India's First Lake: Sudarsana Lake Built by Chandragupta Maurya 2300 Years Ago

• India's first man-made lake, Sudarsana Lake, was built around 322 BCE in Junagadh, Gujarat, under Emperor Chandragupta Maurya's orders.
• Constructed near Girnar hills by Pushyagupta Vaishya, it aimed to alleviate water scarcity in the arid Saurashtra region.
• The lake was an engineering marvel, formed by damming Suvarnasikta and Palasini rivers, providing water for agriculture and daily use.
• Subsequent rulers like Ashoka, Rudradaman I, and Skandagupta undertook significant repairs and expansions over centuries.
• While the original vast lake no longer exists, inscriptions and remnants in the Girnar region attest to its historical significance and advanced water management.