Top Lakes in Udaipur

Udaipur City is famous for its towering and majestic royal palaces, rich cultural heritage, and luxury hotels. But, do you know there’s more? When you look at the Udaipur City from a high mountain, it’s not the palaces that will catch your eyes, but the boundless water spanning across every inch and corner of the city. Celebrated as Venice of the East, and the City of the Lakes, the glory of Udaipur’s lakes goes beyond mere titles. They offer Udaipur in its raw splendor and beauty, and if one closes their eyes, they could even hear the lakes sing. Their melody thrums strongly akin to the valor of rajputs, and their verses lay bare the history hidden beneath the most prosperous city of the Mewar Kingdom back in the time.

1. Fateh Sagar Lake, Udaipur

When we talk about the lakes of Udaipur City, Fateh Sagar Lake is the first to come to mind. The lake spans 2.5 kilometers below the embrace of lush green mountains that offers a spectacular view. It was built in the late 17th century by Maharana Jai Singh, and was later remodeled by Maharana Fateh Singh. Its pear-shaped body features three islands. One has a fascinating park with stunning water-jet fountains which comes alive at night; the other has a beautiful park known as ‘Nehru Park.’ While the third island houses a solar observatory named ‘Udaipur Solar Observatory.’
If you want to enjoy the calm sunset away from the crowd of tourists, then make sure to visit ‘Rani Road,’ which runs along the shores of Fatehsagar Lake.

Boat Ride Timings: 8:00 am to 4.30 pm (May vary according to the government norms)

Boat Ride Charges: INR 30 per person for regular boat rides; INR 100 to INR 200 per person for motorboat rides; INR 200 to INR 400 per person for speedboat rides

2. Lake Pichola

Built in the 14th century, Lake Pichola is a serene and breathtaking artificial freshwater lake. Due to its high resolution charm, it has been often featured in Hollywood as well as Bollywood movies like ‘Yeh Jawani Hai Dewani.’ And even that’s not all, it is surrounded by four islands - Jag Niwas, Jag Mandir, Arsi Vilas, and Mohan Mandir. Each of the places has its own charms and unique history, and they are just a short boat ride away, so make sure to give them a visit.
The waves of Pichola also increase the allure of various ghats, havelis (mansions), temples, and restaurants, which surround it from every side.

Boat Ride Timings: 10:00 am to 5:00 pm (May vary according to the government norms)

Boat Ride Charges: INR 200 per person for adults; INR 400 per person for children

3. Udaisagar Lake

Let’s talk about another beauty of Udaipur City, the Udaisagar Lake. It was originally constructed in the 16th century during the reign of Maharana Uday Singh. It runs 4-kilometers-long, and hides tales even older than that. The lake has witnessed countless wars, and the valor of fearless conquerors.
Give it a visit and enjoy the whispers of the old era, where kings and kingdoms flourished.

4. Jaisamand Lake (Dhebar Lake)

The next on our list is the second largest artificial lake in India. Situated 50 kilometers away from the city of Udaipur, the 14-kilometer-long lake was built during the reign of Maharana Jai Singh on the banks of Gomati River. It was developed to combat the intense drought in that territory.
Beautiful palaces and cenotaphs are sculpted out of marble, and intricate pavilions add more to the serene lake. Jaisamand Lake aleo hosts a tranquil sanctuary known as ‘Jaisamand Wildlife Sanctuary.’ It is rumored that back in the day, the sanctuary served as the hunting ground for the royal family. However, today it’s a perfect place to spot migratory birds, and animals.

Boat Ride Timings: 10:00 am to 5:00 pm (May vary according to the government norms)

Boat Ride Charges: INR 30 to INR 80 per person

5. Rajsamand Lake

Also called as Rajsamudra Lake, Rajsamand Lake was built in 1660 by Maharana Raj Singh. At its southern tip, the beautifully carved marble ghats are the breathing proof of the rich culture of Mewar City. You can also witness the moment as the sun slowly rises from the embrace of Rajsamand Lake.

6. Badi Lake (Jiyan Sagar)

Jiyan Sagar or Badi Ka Talab is another freshwater lake built by Maharana Raj Singh to counter a devastating famine in the village of Badi back in the 17th century. It was named Jiyan Sagar by the king after the name of his mother, Jana Devi. Even in recent times, as early as 1973, the residents of Udaipur relied on the freshwater from the lake to survive through a severe drought.
Today, the lake serves as one of the big tourist attractions. A walk by the stone-laden walkway possesses the power to heal broken souls, and it protects you from the hustle and bustle of city life. Twelve kilometers away from the city, Badi Lake is a perfect destination for a quick sightseeing.