Around a millennium ago there was a kshatriya king of Parmar Clan that ruled the heart of Bharat - Raja Bhoj.

All of you might have heard this name most probably by the saying

“ Kaha Raja Bhoj kaha Gangu-teli”

He was one of the greats in that age apart from his military genius, administration capabilities and academic brilliance he is also remembered for construction of Bhojtal while establishing city of Bhojpal (present day Bhopal).

Bhojtal is the largest man-made water reservoir in the peninsular India in that era.

Unbearable skin disease 

There ia a mysterious tale that Raja Bhoj was once suffering with a unbearable skin disease, which however led to raising of the Bhojpur Dam.

How?

To cure this fatal disease he was advised by a saint to establish a lake that absorbs 365 brooks and take a dip in it.

The site

All the Vindhyas were hunted for an appropriate site and they found a Triangular valley at the mouth of river Betwa to initiate their project.

The engineers from court of Raja Bhoj decided to make a massive cyclopean dam on tributaries of Betwa river.

Incomplete project 

With all efforts of Raja Bhoj and his courtiers the massive lake was constructed in the valley which was fed by many rills,rivulets, tributaries of Betwa. But, still the magic count of 365 was not achieved. They were successful in adding 356 streams.

Gond Chief came to the rescue

Local Gond tribe Chief Kaliya informed royal officers about a nearby unnamed river that has many tributaries. This river aided officers to reach the 365 count and today this river is called “Kaliyasot”-named on the Gond chief. 

The Kaliyasot river was turned to a right angle with a construction of dam in the present Bhojpur. It added the remaining 9 streams.

Upshot

Raja Bhoj after completion of project took a dip in lake and is said to be cured from the disease.

He also built a Shiva temple near the dam site which is- the Bhojeshwar mahadev.

Tragic destruction 

Around two centuries later the last Parmar king Mahalakadev lost to Khilji's army and Malwa was a sultanate then.

Hohshang shah decided to invade Bhojpal to end the legacy of Parmars or specifically of Raja Bhoj.They destroyed the dam for next 3 months and it took months for emptying the reservoir.

Contemporary position 

It recieved the status of Ramsar wetland site in 2002 as it houses around 700 spices of flora and around 100 spices of birds.

With the construction of Bhadbhada dam in 1936 since then Bhojtal also called upper lake is used as source of drinking water for city of Bhopal (approximately  40%).

It is also developed as water tourism spot by Government of MP.

Eventually 

The Bhojtal was project that was centuries-ahead of that time. 

Unfortunately, the lake is dying a slow death -Global warming and illegal encroachments are to be blamed.

Whatever, the present consequences may be the millennium old one of Asia's largest man-made reservoir is a historical wonder.