Himayat Sagar Reservoir (not a beach)

Himayat Sagar is a reservoir on the Esi river, built in 1927, on the Rajendranagar side of Hyderabad, Telangana. It is not a beach. The reservoir was created to protect the city from floods and to supply drinking water, and access to the water is limited, so swimming is not permitted. There is no sand or surf. The shoreline is a broad embankment with garden strips, and the water is open and generally calm, with a steady breeze across the top of the embankment. The lake lies about 20 km south-west of central Hyderabad at Rajendranagar, Hyderabad 500030. The atmosphere is that of a wide, open picnic and sunset spot, with a weekend crowd of families and groups of friends but plenty of space to walk away from them. It is popular with photographers for its skies and reflections, and with cyclists and walkers who use the embankment, and birdwatchers can spot waterbirds along the shore. Amenities are limited. There is an embankment, parking, garden strips and a few food stalls, but no lifeguards, sun loungers or rentals, and restrooms and refreshments can be sparse, so visitors often bring water and snacks. Paths on the embankment are level, though access to the water is uneven and unfenced in places, and children need close supervision. Access is by road. Cabs and self-drive travellers reach it via the Outer Ring Road from Hi-Tech City in about 40 minutes, and TGSRTC buses run to Himayat Sagar from Mehdipatnam. The reservoir is at its best from October to February, when water levels are higher after the monsoon and the weather is cooler, and weekday sunrise or early evening gives the calmest conditions and the softest light. Summer afternoons from March to June are hot and exposed. Visitors seeking an actual sea beach for swimming need to travel to the Andhra Pradesh coast.