Creating a tourist attraction

I happened to be at Ahmedabad for a short visit for medical purpose, which got extended to a long stay due to a medical negligence. Having a 10 year old with you, one needs to keep her occupied. First visit was to this very interesting place was immediately after visiting Sabarmati Ashram, a place not so exciting for a 10 year old.

Before talking about the facility, let's dwell into the history of this place, Kankaria lake is situated in Maninagar area of Ahmedabad. This was built by Sultan Qutbuddin in the 15th century. The facility later used for bathing of the rulers, was completed in 1451 AD and was known as "Qutb Hauz" or "Hauz-i-Qutb". It had a water purification system but it has been lost with the time. At one point of the circular lake, there opens a walkway which later leads into a garden called Nagina Wadi that is located in the middle of the lake.

In the year 2008 in the month of December this lake was thrown open to the public after creating various facilities. Every year in December month 'Kankaria Carnival' is held in a colourful manner over a period of one week.

As we walked into the place, the vastness hit us. We took a train ride immediately after entering, which took us around the periphery of the lake giving us an overall idea about the various facilities and entertainment available in that location.

Having come from Chennai, this was a surprise package, number of activities for the kids n youngsters was mind boggling.

My daughter was delighted at the choice and made an attempt to try as many as possible.
After 7 hours of continuous activity n still few more to see /participate we called it a day keeping it for another day, In one amusement park they measured the height n gave tickets for the rides, in another, they send you in on a general ticket n later tell you can't go on this ride, important rides get eliminated. Wondered why it couldn't have been pre-told.

It took my daughter four visits to this facility to get satiated with the place with so many options to choose, it is no wonder a place visited on daily basis by thousands and during the weekends over 10000 people.

Zoo, Kid's city, Hot air balloon, Tree walk, Segways, variety of boat rides including Bubble Ride, Butterfly park, Desert Safari, Multiple amusement parks, Mini Golf course and many more.

Kid's city is a very informative project introducing to the kids various public services and how they are operated, Fire service, BRTS, Ambulance, Publishing, Radio Jockey, Banking, Video shoot, NCC etc.

While i am not here to review the facility had to give a glimpse of vastness of the project. It is a project converting a lake into a virtual money spinner. This is what has been successfully done in many a location abroad.

Most of our cities have these kind of lakes either inside the city or in the suburbs, probably each one of them can be converted to these kind of tourist hot spots. Interesting aspect in this project is a very minimum entrance fee into the lake area after that every ride or visit is charged separately by the operators, who are private and are motivated by profit and ensure the proper up keep of the equipment. Pricing of the rides is probably regulated, all tickets are generated electronically. Safety of the facility users is kept on top of mind and Helmets, Life Jackets etc are provided wherever required.

While Kankaria lake has about 7 gates public transport is made available at every gate. A key factor to enable visitors to reach the venue without much worry.

Every city probably has a lake which could be made in to a tourist spot not only for the visitors but for the city dwellers who are desperate for outings.

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