Gopi Talav

Coordinates: 21°11′18.9″N 72°49′45.8″E / 21.188583°N 72.829389°E / 21.188583; 72.829389
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Gopi Talav
Malik Gopi
Catchment area35,300 m2 (0.0136 sq mi)
Managing agencySurat Municipal Corporation
Built1510
Max. length212 metres (696 ft)
Water volume120,000,000 L (26,000,000 imp gal; 32,000,000 US gal)
SettlementsSurat
WebsiteSurat Tourism - Gopi Talav

Gopi Talav or Gopi Lake is a lake in the Gopipura locality in the city of Surat in Gujarat state of India. It was built circa 1510 CE by Malik Gopi, who was an affluent merchant and governor of Surat during the Gujarat Sultanate. In 2012, the lake was renovated by Surat Municipal Corporation and the area surrounding redeveloped as a recreational facility.

History

Malik Gopi, a Brahmin merchant,[Note 1] settled in Surat and the development of the city has been attributed to his contributions. The area he developed was called Gopipura, in his honour and the king of Gujarat[Note 2] gave him the title of "Malik". The town that he developed was still unnamed and consulting astrologers he proposed to name it "Suraj" or "Suryapur". The king disliking the Hindu inclination of the name altered it to "Surat" (meaning headings of the chapters of the Quran).[1] Gopi also finds mentions in Portuguese literature as "Lord of Surat and Bharuch".[2]

In 1573,

Emperor Akbar had set up his military base camp near the lake during the siege of Surat.[3]

Sanskrit poet Vinayavijaya (1613–1681)

Pietro della Valle as "Gopi Telau". Sir Thomas Herbert, who toured India on various occasions in 15th century, mentions the lake to have been used to hold rain water for drinking purpose.[7]

In 1666, French traveler Jean de Thévenot in his writings notes the absence of restorations required for the lake.[6] By 1674, the lake had been ignored and had turned dry turning to ruins by 1717. Further in the 20th century, the steps surrounding this dry lake made it look like a huge amphitheater.[7]

Renovation and redevelopment

Map
Map of Gopi Talav and its amenities.

In 2012, the lake and the surrounding areas were renovated at the budget of around ₹22 crore (US$2.8 million). Around 90,000 square metres (970,000 sq ft) of land was renovated, where the 212 metres (696 ft) diameter lake covered almost 35,000 square metres (380,000 sq ft) of area.

Chief Minister of Gujarat, Anandiben Patel.[10]

The redevelopment of the lake and the park around it is based on the renovation of Kankaria Lake in Ahmedabad.[11] Water to the lake will be piped from the Tapi river on whose banks the city lies.[12]

Gallery

  • Entrance
    Entrance
  • Fountain and Boating
    Fountain and Boating
  • Drone view after renovation in 2016. (Night Mode)
    Drone view after renovation in 2016. (Night Mode)
  • Drone view after renovation in 2016. (Day Mode)
    Drone view after renovation in 2016. (Day Mode)
  • Drona view of Surat from the back side of Gopi Talav(Lake) in 2016.
    Drona view of Surat from the back side of Gopi Talav(Lake) in 2016.


See also

Notes

  • Anaavla Brahmin.[1]
  • ^[Note 2] The king at the time has been disputed and has been described to be Mahmud Begada or his son, Muzaffar Shah II in various accounts.[1]

References

  1. ^ a b c Gazetteer of the Bombay Presidency, Volume 2. Government Central Press. 1877. p. 70.
  2. ^
    ISBN 9788120607149
    .
  3. ^
    Times of India
    . Surat. Retrieved 6 December 2015.
  4. ISBN 9788182201132
    .
  5. Times of India
    . Retrieved 10 December 2015.
  6. ^
    ISBN 9788173052507
    .
  7. ^
    ISBN 9780226467672
    .
  8. ^
    Times of India
    . Retrieved 9 December 2015.
  9. ^
    Times of India
    . 30 July 2015. Retrieved 10 December 2015.
  10. Daily News & Analysis
    . 5 December 2015. Retrieved 11 January 2016.
  11. Times of India
    . Surat. Retrieved 10 December 2015.
  12. Times of India
    . Surat. 19 November 2014. Retrieved 10 December 2015.


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