Visiting The Four Famous Lakes Of Udaipur

Fateh Sagar Lake

Fateh Sagar Lake is a famous lake in Udaipur that is located north of the Lake Pichola. The lake is an artificial lake that was constructed in the 1680’s by the Maharana Fateh Singh of Udaipur and Mewar. Three islands are located within the boundaries of the Lake Pichola. 

The largest among these three islands, the Nehru Park, is 4 square km in size and is a popular tourist destination. The second biggest 1.2 square km island is the site of the Udaipur Solar Observatory. The smallest 0.06 square km island hosts a park and water-jet fountain. 

The Fateh Sagar Lake’s blue waters with the backdrop of the green mountains creates a mesmerizing vista that makes the lake one of the major attractions of Udaipur. The lake is not only about beauty but also supports and sustains drinking water, industrial and agricultural use, ground water recharge, and employs 60% of the population of Udaipur.

Jaisamand Lake/Dhebar Lake

The Jaisamand Lake is India’s second biggest artificial lake and is located in Udaipur where it occupies an area of 87 square km. The lake was built in the 17th century following the establishment of a marble dam across the Gomati River by Maharana Jai Singh of Udaipur. The Jaisamand Lake was the world’s largest artificial lake at the time of its creation. The Jaisamand Wildlife Sanctuary surrounds this lake and protects a 162 square km area of mostly teak forest within its confines. Three islands are located on the lake and are inhabited by the people of the Bhil Minas tribe. 

The banks of the lake hosts the palaces of the queens of the region and marble cenotaphs provide shade to those visiting the lake. Elegant marble steps lead to the waters of the lake. The lake was inaugurated on June 2, 1691, and on this day the Maharana distributed gold equal to his own weight to the needy. The lake is a peaceful haven and provides some stunning sights of the surrounding hills and palaces. Four-horned antelopes, wild boar, panther, deer, and mongoose can be sighted in the Jaisamand Wildlife Sanctuary.

Lake Pichola

Lake Pichola is Udaipur’s most famous lake. The lake was created in 1362 and named after the Picholi village located near the lake. The lake was created by a Banjara (gypsy) tribesman. Later, the ruler of the region, Maharana Udai Singh, was so impressed by the lake that he founded the city of Udaipur on its shores and also enlarged the lake. The main purpose of its construction was to meet the drinking and irrigation water needs of the city. 

The lake hosts two main islands, the Jag Mandir and the Jag Niwas. The former has a palace of the same name while the latter hosts a 5-star hotel, the Lake Palace. Two other islands on the lake are Mohan Mandir from where the king would watch the spectacular celebrations of the Gangaur festival, and the Arsi Vilas which served as an ammunition depot and a palace. The Lake Pichola and its surroundings have been developed over centuries and palaces, family mansions, marble temples, bathing ghats dot the entire lake region. 

The 1983 James Bond film was shot in the Lake Palace grounds. Octopussy, a 1983 James Bond film, was filmed in the precincts of the Lake Palace and other two palaces in Udaipur (Shiv Niwas Palace and Monsoon Palace).

Lake Badi

Lake Badi is an artificial fresh water in Udaipur. It is located about 12 km away from the city center and was built in the Badi village by Maharana Raj Singh I (1652-1680), the ruler of the region. The king built the lake to act as a water reservoir to counter the effects of drought-induced famine in the region. Lake Badi occupies an area of 155 square km and has 180 meter long, 18 meter wide embankment. The lake was effective in supplying water to the people of the city during the 1973 drought. Currently, it one of the tourist hot-spots in Udaipur.