Rankala Lake is a freshwater

lake A lake is often a naturally occurring, relatively large and fixed body of water on or near the Earth's surface. It is localized in a basin or interconnected basins surrounded by dry land. Lakes lie completely on land and are separate from ...

located in

Kolhapur Kolhapur () is a city on the banks of the Panchganga River in the southern part of the Indian state of Maharashtra. Kolhapur is one of the most significant cities in South Maharashtra and has been a hub of historical, religious, and cultural a ...

Maharashtra Maharashtra () is a state in the western peninsular region of India occupying a substantial portion of the Deccan Plateau. It is bordered by the Arabian Sea to the west, the Indian states of Karnataka and Goa to the south, Telangana to th ...

, India.

History

Before the eighth century, Rankala was a stone quarry. In the 9th century, an earthquake caused immense structural damage to the quarry, causing water to accumulate from an underground source forming the Rankala Lake. This historic lake features a Hindu temple with a

Nandi Nandi may refer to: People * Nandy (surname), Indian surname * Nandi (mother of Shaka) (1760–1827), daughter of Bhebe of the Langeni tribe * Onandi Lowe (born 1974), Jamaican footballer nicknamed Nandi * Nandi Bushell (born 2010), South Afr ...

.According to local Hindu beliefs, Lord Shiva uses the Nandi, moves a single wheat grain towards the lake, and backs about a distance of single rice grain daily. Hindu beliefs state that if Lord Shiva reaches Rankala, the apocalypse will begin.

Tourism

This historical lake is a treasure trove for scenery admirers. Rankala features the Shalini Palace to the north, the "Padmaraje Garden" to the northeast, and a recently developed park towards the southeast bank. Rankala's southeast park has a fresh food market. Activities like horseriding and boating can also be experienced. Shalini Palace, made up of intricately carved black stone and Italian marble, has now been converted into a hotel.

References

Gallery

Grey-headed Swamp Hen Rankala Kolhapur.jpg, Grey-headed Swamp Hen Eurasian Coot Swimming Rankala Kolhapur.jpg, Eurasian Coot Eurasian Coot Feeding Rankala Kolhapur.jpg, Eurasian Coot Rankala Boats.jpg, Tourist boats in a winter morning, Rankala lake Kolhapur district Lakes of Maharashtra Tourist attractions in Kolhapur district {{Kolhapur-geo-stub