Hussain Sagar Buddha

Hussain Sagar Buddha, originally uploaded by anaxila.

Hyderabad may seem an unlikely place to find one of the largest stone Buddhas in the world, but there he is. He stands in the middle of Hussain Sagar, the artificial lake built in 1562 that separates the sister cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad.

The buddha was the brainchild of a wealthy local businessman, and is a recent addition to the lake. Begun in 1985 and finished in 1990, the path to his present home was not smooth. The barge headed for his intended home sank into the lake, taking eight people with it. The buddha stayed at the bottom of the lake for two years before a salvage company raised him undamaged and set him on the plinth at last.

I always meant to take the ferry out to see him up close, but never did. Every night, every weekend, something else seemed to come up to keep me away. I understand the breeze on the lake makes even the hottest days bearable, and that the lighting at night is spectacular.

Hyderabad India, August 2005.