Rajkot: Atal Sarovar, inaugurated by Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel in March 2024, has rapidly become one of Rajkot’s most prominent public attractions. The lake was opened to citizens on May 1, 2024, coinciding with Gujarat Foundation Day. Since its inauguration, more than 14 lakh visitors have visited Atal Sarovar, the state government said in a press release.

Developed as a modern entertainment and cultural centre, the project has significantly enhanced the city’s urban landscape and recreational infrastructure.

Key Attractions at Atal Sarovar

Atal Sarovar offers a wide range of facilities for visitors, including landscaped gardens, a dedicated children’s park, a Ferris wheel, boating facilities and a toy train. To promote healthy lifestyles, the lake premises include well-developed walking and cycling tracks.

Parking arrangements equipped with solar panels have been created for nearly 600 four-wheelers and 1,000 two-wheelers. The project also features two amphitheatres, an entry plaza, a party plot, an open food court with 16 shops, a closed food court with 12 shops, and 42 commercial outlets under the Rajkot Municipal Corporation’s Gram Haat, ensuring steady revenue generation.

In addition, a massive national flagpole, light-and-sound shows and other modern amenities are set to make Atal Sarovar a major tourist attraction not only for Rajkot but for the entire Saurashtra region.

Built on ‘Reduce, Reuse and Recycle’ Principles Across 75 Acres

Under the Rajkot Smart City Project, three lakes have been planned across a 930-acre greenfield area to promote water conservation through an integrated stormwater network and rainwater harvesting system.

Among them, Atal Sarovar (Lake-1) has been developed over 75 acres based on the principles of ‘Reduce, Reuse and Recycle’ (3R). The lake has a water storage capacity of 477 million litres spread across 25 acres, while the remaining 50 acres are dedicated to landscaping, green zones, recreational areas and public utilities.

The total project cost stands at ₹136 crore, which includes operation and maintenance for a period of 15 years. During the monsoon season, the lake naturally stores rainwater, while in summer, recycled water supplied from the Tertiary Treatment Plant (TTP) under the Smart City Project is utilised.

Notably, Atal Sarovar is the first project in the Saurashtra region where the 3R principles have been implemented on such a large scale, marking a significant milestone in sustainable urban development. DeshGujarat