Rajhans Gopi Talav 4.37

Gopi Talav (Talab) is located in the walled city area of Surat in the inner ring (the older fort wall) and the outer ring (the extended fort wall) around the circular lake area measuring about 1,00,000 sq. mt. that includes water body 35,300 sq. mt and surrounding area 64,700 sq. mt. The travel accounts of the 17th century describe Gopi Talav as “an important urban recreational space with religious significance.”

Around 500 years old Gopi Talav was a part of the traditional water management system and was linked to the moats of the city wall. However, the Talav started decaying due to rapid developments in the surrounding which hampered the natural catchments of the Talav. Surat's celebrated 'Gopi Talav' was the object of much global attention. The lake's beauty evoked elaborate chapters penned to describe its magnificence, not only by Indian scholars, but also by European observers in travelogues about their trip to India.

Popular as 'Surat's premier pleasure resort' delightful to the eye, encircled by many gardens and mango orchards, the lake was built circa 1510 AD by the then governor of Surat - Malik Gopi, a prosperous merchant whose contributions towards the city ranged from economical to cultural development. Besotted by its beauty during the siege of Surat castle, Emperor Akbar set up his military base camp on the banks of Gopi Talav in 1573.