{{Short description|Lake in India}} {{redirect|Anasagar|other uses|Annasagar (disambiguation)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=June 2018}} {{Use Indian English|date=June 2018}} {{Infobox body of water | name = Ana Sagar Lake | image = The Anasāgar Lake 1 PHOTOGRAPHED BY FATEH.RawKEy.jpg | caption = The Anasāgar Lake | alt = View of the Ana Sagar Lake | image_bathymetry = {{maplink|frame=yes|frame-width=250|frame-height=250|frame-align=center|type=line|id=Q4750496|stroke-colour=#C60C30|stroke-width=2|text=Interactive Map|zoom=SWITCH:11,13|switch=zoomed mid, zoomed in}} | caption_bathymetry = | location = Ajmer, Rajasthan, India | pushpin_map = Rajasthan | pushpin_map_alt = Location of the lake within Rajasthan | coords = {{coord|26.475|74.625|type:waterbody_region:IN|display=inline,title}} | type = | inflow = | outflow = | catchment = | basin_countries = India | length = | width = | area = | depth = | max-depth = {{cvt|4.4|m}} | volume = {{cvt|4,750,000|m3|cuyd}} | residence_time = | shore = | elevation = | islands = | sections = | cities = | frozen = }}
'''Ana Sagar Lake''' is an artificial lake situated in the city of Ajmer in Rajasthan state in India. It was built by Arnoraja (alias Ana), the grandfather of Prithviraj Chauhan, in 1135 -1150 AD and is named after him. The catchments were built with the help of local populace. The lake is spread over {{cvt|13|km}}.
==History== Arnoraj who ascended the throne a little before V.S. 1190 (1133 A.D.), has been glorified by the titles such as Maharajadhiraj Parmeshwara and Paramabhattaraka Maharajadhiraj Shrimad Arnorajdeva. Early in his reign, Arnoraj inflicted a crushing defeat upon the Turuskas who, had come upto Pushkar. The long march through the desert had exhausted the invaders and they were so thoroughly beaten that according to a Chauhan Prashasti, the land of Ajmer was soaked with their blood. On the plain where the battle was fought, Arnoraj constructed Anasagar lake and filled it with river Chandra, identified by H.C Ray with Luni which “takes its rise in the Sambhar lake and flows by Pushkar. Sarda identifies it with Bandi river which in its lower reaches is called Luni.<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.117118 | title= Gazetteer of India Rajasthan Ajmer | date= March 1966 }}</ref>
Mughal Emperor Jahangir constructed Daulat Bagh garden beside the lake. Shah Jahan constructed five pavilions (known as Baradari) between the garden and the lake.<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=AX6kDwAAQBAJ&dq=Gadisar+Lake&pg=PA110 | title=Rajasthan Geography | date=17 January 2018 }}</ref>
==Details==
There is a Circuit house on a hill near the lake that used to be Lodha’s Residency. This is one of the main tourist attraction there. An island in the center of the lake is accessible by boat. Boats could be hired from the east side of the Daulat Bagh. The walkways Chowpatty and Jetty next to each other and Baradari give opportunity to capture the scenic of the lake. The lake is the biggest one in Ajmer, with the maximum catchments area ({{cvt|5|sqkm}} built up area). The maximum depth of lake is {{cvt|4.4|m}} with storage capacity of {{cvt|4,750,000|m3|cuyd}}. The Rajasthan High Court has banned construction in the catchment areas of the lake basins.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/travel/ajmer/ana-sagar-lake/ps47582625.cms|title=Ana Sagar Lake|newspaper=The Times of India|access-date=2019-12-18 |last1=Goyal |first1=Anuradha}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.tourmyindia.com/states/rajasthan/ana-sagar-lake-ajmer.html|title=Ana Sagar Lake Ajmer, Rajasthan|website=www.tourmyindia.com|access-date=2019-12-18}}</ref>
===Rishi Udyan=== {{anchor | Rishi Udyan }}
Dayananda Saraswati, who died at ''Bhinai Kothi'' near Ajmer, his ashes were scattered at Ajmer in ''Rishi Udyan'' as per his wishes,<ref name=swa1>Ramananda Chatterjee, 1933, [https://books.google.com/books?id=1wsFAAAAMAAJ&q=Bhinai+Kothi+swami+dayanand The Modern Review], Volume 54, Page 593.</ref> which is located on the bank of the Ana Sagar Lake and makes an excellent sunset point. Rishi Udyan has a functional Arya Samaj temple with daily morning and evening yajna homa, where an annual three day ''Aruasamaj melā'' is held every year on Rishi Dayanand's death anniversary at the end of October, which also entails vedic seminars, vedas memorisation competition, yajna, and Dhavaja Rohan flag march.<ref name=swa2>[https://www.patrika.com/jaipur-news/rishi-dayanand-mela-start-in-ajmer-arya-scholors-in-ajmer-1447262/ Rishi Dayanand mela start in Ajmer Arya scholors in Ajmer], Rajasthan Patrika, 20 November 2015.</ref> It is organised by the ''Paropkarini Sabha'', which was founded by Swami Dayanand Saraswati on 16 August 1880 in Meerut, registered in Ajmer on 27 February 1883, and since 1893 has been operating from its office in Ajmer.<ref name=swa2/>
== Recent legal and environmental actions (2023–2025) == In 2023–2025, Ana Sagar Lake and its surrounding green-belt/wetland buffers were the subject of sustained litigation and court-monitored compliance concerning structures raised under Ajmer Smart City projects (including a “Seven Wonders Park”, a food court at Luv-Kush Garden, portions of Gandhi Smriti Udyan/Azad Park, and pathways). The proceedings were triggered by petitions before the National Green Tribunal (NGT) filed by Ajmer-based environmental activist and BJP's former municipal councillor '''Ashok Malik''', alleging violations of wetland safeguards and the city master plan.<ref name="The Times of India">{{cite news |title=NGT orders razing of illegal structures around Ana Sagar |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ajmer/ngt-orders-razing-of-illegal-structures-around-ana-sagar/articleshow/103297341.cms |work=The Times of India |date=2 September 2023 |access-date=17 September 2025}}</ref><ref name="Kulshrestha">{{cite news |last=Kulshrestha |first=Parul |title=Seven Wonders Park near Ajmer lake to be demolished in 6 months amid environmental concerns |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/seven-wonders-park-near-ajmer-lake-to-be-demolished-in-6-months-amid-environmental-concerns-9891556/ |work=The Indian Express |date=18 March 2025 |access-date=17 September 2025}}</ref>
In August–September 2023, the NGT (Central Zonal Bench, Bhopal) directed demolition/removal of structures raised in the green belt/open space around the lake and sought compliance reports from the district administration and municipal corporation.<ref name="The Times of India"/>
The State of Rajasthan appealed to the Supreme Court in a matter captioned '''State of Rajasthan & Others v. Ashok Malik & Others'''. On '''18 March 2025''', a bench led by Justice Abhay S. Oka directed the State to remove encroachments on wetland portions forming part of the Seven Wonders Park and to clear the Luv-Kush Garden food court within '''six months''', observing that destruction of wetlands is “an invitation to disaster.”<ref>{{cite web |title=Record of Proceedings (17 March 2025) — State of Rajasthan & Ors. v. Ashok Malik & Ors. |url=https://api.sci.gov.in/supremecourt/2023/43690/43690_2023_4_58_60146_Order_17-Mar-2025.pdf |website=Supreme Court of India |date=17 March 2025 |access-date=17 September 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Thomas |first=Abraham |title=SC directs Rajasthan govt to demolish wetland encroachments in Ajmer |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/sc-directs-rajasthan-govt-to-demolish-wetland-encroachments-in-ajmer-101742262621891.html |work=Hindustan Times |date=18 March 2025 |access-date=17 September 2025}}</ref><ref name="Kulshrestha"/>
On '''17 May 2025''', the Court recorded/approved a proposal to create two compensatory wetlands near Ajmer—about '''12 ha at Foy Sagar (Varun Sagar) extension''' and '''10 ha at Tabiji-1'''—and reiterated demolition timelines. It permitted retention of certain lakeside walkways and of Gandhi Smriti Udyan (as outside the wetland boundary) while insisting that the replicas and the food court be removed and ecological restoration undertaken.<ref>{{cite news |title=SC approves development of two new wetlands near Ajmer |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/jaipur/sc-approves-development-of-two-new-wetlands-near-ajmer/articleshow/121219639.cms |work=The Times of India |date=17 May 2025 |access-date=17 September 2025}}</ref>
'''Demolition and compliance.''' Action began in March 2025 and accelerated in September 2025 ahead of the court deadline, with the administration commencing demolition of the replicas and steps against the Luv-Kush Garden food court pursuant to the Supreme Court’s directions.<ref>{{cite news |title=Defiance of green norms does Ajmer's Seven Wonders replicas in |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/jaipur/defiance-of-green-norms-does-ajmers-seven-wonders-replicas-in/articleshow/118864524.cms |work=The Times of India |date=11 March 2025 |access-date=17 September 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Demolition begins at Ajmer's Seven Wonders Park, 6 months after Supreme Court order |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/ajmer-seven-wonders-park-begins-demolition-sc-order-10245975/ |work=The Indian Express |date=12 September 2025 |access-date=17 September 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Rajasthan: Demolition of 'Seven Wonders Park' begins in Ajmer after Supreme Court's order |url=https://government.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/governance/supreme-court-mandates-demolition-of-seven-wonders-park-in-ajmer-due-to-ecological-concerns/123850872 |work=ETGovernment (IANS) |date=12 September 2025 |access-date=17 September 2025}}</ref>
'''Public debate.''' Coverage situated these actions within wider debates on Smart City spending and environmental planning; outlets also quoted Malik on ecological costs and accountability in Ajmer.<ref>{{cite news |last=Parihar |first=Rohit |title=Project paralysis: Rajasthan's unfinished initiatives |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india-today-insight/story/project-paralysis-rajasthans-unfinished-initiatives-2739287-2025-06-11 |work=India Today (Insight) |date=11 June 2025 |access-date=17 September 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Ajmer residents seek accountability for demolished structures near lake |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/jaipur/ajmer-residents-seek-accountability-for-demolished-structures-near-lake/articleshow/118902642.cms |work=The Times of India |date=12 March 2025 |access-date=17 September 2025}}</ref>
==Gallery== <gallery mode="packed"> File:Anasagar-baradari as seen from circuit house.jpg|''Baradari'' (pavilions) on Lake Anasagar File:Anna sarobar-2-ajmir.jpg|ARV Group's island; the only island in the lake File:Ana Sagar pavilion columns 2016.jpg|Details of the columns of the pavilion File:Anasagar Lake in Ajmer.JPG|Ajmer city as seen from the lake File:Wetland Map of Anasagar Lake made in the year 2013.jpg|Wetland Map of Anasagar Lake made in the year 2013 File:Anasagar Lake No Construction Zone Map.jpg|Anasagar Lake No Construction Zone Map </gallery>
==See also== * List of lakes in India
== References == {{Reflist}}
== External links == {{Commons category|Ana Sagar Lake}} *[https://web.archive.org/web/20090726123631/http://rajasthantourism.gov.in/Destinations/AjmerPushkar/Anasagar.aspx rajasthantourism.gov.in]
{{Ajmer|state=expanded}} {{Hydrography of Rajasthan}}
Category:Lakes of Rajasthan Category:Tourist attractions in Ajmer Category:Artificial lakes of India Category:Wetlands of India Category:Hindu pilgrimage sites in India Category:Arya Samaj Category:Water Heritage Sites in India