Bhojtal in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, was formerly known as the:

Bhojtal, the large lake on the western side of Bhopal, was formerly called the Upper Lake or Bada Talab. It was officially renamed Bhojtal in 2011 in honour of Raja Bhoj, the ruler credited with creating it.

History:

• The lake is believed to have been created in the 11th century by Raja Bhoj, the famous Paramara king of Malwa, by building an earthen dam across the Kolans river.
• According to tradition, Bhopal's name comes from "Bhojpal", meaning the dam (pal) of Bhoj.
• A large statue of Raja Bhoj stands on a pillar in the lake.

Features:

• It is one of the oldest man-made lakes in central India.
• It has an area of about 31 square km and a catchment of about 361 square km.
• It is the main source of drinking water for about 40 percent of Bhopal's residents.

The Lower Lake (Chhota Talab):

• It lies to the east of the Upper Lake and was built in 1794 by Chhote Khan, a minister of Nawab Hayat Muhammad Khan.
• Together, the two lakes are called the Bhoj Wetland.

Ramsar site:

The Bhoj Wetland (Upper and Lower Lakes) was declared a Ramsar site in 2002.

Bhopal, the "City of Lakes":

• Bhopal is called the "City of Lakes" because of its many natural and artificial lakes, such as the Upper Lake, Lower Lake, Shahpura Lake and others.
• Van Vihar National Park lies along the Upper Lake.

Threats:

Urban growth, sewage inflow, idol immersion and encroachment threaten the lakes, and conservation measures have been taken.

Raja Bhoj:

He was a great patron of learning and the arts, and is credited with works on many subjects. The Bhojeshwar Temple at Bhojpur, with its huge Shiva linga, is also attributed to him.

Why not the other options?

• ✗The Lower Lake is a separate, smaller lake in Bhopal.
• ✗Shahpura Lake is another lake in Bhopal.
• ✗Sagar Lake is in the city of Sagar.