kinnerasani has improved the spot as a tourism place. A deer park housing little over 80 spotted deer nearby the scenic Kinnerasani dam site is the major attraction for tourists. The vast Kinnerasani reservoir harbors a number of crocodiles.

Distance: 295km

 Ramappa Lake

Ramappa Lake is a magnificent example of irrigation work of Kakatiya Rulers. It was constructed in 13th Century AD by King Ganapathi Deva, the waters of this lake are spread over an area of more than 82 Sq. Km.  The lake overlooks beautiful hill ranges in the background providing a spectacular view, especially at sunset time. 

It is an excellent place for picnic and one can simply come here and relax under the shade of sprawling trees or walk around appreciating the beauty of nature. There is a small AP Tourism cottage near the lake which also serves food on demand. Boating facility is also available here.

Distance: 209km