Kankaria Lake Ahmedabad, Gujarat

Cuddled in the Southern area of Ahmedabad, Kankaria Lake is the biggest lake in Ahmedabad. Kankaria Lake is a 550 years old artificial lake, built by Sultan Qutbuddin in the 15th century. Once upon a time, the lake was used by the king for bathing. Currently, the lakeside of Kankaria is a major entertainment hub of Ahmedabad. Whether its thrill or adventure, whatever the tourist seeks they will find it here. The lakefront is developed by the Ahmedabad city governments and offers some of the best urban facilities like tethered balloon safari, train ride, ultra-modern high-speed rides and kid's specific activities. Every year in the month of December, Kankaria Carnival kicks off celebrating the cultural and historical heritage of Ahmedabad.

Timings of Lakefront:

4:00 AM to 8:00 AM - Free Entry for Morning Walkers
8:00 to 9:00 AM- Break
9:00 AM to 10:00 PM-Applicable Entry Fee

See below for attractions that Kankaria riverfront is offering for everyone

Nagina Wadi: Amidst the pristine Kankaria lake is the garden themed entertainment ground called Nagina Wadi. The garden can be accessed by grass-covered looping walkway traversing half of the lake. In this garden, fountain shows are organized during the night hours by the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC). Naginawadi also offers speed boat, jet ski and other water sports attractions.

Timing: 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM
Location: Near Kankaria Lakefront Gate No.6

Balloon Ride: Balloon Safari is the starlit attraction of the Kankaria lakefront attracting million of tourists from every nook and corner of Gujarat. The exhilarating feeling of riding high above the clouds in a hot air balloon is certainly on the bucket list of all adrenaline junkies. View of the Ahmedabad city and its neighbouring areas from 350 feet height is ecstatic.

Timing: 10.00 AM to 10.00 PM

Kankaria Zoo: Amongst the best zoological parks in India, Kamla Nehru Zoological Park occupies an area of 31 acres. With 140 reptiles, 450 mammals, 2,000 birds, the park is a pleasure to visit. Some exotic flora seen in the zoological park are lions, python, anaconda, snakes, elephant, albinos (white), rhesus monkey, peacock, spotted deer, white blackbuck, chinkara, elephants, emu, jungle babbler, bush-quail and common palm civet. The park was established in 1951 by Rueben David, a Padma Shree awardee.

Timing: 9.00 AM to 6.00 PM
Location: Near Kankaria Lakefront Gate no 4 & Atal Express Station

Tree Walk: Get your adrenaline rush by indulging in a tree walk activity at Kankari river front. From single loop to double loop to full loop, here one can choose different types of challenges. Throughout the entire tree walk circuit, one will remain attached to a life-line support harness. The experienced crew will take care of tourists while undertaking this unique and thrilling experience. This loop walk goes through mixed woodland with a variety of both native and exotic tree species

Timing: 10.00 AM to 10.00 PM
Location: Near Kankaria Lakefront Gate No.2

Kankaria Carnival: Every year during a week-long festival, Kankaria lakefront illuminates like a queen's necklace during the 75 minutes long mega audiovisual festival. The carnivals make Amdavadis' (people of Ahmedabad) spirit soar high. Kankaria carnival is based on 'Ame Utsav Premi Amdavadi' theme, involving more than 100 artists. Following are the attractions of the Kankaria Carnival:

Aqua scripting: 13 ft long, 21 ft tall, 1 ft deep specially designed gadget
Laser show with 3d effect on 'Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat' theme
Mega magician show, lady magician show
Branded food courts
LED backdrop
Rock bands show

Mini Train: A toy train chuffs around the ground in Kankaria lake. In the Kankari Lakefront Park, one can see a toy train named Atal Express, which runs on a 2.3 km track circling the lake. At a time, the train can carry 150 passengers, including 36 adults.

Timings: 10.00 AM to 10.00 PM

Kids City: Enter the land of great fun and learning. Sprawling over an area of 4240 square meters, kids centre is a miniature world located near the gate no 7 of the Kankaria Lakefront. In this particular section, one can find city models with roads, vehicles and whole activities like fire station, science lab, radio station, police station, court room and prison, dental as well as medical hospital, theatre, BRTS, heritage gallery, town governance, IT centre, newsroom, ice-cream factory, etc. While playing activities, kids will learn about hardships of life, value for money and the best part is that kids never get bored of it!

Timing : 10.00 am to 10.00pm (Ticket window closes at 09:00 PM)
Location: Gate No 7, Naginawadi, Kankaria Lakefront

Segway: Imagine yourself gliding on two wheels around Kankaria lake. Happening for the first time in any amusement park, riding a segway is a great way to experience the lake like never before.

Locations: Near Kankaria Lakefront Gate No.2 & Balloon Safari and Aqua Carting
Timings: 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM

Mini Golf: Here's yet another reason to visit Kankaria Lakefront- the mini golf course. Spread over an area of 2600 sq km, the mini golf course area keeps on buzzing throughout the year as people of old age group try their hand at the game. This mini golf course is one of its kinds in India as there is no other arena, which offers three different challenges in the form of 9 hole Mini Golf Courses at a single place.

Timing: 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM
Address: Near Kankaria Lakefront Gate No.2

Butterfly Park: Beautiful yet fragile-butterflies are colorful and beautiful. People who want to know more about more varieties of this psychedelic winged creature should visit the butterfly park in Kankaria Lakefront. An 800 sq km area, known as the One Tree Hill Garden, is designed specially as a habitat for butterflies. This educative park exhibits pictures and models of types of butterflies and tells how we can save them for the better future.

Timing: 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM
Address: Near Kankaria Lakefront Gate No.1

Stone Mural Park: India's biggest stone mural park, Gurjar Gaurav Gatha, is a part of the Kankaria River Front. Encircling the lake, the park exhibits sculpture depicting the history of Ahmedabad. The major attraction of the stone park is the 3150 sq feet mural depicting the history of Ahmedabad. Currently, the mural is in making process but once completed, it will be the largest and one of its kinds in the world. Folklore and history of Ahmedabad, great rulers of Gujarat, ports, commerce and good practices (ethical business-trade traditions), education, freedom fight, cultural heritage, art and literature, and expression of culture are the main subjects of the murals.

Timing: 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM

Other attractions: Other attractions in the park include Desert Safari, Mirror Maze, Dadu Dayal temple, Natural History Museum, aquarium, football ground, water sports and rides, and open-air theatre.

Absolutely magical is what they call it is and magical it is! So ditch that banal life and get ready for the roller coaster ride!