NEW DELHI: Delhiites can look forward to enjoying boat rides once again at the historic Purana Qila lake starting this winter. The Sabhyata Foundation which is the part of the Dalmia group has adopted the lake and formalized plans to introduce pedal boating as a recreational activity. The foundation took over the lake in March and is currently awaiting permission from the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) to kick-start the boating services.
The Foundation is cleaning the lake and preparing it in the hope that they will be given permission to start boating services and the target is to begin this in December. The foundation has proposed introducing 10 two and four seater boats initially with a future plan to add another 10 more boats later.
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The small lake, which once attracted over 3,000 visitors on weekends has featured in many films. The Delhi Tourism and Transport Development Corporation (DTTDC) planned to start recreational boating at Purana Qila during the G20 Summit preparations last year but faced delays. Since 2016, Boating has been suspended at the lake after ASI did not renew Delhi Tourism’s license which caused the lake to shrink and dry up.
The restoration of boating access in central Delhi, near the National Zoological Park, will be a welcome relief for citizens. Previously, leisure boating was only available at distant lakes in the city after the famed waterways at India Gate closed to boating in 2010. The Purana Qila lake which is located near the ancient city of Indraprastha extends from Talaqui Darwaza to Bada Darwaza and previously sourced water from the Yamuna.
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In 2018, following a National Green Tribunal (NGT) order on restoring Delhi’s water bodies, ASI conducted restoration work in the fort’s moat area. Purana Qila, also known as Old Fort, was once the residence of Mughal ruler Humayun and is linked to the Pandava princes of the Mahabharata. Recent excavations directed by Dr. Vasant Kumar Swarnkar has unearthed numerous relics, pottery, structures, and other antiquities.
The return of boating at Purana Qila is anticipated to rejuvenate the area, offering a recreational option for residents and tourists alike while preserving a piece of Delhi’s rich historical heritage.