Agra draws visitors not only for its monuments but also for its quiet natural escapes. This Uttar Pradesh city is called a tourism hub for good reason, with thousands of Indian and foreign travellers arriving every day to take in the Taj Mahal, Agra Fort and Fatehpur Sikri. But if you are visiting in the summer months and want something green and calm alongside all that stone and marble, Kitham Lake deserves a spot on your list.
Surrounded by greenery and tall, leafy trees, the place is so peaceful that the noise of the city falls away and you find genuine calm. A variety of beautiful birds can be spotted along the water, adding to the charm. Boating once ran on this lake, but it has been stopped for some time now. Even so, for a picnic or a relaxed day out, it remains one of the most loved spots around.
A children's park built just for the little ones
Kitham Lake sits a few kilometres from Sikandra in Agra, in the Runkata area on the way towards Mathura. Its full name is the Sur Sarovar Bird Sanctuary, Kitham Lake. Entry costs just 30 rupees, after which you can wander the whole area at ease. It is a popular choice for picnics with family and friends. Far from the rush and the noise pollution of the city, the entire stretch is remarkably quiet, and the calls of birds make it all the more enchanting.
As soon as you enter, a fine children's park sits to the left, where kids can play freely. Summer is an especially pleasant time here because the large trees block much of the sun and a cool breeze keeps blowing. That is why several Agra schools bring children here on tours, and the youngsters end up having a great time.
A vast lake that pulls crowds from far away
The Kitham Lake in Runkata is an enormous body of water, and people travel from distant places just to see it. Tourists once enjoyed boating here, but the forest department put a stop to it a while ago. The whole area falls under the forest department. In the pleasant winter season, migratory foreign birds gather here in striking numbers. Colourful birds flying in from countries across Africa and Asia add to the lake's beauty, and during this period hundreds of people come to soak in the spectacle.
