Udaipur: The City of Lakes

Udaipur also known as ‘The City of Lakes’ or ‘Venice of the East’ is a beautiful city located in hills of Aravalli ranges in Rajasthan. The city was founded by MaharanaUdai Singh in 1557 AD when he decided to shift his capital from Chittorgarh. Over the years, the city was gradually developed including construction of massive palaces, temples, and beautiful lakes. Today, along with the royal past, the beautiful picturesque lakes in Udaipur will leave you speechless.

Pichola Lake

The Pichola Lake, situated in the heart of Udaipur is one of the oldest and largest lakes in the city. The lake was built by PichhuBanjara and was later expanded by MaharanaUdai Singh. Today, the lake is visited by lakhs of tourists every year to witness the mesmerising beauty of this place. The lake has undergone several changes over the years resulting in a picturesque surrounding comprised of mansions, palaces, bathing ghats, and temples. A visit to the Pichola Lake should not end before you have experienced its beauty with a boat ride. The Jag Niwas and Jag Mandir islands in the lake are renowned tourist attractions.

FatehSagar Lake

Situated to the north of Pichola Lake, this beautiful lake was built by Maharana Jai Singh, and later MaharanaFateh Singh made significant additions to the lake. You can reach here from Pichola Lake by taking local Udaipur cabs. The lake consists of three islands one of which has been converted into a public park with a small zoo and restaurant inside it. The second island also houses a public park with water-jet fountains. Finally, the last island is home to Udaipur Solar Observatory, Asia’s best solar observing site. Boating and water sports are widely available at the FatehSagar Lake.

Jaisamand Lake

The second largest artificial lake in the country, Jaisamand Lake was built by Maharaja Jai Singh during the 17^th century to counter acute water shortage in his kingdom. Located at 48 km from Udaipur, the massive lake covers an area of 36 Sq. Km. The picturesque lake has a palace in the backdrop that once served as a summer palace for the Queens of Udaipur. The lake has three islands which are inhabited by the Bhil Minas tribe. The two larger islands are known as Baba kaMagra whereas the smaller one is called Piari. The Jaisamand Sanctuary which is home to various birds and animals should also be visited.

Rajsamand Lake

Rajsamand Lake or the Rajsamudra Lake is situated 66 km to the north of Udaipur between Rajnagar and Kankrol. The lake was built by Maharana Raj Singh in 1660 while the dam was built later in the 17^th century. There are huge embankments made out of white marble at the southern end of the lake. There are beautifully carved nine pavilions or ‘Nauchowki’ with pictures of Sun, God, Birds, and Chariots on the embankments. The history of Mewar is inscribed in 1017 stanzas on 27 marble slabs called the ‘Raj Prasasti.’ During the World War 2, the Rajsamand Lake served as a seaplane base of Imperial Airways for long six years. You can avail the taxi service in Udaipur at prepaid rates to reach the Rajsamand Lake.

UdaiSagar Lake

Located at 13 km to the east of Udaipur, UdaiSagar Lake is one of the several lakes created by erstwhile Maharanas to meet the water requirement of their kingdoms. UdaiSagar Lake came into existence when MaharanaUdai Singh commissioned the construction of a dam on Berach River. The serene atmosphere surrounding the lake is the perfect place to gaze at the setting sun. The lake also has quite a history attached to it. The legend goes that Kunwar Man Singh invited MaharanaPratap Singh on the banks of UdaiSagar Lake which the latter denied leading to the battle of Haldighati a few years later. You can visit all the lakes and other tourist sites in Udaipur without the hassles of relying on the local transport by hiring cabs from SavaariCar Rentals.