Ambaji Kotha Lake

From Lateri Vav, drive southwards back to the Ring Road and turn left for Ambaji Kotha Lake. 

Vadnagar is in the Mehsana district of Gujarat. It is a semi arid district, where groundwater can drop as deep as 600 to 700 feet. And yet, Vadnagar is one of the oldest continuously inhabited towns in India, dating back to at least 800 BCE. This town has endured through droughts, wars, and changing dynasties. What’s its secret?

A remarkably intelligent water management system. This is the Ambaji Kotha lake. This quiet, unassuming waterbody is one of the many in Vadnagar. And these waterbodies are a major reason for Vadnagar’s long success as a human settlement.

In fact, Vadnagar didn’t just survive in the harsh conditions around it. It actually prospered as a trade centre! There is even evidence of buffalo rearing in these parts from early days. Cattle-rearing is water intensive, so it tells us that there was enough water even for farm animals!

So where did this water come from?

At the heart of Vadnagar’s water network is the Sharmishtha Lake, a central reservoir that we will visit a little later on this tour. But more significantly, that lake is connected to a network of over 50 other water bodies, all within a 10 Km radius. The grid pattern is such that when the first tank is full, water flows to the next tank on the map. Every drop is captured, stored, and shared.

The result? A constantly recharged groundwater table, even in a dry landscape.

This design did two things beautifully. It prevented flooding during heavy rains. And it ensured that water was available long after the rains had passed.

Ambaji Kotha was one of these connectors in an ancient water grid, an intermediate reservoir that kept the system in balance. Excavations near the lake revealed a wall structure along its bank, dating to two phases between the 1st and 4th century CE. The area around the lake has yielded many archaeological finds, indicating that the lake zone remained active across many historical periods, from early historic to medieval times.