Surajkund

Surajkund is an ancient reservoir in Faridabad district, Haryana, just south of Delhi, built in the 10th century by the Tomar king Surajpal as a sun pool. Its stone embankments step down in a semicircle around the water, so the site looks like an amphitheatre set against the Aravalli hills.

The name Surajkund means lake of the sun, and a sun temple is believed to have stood nearby. The Tomars were among the early rulers of the Delhi region, and a second Tomar dam at Anangpur lies a few kilometres away. Since 1987 Surajkund has hosted the Surajkund International Crafts Mela every February, a fortnight when weavers, potters, painters and performers from across India and partner countries fill the grounds. Outside the mela the site is quiet, and the reservoir itself is often dry.

What to see

• The stepped stone embankments of the old reservoir
• The Aravalli hills and scrub forest around the site
• The mela grounds, laid out like a village, in February
• Craft stalls, folk dancers and musicians during the mela
• The Anangpur dam, a few kilometres away

What to wear

Surajkund has no dress code; light, modest clothes suit the area. February mornings and evenings are cool, so bring a light jacket for the mela. Wear comfortable shoes for the stone steps and the dusty mela grounds, and a hat in the sun. Traditional Haryanvi dress is still seen in villages: men in white dhoti, kurta and pagri, and women in the long pleated daaman skirt with a kurti and a bright chunder veil. Mela stalls sell handloom shawls, stoles and embroidered clothing from across India.

Local food to try

Haryana's food is simple and dairy-rich: bajra roti with white butter, kadhi pakora, singri ki sabzi, bajre ki khichdi, churma and tall glasses of lassi. During the mela, food courts serve regional dishes from across India, from Rajasthani dal baati to Kashmiri and Punjabi food, alongside Haryanvi thalis. Outside the mela, eat in Faridabad or south Delhi. Vegetarian food is easy to find.

Good to know

• Best in February for the mela; October to March otherwise
• Open daily in daylight; mela hours are set each year
• Free outside the mela; mela tickets are sold online and at the gate
• Allow one hour for the reservoir, half a day for the mela
• About 20 km south of Connaught Place, near the Delhi and Haryana border
• Mela weekends are very crowded; weekdays are easier

Nearby places

The Qutub Minar is about 12 km north-west, and the Lotus Temple is about 12 km north. Sultanpur National Park is about 40 km west for a birding morning.