Bhopal is named as 'the city of lakes' because of its two beautiful artificial lakes namely the Upper Lake and the Lower Lake. These two lakes are separated from each other by an over bridge called Pul Pukhta or Lower Lake bridge. Built in the 11th century these two urban water bodies are jointly called as Bhoj Wetland, which is now a Ramsar site. They are considered as a major source of drinkable water for the residents of the city, serving around 40% of the residents with nearly 30 million gallons per day.

Upper Lake locally known as Bada talaab, lies on the Western side of the Bhopal city. It is one of the oldest water bodies in the country which was believed to be built in the 11th century by Raja Bhoj while the construction of an earthen dam across the Kolans River. This massive lake with a catchment area of 36.1 sq km is surrounded by the beautiful royal garden, Kamla Park that makes the surroundings more scenic. The lake is a good source of entertainment for the locals as well as the tourists. It is an ideal place to enjoy water sport activities like kayaking, canoeing, parasailing, and water skiing. Van Vihar National Park is located adjacent to the Upper Lake.