The Upper Lake — Bada Talaab in Hindi — dominates the western part of Bhopal and gives the city its distinctive profile. Built over a thousand years ago by damming the Betwa River's tributaries, it is still one of the primary water sources for the city's drinking supply. The shoreline, particularly around the boat club area at Van Vihar, is the most pleasant public space in Bhopal: wide walkways, boat rental, and the Taj-ul-Masajid silhouetted on the opposite shore.
Boat rides on the lake at sunset are a Bhopal institution. Row boats and motorised vessels are available from the ghat near the boat club. The lake is also important as a bird habitat, particularly in winter when migratory waterfowl arrive in numbers. Van Vihar National Park, a wildlife sanctuary along the northern shore, has several animals including leopard, tiger, and bear, though it functions more as a zoo than a wilderness area.