Last weekend, I had a chance to embark on a fishing expedition with Dayakar and Venky (JNTU Buddies) and Lin, who is a common friend and a fishing enthusiast with 40 years of experience. We chose the backwaters of Nagarjuna Sagar, which is a popular tourist destination known for its scenic beauty and calm waters. Nagarjuna Sagar is a reservoir in the state of Telangana, India, created by the construction of a dam on the Krishna River. The reservoir is named after the Buddhist scholar Nagarjuna.

This scenic destination (which is just about 3 hours from Hyderabad) offers a range of activities in the backwaters, including boating, fishing, and sightseeing. The reservoir is surrounded by hills and forests, providing a peaceful and relaxing atmosphere. There are several islands in the backwaters that can be explored by boat, and coincidentally, we stopped at one of them for our lunch stop.

Fishing for the first time in the backwaters of Krishna was an incredible experience. Even though I didn’t catch any fish, the whole experience was so meditative and fun that I couldn’t help but enjoy every moment of it. As I cast my line, I was surrounded by the beauty of nature – the gentle breeze brushing against my face, the sound of the water lapping against the shore, and the serene surroundings.  

The peacefulness of the surroundings allowed me to disconnect from the daily hustle and bustle of life, and I found myself completely immersed at the moment.  Even though I didn’t catch any fish, I found myself enjoying the journey more than the destination. Before leaving, I made a self-pledge to return to the backwaters of Krishna and try my hand at fishing once again. The experience was not just about catching fish but about enjoying the journey, connecting with nature, and finding inner peace.

One of the main attractions of the Nagarjuna Sagar backwaters is the Nagarjuna Sagar Dam, which is one of the largest masonry dams in the world. The dam is a popular spot for visitors to take in the impressive views of the reservoir and the surrounding hills. Nagarjuna Sagar Dam is a masonry dam built across the Krishna River and is one of the largest dams in India, with a height of 124 metres and a length of 1,550 metres. This dam ensures irrigation water for the surrounding agricultural lands and generates hydroelectric power. It has a storage capacity of 11,472 million cubic metres of water and is one of the largest man-made lakes in the world. The Krishna River is one of the major rivers in India, originating in the Western Ghats of Maharashtra and flowing through the states of Karnataka, Telangana, and Andhra Pradesh before emptying into the Bay of Bengal. It is the fourth-longest river in India, with a total length of approximately 1,400 kilometres.