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Revived Aravalli Lake

Badkhal Lake

Also Known As · Badkhal Jheel

Faridabad, Haryana · lake

A hill-ringed Aravalli lake back from the dead — treated water, boating and a musical fountain reviving a beloved old Faridabad picnic spot.

Open dailyEntry Fee: Free EntryTypically daily, roughly 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM; fountain/laser-show and boating timings not yet officially fixed post-revival — verify locally

Badkhal Lake is one of the Delhi region's most heartening comeback stories — a rugged Aravalli reservoir near Faridabad, ringed by low rocky hills, that was for decades one of the capital's favourite weekend picnic and boating escapes before it dried up completely and has now been brought back to life. Created soon after Independence by damming an earthen bund between two hills to trap monsoon runoff, it drew boaters, picnickers and migratory birds through the 1970s to the 1990s, when a Haryana Tourism resort stood on its banks.

Where to Eat Nearby

Nearby Vegetarian Eats

Dasaprakash, Faridabad

6 km away
casual

Pure-vegetarian South Indian dosas and filter coffee

Bikanervala, Faridabad

6 km away
casual

Pure-vegetarian chaat, thalis and sweets

Haldiram's, Faridabad

6 km away
casual

Pure-vegetarian snacks and North Indian thalis

About

Badkhal Lake is one of the Delhi region's most heartening comeback stories — a rugged Aravalli reservoir near Faridabad, ringed by low rocky hills, that was for decades one of the capital's favourite weekend picnic and boating escapes before it dried up completely and has now been brought back to life.

  • Created soon after Independence by damming an earthen bund between two hills to trap monsoon runoff, it drew boaters, picnickers and migratory birds through the 1970s to the 1990s, when a Haryana Tourism resort stood on its banks.
  • For vegetarian travellers Faridabad's pure-veg standbys — Dasaprakash, Bikanervala and Haldiram's — are the reliable choices.

Then the water vanished

rampant illegal quarrying and mining in the surrounding Aravallis choked the aquifers that fed it, and the lake sat empty from around 2009 for well over a decade. A major revival project — pumping treated water into the lakebed and clearing invasive weed — refilled it by 2025, restoring water across its roughly 42-acre spread, and authorities have been adding musical fountains, a 3D water-screen laser show and boating, with a public reopening targeted for 2026. For visitors it means a rare sizeable water body against Aravalli scenery close to the city, loveliest in the golden light of late afternoon.

Practical notes

as of mid-2026 the revival is not fully complete, so boating, the fountain and the laser show may not be running on any given day and parts may be under construction — confirm the current status, timings and a small entry charge locally before travelling. Swimming is not advised. Nearest metro: Badkhal Mor (Violet Line), about 4 km, then an auto. Carry water and sun protection; the Aravalli area is exposed. Allow one to two hours, ideally paired with nearby Surajkund — the two make an easy, scenic half-day loop, and a hopeful glimpse of an Aravalli water body clawed back from the brink.

Timings & Entry Fee

Visiting Hours

  • Roughly 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM (daily)
  • Boating & fountain/laser-show timings not yet fixed — verify locally
  • Best in the late-afternoon light
Days OpenOpen DailyEntry FeeFree EntryTime Needed1 to 2 hours

Entry Fee: A small entry charge is expected (historically ₹10–₹20); the post-revival fee and boating/show tickets are not officially confirmed for 2026 — verify locally.

Verified: July 2026

Location & How to Reach

Address

Off Surajkund–Badkhal Road, near Badkhal village, Faridabad, Haryana, 121001

In the Aravalli hills near Badkhal Chowk, Faridabad

🚇 Nearest Metro: Badkhal Mor (Violet Line) — about 4 km, then an auto

🚶 Walking from Metro: Best reached by a short auto/cab from Badkhal Mor metro (~4 km); not a comfortable walk.

Distance from

  • Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL): 28 km (~60 min)
  • Connaught Place: 30 km (~65 min)
  • Badkhal Mor metro: 4 km (~12 min)

Parking

on-site · ₹20–₹50 (paid)

Parking at the lakeside complex; being expanded with the revival.

🚕 Ride Hailing Tip: Uber and Ola reach the lake via the Surajkund–Badkhal road; a short auto from Badkhal Mor metro.

How to Reach: Badkhal Lake is off the Surajkund–Badkhal road near Badkhal village, Faridabad, about 30 km from central Delhi. Nearest metro: Badkhal Mor (Violet Line), about 4 km, then an auto/cab. Faridabad is the nearest railway station.

Things to Do

  • Take in the Aravalli hill-and-water views
  • Watch the musical fountain / laser show (once open)
  • Try the reintroduced boating
  • Walk the lakeside promenade
  • Pair with Surajkund nearby

Best Time to Visit

Best SeasonOctober to MarchBest Time of DayLate afternoon into early eveningTime Needed1 to 2 hoursCrowd LevelsBuilding again post-revival; busier on weekends

History & Significance

History

Badkhal Lake was created soon after Independence by damming an earthen bund between two Aravalli hills to trap monsoon runoff; a Haryana Tourism resort opened on its banks in 1972 and it became a favourite Delhi-region picnic and boating spot.

  • Illegal quarrying in the surrounding hills choked its aquifers and it dried up around 2009, sitting empty for over a decade until a revival project refilled it with treated water by 2025, adding fountains, a laser show and boating toward a 2026 reopening.

🏛️ Architect: Not an architectural monument but a man-made earthen-bund reservoir in the rocky Aravalli terrain; its built character is the dam/bund, the lakeside promenade and the new fountain and light-show infrastructure.

Significance

Badkhal Lake is a landmark of the Faridabad getaway circuit and a symbol of Aravalli ecological revival — one of the region's few sizeable water bodies brought back to life after drying out for more than a decade — set within the northern Aravalli wildlife corridor.

Places to Visit Nearby

Family & Accessibility

Kid Friendly4of 5Stroller AccessPartialWheelchair AccessPartialChanging RoomNoPet PolicyPartial

Family Highlights

  • A revived lake against Aravalli hills
  • Boating being reintroduced
  • A planned musical fountain and laser show
  • A lakeside promenade for a walk or picnic

Photography & Drone

Drone PolicyProhibited

💰 Equipment Fees: Free for personal photography.

📍 The Golden Spot: The lake and Aravalli hills reflected in late-afternoon golden light.

🌅 Best Light Time: The last two hours before sunset.

Tips & Safety

💡 Insider Tips

🌅 Secret View: The bund and promenade give the widest sweep of water against the rocky hills — best just before dusk.

🎯 Crowd Hack: Weekday late afternoons are calm; weekends draw Faridabad and Delhi day-trippers.

💎 Secret Fact: The lake dried out for over a decade after Aravalli quarrying choked its aquifers, and was refilled with treated water in a multi-crore revival by 2025.

Express Tour

45 minutes — the promenade and the hill views.

🔭 Deep Dive Tour

Half day — Badkhal and Surajkund together.

🙏 Etiquette & Dress Code

Do's

  • Take in the Aravalli hill-and-water views at golden hour
  • Watch the musical fountain / laser show once it opens
  • Try boating on the refilled lake (being reintroduced)
  • Walk the lakeside promenade or picnic on the green
  • Pair it with nearby Surajkund for a day loop

Don'ts

  • Do not swim — it is not advised
  • Do not assume the fountain/boating is running — confirm first
  • Do not expect a fully finished site — revival is ongoing
  • Do not visit the exposed lakeside at midday without water

👕 Dress Code: No dress code; comfortable shoes and sun protection.

📷 Photography Rules: Personal photography is welcome; the hills and water are the draw.

Good to Know

💳 Money & Connectivity

UPIPartialCardsNoCashYes

🏧 Nearest ATM: ATMs toward Badkhal Mor and Faridabad sectors (within 4 km).

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Badkhal Lake open again?

Yes — after drying up for over a decade it has been refilled with treated water and was reopening in stages through 2025–2026; as of mid-2026 the revival is not fully complete, so confirm the current status, timings and any boating/show locally before visiting.

What are the Badkhal Lake timings and entry fee?

It is typically open daily from around 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM with a small entry charge; boating and the fountain/laser-show timings and tickets are still being finalised post-revival — verify locally.

Which is the nearest metro to Badkhal Lake?

Badkhal Mor on the Violet Line is about 4 km away; take an auto or cab from there.

Can you go boating at Badkhal Lake?

Boating is being reintroduced as part of the lake's revival, along with a musical fountain and a 3D water-screen laser show; check whether they are operational before you travel. Swimming is not advised.

What happened to Badkhal Lake?

Illegal quarrying and mining in the surrounding Aravallis choked the aquifers that fed it, and the lake dried up completely around 2009; a multi-crore revival pumping treated water refilled it by 2025.

Where can I eat vegetarian food near Badkhal Lake?

Faridabad's pure-veg standbys — Dasaprakash, Bikanervala and Haldiram's — are the reliable choices.

Categories

Related

#aravalli-lake#lake-revival#boating#musical-fountain#faridabad#weekend-getaway
Badkhal Lake, Faridabad — TasteYatra