Salim Ali Lake (Marathi - पक्षीमित्र सलीम आली सरोवर) is located near Delhi Gate, one of the many

Gates in Aurangabad,
opposite Himayat Bagh, Aurangabad. It is located in the northern part of the city. During the Mughal period, it was known as Khiziri
Talab. It has been renamed after the great ornithologist, naturalist Salim Ali and also known as birdman of India. The office of [1]

Divisional Commissioner Aurangabad division is located near it, so is the collector's office of Aurangabad District.
Mughal era[edit]
In Aurangzeb's time, a large marsh or tank extended the whole length of the northern wall, (extending from present-day Salim Ali
Lake till Begumpura / Makbara) but the exhalation and dampness proved unhealthy and Aurangzeb ordered the portion immediately
in front of his palace (Kila-e-Ark) to be filled in and converted into fields. This reclaimed portion was later developed into Mughal
garden, (now known as Himayat Bagh) by one of the officials of Aurangzeb's court, with many fruit-bearing trees of different
varieties for the royal court and its officials. The remainder was known as the Khizri talao which is just beyond the Delhi gate. The
other small tank was the Kanval or Loti talao, (near present-day Aam Khas grounds between Kila-e-Ark and Begumpura) was fed by
a spring and was confined in the hollow between the palace of Aurangzeb and the Mecca gate, but the band was purposely
destroyed to save the city from being flooded. [2]

Present period[edit]
Salim Ali Talab as it is known in the present times also contains a small bird Sanctuary and the area around the lake is good for Bird
watching in Winter when a number of migratory birds arrive for nesting. There is a garden maintained by the Aurangabad Municipal
Corporation. Boating facilities are also available when the lake is full during the rainy & winter seasons. Recently it was dredged for
silt to increase its water holding capacity.
Biodiversity[edit]
Salim Ali lake and its surrounding is rare and rich biodiversity spot within the city that hosts almost 16 tree species, 11 shrub types,
8 climbers, 32 terrestrial herbaceous plants, 10 varieties of algae, 12 of aquatic herbs, 16 aquatic insects, molluscs and
crustaceans, nine varieties of fish, 15 species reptiles, seven types of rodents and mammals and 102 types of insects. Efforts are
taken by environment activists and bird lovers in the city to close the historic Salim Ali Lake for public for the time being and declare
it as a biodiversity hot spot for conservation. [3]

See also[edit]

 Neighborhoods of Aurangabad
 Himayat Baugh Aurangabad
 Aurangabad CIDCO

References[edit]

1. ^ Dr. Salim Ali Lake

2. ^ Aurangabad gazetteer - Water Supply
3. ^ Ranjana Diggikar (24 July 2014). "Declare Salim Ali lake as biodiversity hot spot, demand environmentalists". The Times of India. Retrieved 26
January 2015.

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Hydrography of Maharashtra

Rivers
Adan

Banganga

Bhima

Bindusara

Dahisar
Daman Ganga

Darna

Dnyanganga

Girna

Godavari

Gomai

Indravati

Indrayani

Kadva

Karha

Kolar

Koyna

Krishna

Kundali

Kundalika

Mithi

Mula

Mula-Mutha

Mutha

Narmada

Nira

Oshiwara

Painganga

Panchganga

Panzara

Patalganga

Pavana

Poisar

Pranahita

Purna (Tapti tributary)

Purna (Godavari tributary)

Savitri

Shahanur

Shivana

Sindphana
 Tansa

Tapti

Tasso

Ulhas

Vaan

Vashishti

Wainganga

Wardha

Kune

Devkund

Pandavgad

Thoseghar

Lingmala

Dugarwadi
Waterfalls
Vihigaon

Dhobi

Marleshwar

Amboli Ghat

Baneshwar

Randha

Sahasrakund

Lakes
Bhigwan

Gorewada

Hidkal

Khindsi

Lonar crater lake

Mahakali

Rankala

Salim Ali

Sandhur

Shivaji/Shivsagar

Talao Pali

Talwat

Upvan
 Venna

Bhandardara

Bhatghar

Bhushi

Chaskaman

Dhom

Hetwane

Itiadoh

Kanher

Jayakwadi

Khadakwasla

Kolkewadi

Koyna

Mulshi

Navegaon

Nilwande
Dams
Panshet

Pawna

Ramtek

Susri

Tansa

Temghar

Tilari

Totladoh

Ujjani

Vaitarna

Varasgaon

Veer

Vihar

Yeldari

Waghur

Walwan

Categories:

 Geography of Aurangabad, Maharashtra

 Mughal architecture
 Lakes of Maharashtra

 Tourist attractions in Aurangabad district, Maharashtra

 Memorials to Salim Ali

 This page was last edited on 6 October 2023, at 00:26 (UTC).

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