Water Tank at City Palace, Alwar

The water tank is located next to the City Palace and the Cenotaph of Bakhtawar Singh, also popularly known as Moosi Rani ki Chattri in the city of Alwar in Rajasthan.

Water Tank, City Palace, Alwar

I believe the tank used to serve the needs of the palace though most of the water needs were met by the Siliserh Lake from where the water was brought to the city in channels to meet the requirements of the city. Also the tank was meant, probably, to provide cooling effect to rooms in the Vinay Vilas palace as I saw rooms facing the water tank had jaalis (grills) for passage of cool air. The palace in the city was the living quarters of the king during the peace times but in times of war they used to move to the Bala Quila (fort) which is high up on the nearby hill overlooking the city and the palace.

Water Tank, City Palace, Alwar

What is interesting is the fact that the scenery is pleasing to the eyes and more so the pictures that come out what with the green tinge of the water and the reflections of the surrounding hills and the chattris (cenotaphs). The green tinge is of course due to the fact that the water is stagnant leading to the growth of green algae and there is no cleaning of the tank. I even saw some poly-bags lying in the water tank.

Water Tank with Moosi Rani ki Chattri and the City Palace

There are two floating boats meant to act as fountains with lights but I found them non-functional during my visit.

Also read:
Bala Quila – Alwar’s Way of How Not to Promote Tourism
Cenotaph of Bakhtawar Singh of Alwar
Siliserh Lake near Alwar, Rajasthan

The Changing Moods of Hauz Khas Lake

I have been to Hauz Khas several years back. But during the recent visit as I had the camera with me I was able to click the lake in its various moods.

Hauz Khas Lake

Hauz means water tank (or a pond or lake) and Khas means special. So it is a special or royal tank meant for the rulers. Originally the tank was much larger than it is today and according to the rock plaque at the site the ruined pavilion or the Munda Gumbad on a mound in the north west corner of the tank was in the middle of the water. Originally called Hauz-e-Alai the tank was excavated under the orders of Alauddin Khalji (1296-1316 AD) for the use of the inhabitants of Siri. Siri was the second city of Delhi founded by Alauddin Khalji. Later on, however, the channels leading to the tank got silted and the tank dried up. Then in the mid-14th Century Feroz Shah restored the water supply to the tank and built a madrasa next to the tank.

Ducks & their Ducklings at Hauz Khas lake 

The water tank also is a host to several ducks and their ducklings. Though majority of the ducks are white there are some spot-billed ducks as well. The ducklings are yellow and they will shed their lovely colours with age.

Hauz Khas lake with the buildings in the background

When I was there I saw the lake change colours as per the mood of the sky. At the beginning the lake was looking a dark green due to the reflection of the trees that are in the middle of the lake as well as those that surround it.

Evening glow after rains on the Hauz Khas Lake

Then all of a sudden from a sunny day clouds emerged and it started drizzling and it became dark. After the rain there was a glowing red tinge in the sky and the mood of the lake changed accordingly.

Serene Hauz Khas lake at sunset

I had thought that since it has become so dark and then the evening tinge in the sky that the sun must have already set but as I was sitting on the fifth floor of a restaurant building I saw the sunset as the clouds vanished and the lake and its surroundings preparing for a night of rest. It was beautiful to watch the lake change its moods and colours in just a few hours so dramatically.

Water Tank Themes in Punjab

If you go to Punjab, be it the urban or the rural areas, you are bound to notice the interesting themes and shapes used in either making the overhead water tanks or just for decoration purposes.

A Water Jug

Though I have noticed these water tanks in urban Punjab for the past several years but I was surprised when recently I was visiting some villages I found them in the rural households as well. The water jug shows the importance of water in the rural lifestyles of Punjab.

Two oxes

So also are the oxen ubiquitous in the agriculture dominant Punjab even if most people nowadays use tractors and thrashers for cultivation purposes.

A Whiskey Bottle

And how can one not find a whiskey bottle as a theme in Punjab! After all it is widely known that Punjabis have a huge capacity to drink large amounts of hard drinks. The Patiala Peg is a term coined for an unusually large peg of whiskey. There is also a joke (it is a joke only - no means to verify the statement!) that in India maximum number of English speakers before 8 PM are in the state of Kerala but after 8 PM maximum number of English speakers are in Punjab!

Football Water Tank

Punjab is also known for its sports culture and there are several factories which produce sports goods in Ludhiana and Jalandhar. The National Institute of Sports (NIS) is also there in Patiala. So football as a theme for an overhead water tank also is very commonly seen.

Interesting themes for water tanks & housetops

I saw these interesting themes being made in one of the villages. All these are made from cement. The themes included, among others, birds, woman carrying a pitcher of water, lions, umbrella, snakes, oxen and even Statue of Liberty!