Laknavaram Lake, known locally as Laknavaram Cheruvu, is a medieval reservoir in the forested hills of Mulugu district, Telangana, built by the Kakatiya rulers and now best known for a long hanging bridge that steps across its scatter of islands. It sits in the heritage belt east of Warangal, close to the Ramappa temple, and pairs a seven-century-old irrigation bund with boating, a zip-line and a Telangana Tourism island resort. When the lake is full after the rains, the view from the swaying bridge is the reason most people come.
Laknavaram Lake, also called Laknavaram Cheruvu, is a Kakatiya-era reservoir in Govindaraopet mandal, Mulugu district, Telangana, about 80 km from Warangal. Spread among low forested hills with roughly 13 islets, it is best known for a long hanging suspension bridge, lake boating, a zip-line and a Telangana Tourism (Haritha) island resort.
Key takeaways
- Laknavaram Lake (Laknavaram Cheruvu) is in Govindaraopet mandal, Mulugu district, Telangana; Wikipedia records it as built by the Kakatiya dynasty in the 13th century as an irrigation reservoir.
- The lake holds about 13 small islands; a hanging suspension bridge roughly 160 m long links islands and the shore, which Housing.com says the state tourism corporation (TSTDC) built in 2016 (another inventory lists 2018 — treat the year as unsettled).
- It lies roughly 80 km from Warangal and about 17 km from Mulugu town, and about 210 km (4.5–5 hours) from Hyderabad; the nearest railhead is Warangal and the nearest airport is Hyderabad.
- Best season is the post-monsoon and winter window, roughly July to February, when the rain-fed lake is full; it can shrink in the hot months before the monsoon.
- Telangana Tourism runs boating (speed, pontoon and motor boats) and the Haritha Lake View Resort, with island cottages reached by ferry; the newer island, The Cove, adds a zip-line, water sports and camping.
- Entry and boat charges are modest but no official figure could be verified this session — one travel listing cites ₹10 for adults with 8 am–5:30 pm timings; treat all fees as indicative and reconfirm.
About Laknavaram Cheruvu and the Kakatiya bund
Laknavaram Cheruvu is a man-made lake in Govindaraopet mandal of Mulugu district, Telangana, set in gently rolling forest country in the old Kakatiya heartland east of Warangal. The English Wikipedia entry states the lake was “built by the Kakatiya dynasty in [the] 13th century,” and the Incredible India portal similarly traces its origin to Kakatiya rule, when the dynasty raised a bund across a valley to store rainwater for farming and drinking. It is, in other words, a working medieval irrigation tank that has become a scenic getaway.
A word on the district, because older sources disagree. Mulugu was carved out as a separate district only in 2019, from the former Jayashankar Bhupalpally district, which had itself been split from undivided Warangal. This is why some pages still file Laknavaram under Warangal or Bhupalpally; as of October 2026 the correct administrative placement is Mulugu district, Telangana. Do not confuse it with Lakaram tank near Khammam, a different water body.
The lake’s scale is often quoted loosely. Several pages, including Holidify and the English Wikipedia text, describe it as spread over about 10,000 acres, while the Wikipedia infobox gives a surface area of about 40.4 sq km; treat these as broad descriptions rather than a surveyed figure. What matters on the ground is the shape: the water fans out between hills into many arms and inlets, leaving a scatter of about 13 small islands that the Wikipedia and Holidify accounts both cite. Those islands, and the bridge strung between them, are what set Laknavaram apart from an ordinary reservoir.
| Location | Govindaraopet mandal, Mulugu district, Telangana |
|---|---|
| Type | Kakatiya-era irrigation reservoir (13th century, per Wikipedia) |
| Islands | About 13 small islands |
| Hanging bridge | Suspension bridge roughly 160 m long linking islands and shore |
| From Warangal | About 80 km (sources vary, roughly 65–80 km) |
| From Hyderabad | About 210 km (4.5–5 hours) by road |
| Best season | Post-monsoon and winter, roughly July to February |
The hanging bridge and island hopping
The hanging bridge is Laknavaram’s signature, a narrow steel-cable suspension walkway roughly 160 m long that dips and sways as you cross the water to the islands. The English Wikipedia entry describes a “160 metres long hanging bridge” connecting the islands, and Housing.com gives the deck as about 1.8 m wide, built of steel cables, with the Telangana State Tourism Development Corporation (TSTDC) credited as the builder. On the far side the walkway continues in sections from island to island, which is why some accounts speak of a multi-part or three-part bridge.
Sources disagree on when it went up and exactly how many spans there are. Housing.com dates the bridge to 2016 and credits TSTDC engineers with the design and a local firm with construction, while a Bridgemeister inventory entry lists a completion year of 2018; take the year as unsettled. The Wikipedia text is also inconsistent, describing a single 160 m bridge in one place and “three hanging bridges” reaching the first island in another. The honest planning picture is a long, three-part suspension walkway of about 160 m total that hops between the main islands.
Crossing it is the experience. The deck bounces underfoot and the cables flex in the wind, so it is not for anyone nervous of heights or water, but the reward is a slow, low walk out over the lake with islands and forested hills on every side. Keep to a steady pace, hold the rails in a crowd, and mind children on the moving deck. On the islands you can walk short forest paths, sit at the resort’s viewpoints, and look back at the bridge from the water’s edge.
Boating, the zip-line and the island resort
Telangana Tourism runs the boating and the island stay at Laknavaram, so the activities are concentrated and easy to find. A 2024 Siasat report lists the fleet as passenger boats carrying up to 50 people, two four-seater speedboats and four pontoon boats seating about 24 each; Holidify adds deluxe and motor boats to the mix. A boat ride is the best way to reach the quieter arms of the lake and the islands that the bridge does not touch.
The adventure add-ons centre on the newer third island, developed as “The Cove.” According to the same Siasat report (last updated November 2024), The Cove has 21 eco-friendly cottages, an artificial beach, swimming pools, a dedicated camping zone and activities including a zip-line, water sports, cricket and badminton, with a strict plastic-free policy on the island. This is the part of Laknavaram that has turned a quiet reservoir into a weekend resort destination.
The original stay is the Haritha Lake View Resort, part of TSTDC’s Haritha chain. A Telangana Tourism page describes it as set in dense forest with both A/C and non-A/C accommodation, and Holidify notes a handful of cottages built on the islands within the lake, reachable only by ferry, with the resort restaurant the only food for about a kilometre. Because the on-lake cottages are so few, they are often fully booked; see the stay section below.
| Activity | What it is | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Hanging bridge walk | ~160 m steel-cable suspension walkway to the islands | The signature experience; swaying deck, not for the nervous |
| Boating | Passenger, pontoon, speed and motor boats (TSTDC) | Best way to reach the quieter arms and islands |
| Zip-line and water sports | On “The Cove” island (per Siasat, 2024) | Plus artificial beach, pools, camping zone |
| Island cottages / camping | Haritha cottages and The Cove eco-cottages/tents | Reached by ferry; book well ahead |
Best time to visit Laknavaram Lake
The best time to visit Laknavaram Lake is the post-monsoon and winter window, roughly July to February, when the rain-fed reservoir is full and the weather is mild. Holidify advises that the lake fills during the monsoon and winter and recommends avoiding summer, when a poor rain year can leave it low; the Telangana Tourism blog points broadly to the same July-to-January period. A full lake is what makes the bridge and the boating worthwhile, so flow and water level matter more here than a calendar date.
Within that window, the cooler, drier months of October to February are the most comfortable for the bridge walk, boating and a night in the cottages, with clear skies and pleasant daytime temperatures. The monsoon itself (July to September) fills the lake and greens the hills but brings leeches, slippery paths and the odd washed-out approach road. The hot pre-monsoon months of March to June are best skipped: the heat is sharp and the water can be low. Figures here reflect published guidance as of October 2026; check recent rainfall before you travel.
| July to September | Monsoon; lake fills and hills are green, but wet paths, leeches and occasional road trouble |
|---|---|
| October to February | Post-monsoon to winter; full lake, mild clear days — the sweet spot for the bridge, boating and a stay |
| March to June | Hot and dry; water can run low — generally not recommended |
How to reach Laknavaram Lake
Reach Laknavaram Lake by road, as there is no station or airport at the lake itself. The usual approach is from Warangal, cited at about 80 km (some sources give 65–75 km), via Mulugu town, from which the lake is about 17 km further along the Mulugu road, per the English Wikipedia entry. From Hyderabad the drive is about 210 km and takes roughly 4.5 to 5 hours, the Telangana Tourism blog and the 2024 Siasat report agree, generally via Warangal on the Hyderabad–Bhupalpally highway (NH163).
By rail, the nearest practical railhead is Warangal, on the busy Secunderabad–Vijayawada–Kazipet line, cited at roughly 70 to 75 km from the lake; a resort listing on the government’s forest-offices site puts it at about 75.5 km. From Warangal you hire a taxi or take a bus towards Mulugu and on to the lake. The nearest airport is Hyderabad’s Rajiv Gandhi International; the Incredible India page also lists Vijayawada as an alternative air gateway, though it is further by road.
Public transport thins out near the lake, so most visitors self-drive or hire a car for the day from Warangal or Hyderabad, which also lets you pair Laknavaram with Ramappa temple and Pakhal Lake. If you are planning a wider circuit, our Telangana travel guide sets this Kakatiya belt in context, and the nearby reservoir covered in our Pakhal Lake guide makes an easy addition.
| From Mulugu town | About 17 km by road |
|---|---|
| From Warangal | About 80 km (sources vary, roughly 65–80 km) |
| From Hyderabad | About 210 km (4.5–5 hours) via Warangal / NH163 |
| Nearest railhead | Warangal, about 70–75 km |
| Nearest airport | Hyderabad (Rajiv Gandhi International); Vijayawada is an alternative |
Suggested itinerary
Laknavaram works as both a long day trip and a relaxed overnight, and it slots neatly into a Kakatiya-heritage weekend from Hyderabad or Warangal. The lake does not need a full day on its own, so most itineraries pair it with Ramappa temple, about an hour away, and with Warangal’s forts and temples.
Day trip from Warangal:
- Leave Warangal early; drive via Mulugu to Laknavaram (about 2 hours).
- Walk the hanging bridge and take a boat ride across to the islands.
- Lunch at the Haritha resort restaurant on the island.
- Drive back via Ramappa (Rudreshwara) temple for the late afternoon.
Overnight at the lake:
- Day 1: Reach by afternoon, settle into a cottage or The Cove, bridge walk and sunset boating.
- Day 1 evening: Camping, zip-line or the artificial beach on The Cove island.
- Day 2: Early boating and birdlife, then drive to Ramappa temple and Warangal fort, or on to Pakhal Lake.
Where to stay, food and budget
The standout place to stay is on the lake itself, in the Telangana Tourism cottages, with Mulugu and Warangal as fallback bases. The Haritha Lake View Resort offers A/C and non-A/C rooms, per Telangana Tourism, and Holidify describes a small number of cottages built on the islands within the lake, reached only by ferry; the newer The Cove island adds 21 eco-cottages, tents and a camping zone, per Siasat. Because the on-lake rooms are few, Holidify warns they are often fully booked, so reserve well ahead through TSTDC, especially on winter weekends.
For food, the island resort restaurant is effectively the only option at the lake, serving standard Indian and Telangana fare; Holidify notes it is the only restaurant within about a kilometre. Carry snacks and water, particularly for children and for boat trips. In Warangal and Mulugu you will find fuller Telugu meals — expect staples such as a rice thali (plate meal), spicy Telangana-style pachadi (chutney) and Hyderabadi biryani in the larger town.
As of October 2026 we could not verify live resort tariffs from an official source, so the bands below are planning estimates only and should be reconfirmed when you book through TSTDC. There is no true luxury tier here; the appeal is the setting, not the fittings.
| Item | Budget trip | Comfortable trip |
|---|---|---|
| Room (1 night, Haritha / island cottage) | ₹1,500–₹2,500 | ₹3,000–₹5,000 |
| Car/taxi from Warangal (per day) | ₹2,500–₹3,500 (shared) | ₹3,500–₹5,000 (private) |
| Boating and activities (two people) | ₹300–₹700 | ₹800–₹1,500 |
| Meals and water (two people) | ₹500–₹900 | ₹1,000–₹1,800 |
| Rough total | ₹4,800–₹7,600 | ₹8,300–₹13,300 |
Entry, fees, timings and rules
No official entry fee or timing for Laknavaram Lake could be verified from a primary source this session, so treat the figures that circulate as indicative. One travel listing (Holidify) cites an entry fee of about ₹10 for adults and ₹5 for children, with gate timings of 8 am to 5:30 pm; another site gives ₹20 and 8 am to 6 pm. Boat and bridge charges are collected separately and were not published in any source we opened, so plan on modest per-head charges and reconfirm at the counter.
No special permit, such as an inner-line or protected-area permit, applies to the lake itself. The Cove island enforces a strict plastic-free policy, per Siasat, and the sensible rules follow: carry out your litter, avoid single-use plastic, and do not play loud music on the boats or the bridge. Wear a life jacket on the water, follow the boat operators’ instructions, and keep off the bridge in high wind or heavy rain. If you plan to fly a drone, check the current DGCA rules first, as this is forest country near wildlife areas.
Practical tips
This is forest country, so come prepared. Mobile network and data can be patchy around the lake, so download maps offline and tell someone your plan. Carry enough cash: ATMs are in Mulugu and Warangal, not at the lake, and UPI depends on a signal you may not have. There are few shops at the site beyond the resort, so bring water and snacks, especially if you are travelling with children or staying overnight.
Wear shoes with grip for the moving bridge deck and the island paths, and pack a light rain layer in the monsoon and sun protection in the shoulder months. The nearest hospitals of any size are in Mulugu and Warangal town, so carry a basic first-aid kit and personal medicines. Solo women travellers should prefer the busier winter weekends when there are other visitors about, keep to daylight for the bridge and boating, and ideally travel with a hired driver who knows the route rather than relying on sparse buses. Book island cottages well ahead, as they sell out.
Nearby places
Laknavaram sits in a rich corner of the Kakatiya heritage belt, so it rewards a wider loop. The obvious pairing is the Ramappa (Rudreshwara) temple, a 13th-century Kakatiya shrine inscribed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site in 2021, cited at about an hour from the lake. Warangal itself holds the Kakatiya fort and the Thousand Pillar Temple, and the wider district adds the tribal pilgrimage site of Medaram, the Bogatha waterfall and the reservoir covered in our Pakhal Lake guide.
For a route that strings these together, our guide to travelling in Telangana links this belt to Hyderabad and the wider Deccan.
| Place | Distance | Why go |
|---|---|---|
| Ramappa (Rudreshwara) temple | About an hour | 13th-century Kakatiya temple; UNESCO World Heritage Site (2021) |
| Warangal fort & Thousand Pillar Temple | ~80 km | Kakatiya capital; fort ruins and temple architecture |
| Medaram | Mulugu district | Site of the Sammakka–Saralamma Jatara tribal gathering |
| Bogatha Falls | Mulugu district (east) | Forest waterfall, strong in and after the monsoon |
| Pakhal Lake | Warangal–Mulugu belt | Another Kakatiya-era reservoir and wildlife sanctuary |
Frequently asked questions
Where is Laknavaram Lake and which district is it in?
Laknavaram Lake, or Laknavaram Cheruvu, is in Govindaraopet mandal of Mulugu district, Telangana, about 80 km east of Warangal and 17 km from Mulugu town. Mulugu became a separate district in 2019, so older pages may still file it under Warangal or Bhupalpally; the current placement is Mulugu district.
Who built Laknavaram Lake and when?
Laknavaram Lake was built by the Kakatiya dynasty in the 13th century as an irrigation reservoir, according to the English Wikipedia entry, and the Incredible India portal traces its origin to Kakatiya rule. The rulers raised a bund across a valley to store rainwater for farming and drinking, which is why it is a man-made tank rather than a natural lake.
How long is the Laknavaram hanging bridge?
The Laknavaram hanging bridge is a steel-cable suspension walkway about 160 m long, per the English Wikipedia entry, roughly 1.8 m wide, built by the state tourism corporation (TSTDC), according to Housing.com. It crosses the water in sections to link the islands. The build year is given as 2016 by Housing.com but 2018 by one bridge inventory, so treat it as unsettled.
What is the best time to visit Laknavaram Lake?
The best time is the post-monsoon and winter window, roughly July to February, when the rain-fed lake is full. The cooler, drier months of October to February are the most comfortable for the bridge walk and boating. Holidify advises avoiding summer, when a poor rain year can leave the lake low. Check recent rainfall before you go.
How do I reach Laknavaram Lake from Hyderabad?
Drive about 210 km from Hyderabad, roughly 4.5 to 5 hours, generally via Warangal on the Hyderabad–Bhupalpally highway (NH163), then through Mulugu to the lake. The nearest railhead is Warangal, about 70–75 km away, from where you hire a taxi. The nearest airport is Hyderabad’s Rajiv Gandhi International.
What is there to do at Laknavaram Lake?
At Laknavaram Lake you can walk the ~160 m hanging bridge, take a boat ride (speed, pontoon or motor boats run by Telangana Tourism) to the islands, and stay in island cottages. The newer island, The Cove, adds a zip-line, water sports, an artificial beach and a camping zone, according to a 2024 Siasat report.
Last updated and sources
Go in the post-monsoon or winter months, when the lake is full and the weather is kind, and pair the bridge and boating with Ramappa temple for a full Kakatiya-heritage day. Book island cottages well ahead, and reconfirm fees and boat timings on the spot.
Last updated: 17 October 2026. Fees, timings and permits change — reconfirm with official sources before you travel.
Sources: English Wikipedia — Laknavaram Lake; Incredible India — Laknavaram Lake; Telangana Tourism — Laknavaram (Nature in Warangal); Telangana Tourism — Laknavaram Lake boating; Holidify — Laknavaram Lake; Housing.com — Laknavaram bridge; Siasat — The Cove island at Laknavaram (Nov 2024); Find Forest Offices — Haritha Lake View Resort, Laknavaram. Accessed October 2026.
