Varun Sagar

• 06 Mar 2025

Why in News? 

Rajasthan Assembly Speaker changed the name of the famous Foy Sagar Lake in Ajmer to 'Varun Sagar'.   

Key Points  

• About the issue:  
  • According to the speaker the name of Faisagar in Ajmer was a symbol of slavery. This lake was built by the people of Ajmer and religious and social faith of all communities including Sindhis is attached to it. 
  • Lord Varun has been revered by all communities, including the Sindhi community. Therefore, this lake will now be known as "Varun Sagar." 
• About the lake:  
  • This lake is an artificial lake located in Ajmer district. 
  • This lake was constructed in the year 1891-1892 under the direction of  Foy , an English engineer of the British Raj, as part of the flood and famine relief project. 
  • This is the second famine relief lake of Rajasthan, first being Rajsamand Lake. 

 Rajsamand Lake  

• About: 
  • It is a popular tourist destination in Rajasthan. It was built in the 17th century by Maharana Raj Singh.  
  • The lake is also known as Rajsamudra Lake.  
• Construction: 
  • Construction of the lake began in 1662 and was completed in 1676.  
  • It was the oldest famine relief work in Rajasthan.  
  • The lake was built across the Gomati, Kelwa, and Tali rivers.  
  • It has a catchment area of about 196 square miles.  
• Features: 
  • The lake is 4 miles long, 1.7 miles wide, and 60 feet deep.  
  • The white marble embankment at the southern end is called Nauchowki.  
  • The Ghats, or stone steps leading to the lake, have inscriptions about the history of Mewar.  
  • The Raj-Prashasti viewpoint atop the dam has the world's longest and largest stone inscription in Sanskrit.