Shamirpet Lake

Shamirpet Lake, also called Pelle Cheruvu, is an artificial lake about 24 km north of Secunderabad, near Hyderabad. It was built in the 19th century under the Nizams, and like other lakes of the Qutb Shahi and Asaf Jahi periods it was linked to the Musi to keep floods in check. Mehboob Ali Pasha, the Sixth Nizam, brought his guests here and picked it as the best place around Hyderabad for watching the sunset.

The lake once supported fishing and drew migratory birds in winter, but it has shrunk to about 40 per cent of its former area, and encroachment has blocked the channels linking it to other water bodies. Resorts and dhabas stand around it, the area is being developed as a picnic spot, and many Telugu films have been shot here. Jawahar Deer Park, with deer, peacocks and other birds, is close by. After several drownings, police patrol the lake and warning boards are posted.