About

Surajkund is a reservoir built around the 10th century. It is located in Faridabad.It is built like the "D" shape of an amphitheatre, with the curved section on the east, north, and south, truncated by a linear section on the west. It is said to have been built by the king Surajpal of the Tomara Rajput dynasty.

Surajkund is a reservoir, and not a well. While it is fed primarily by rain water today, it was originally also fed by waters from the Anagpur dam about 1.5km on the southwest.
It is most impressive for its size, with the circular segment having a radius of nearly 100m (from the edge of the embankments to the center) and the chord measuring almost 100m on the inside. The height from the top of the embankments with stadium-styled stepped sections to the bottom of the lowest step is about 20m.
The most significant features of the structure are the two broad stairways with balustrades on the east-west axis. On the north-east side, a ramp from the edge of the rim to the bottom provides an alternative, and easier, way to reach the water surface. The stadium style bleachers are made out of blocks of stone. There is an elevated platform in the middle of the reservoir, as well as blocks on the south-eastern side breaking the long curved gallery. There are also a number of overhanging slabs punctuating the gallery all around the reservoir. While most steps are steep, there are two broad landings on the curved eastern rim.

The Anagpur dam, located less than a mile away, is a 100m long stone and rubble masonry structure which diverted overflow waters towards the reservoir.

There are several Paleolithic sites with rock art and microlithic stone tools, scattered surround the Surajkund area. The reservoir is also adjacent to wildlife (leopard) and bird sanctuaries.

Surajkund is best known today for its annual crafts and arts fair, which is typically held in the months of January and February. The surrounding area features several permanent structures that have been gifted by various state governments as part of their state's participation in the fair.

Architecture

The reservoir is made largely of stone, and rubble masonry

Trivia

Archaeological excavations have revealed existence of a Sun temple here, of which only fragmented ruins remain today.

The reservoir has been refurbished and repaired several times over the years by rebuilding the steps and terraces with stones in lime mortar, including during the Chauhan, Tughlaq, and British regimes, in addition to modern times.