Lake Pichola, Udaipur

One of the great man-made beauties of Udaipur is Lake Pichola which is a beautiful artificial freshwater lake. This famous lake was raised in AD 1362 and is named after the village of Picholi that is placed nearby. It is considered as an abode to four islands that contains palaces and various monuments built by the Mewar dynasty in the Udaipur city. This delightful lake has a background of the Aravalli Hills which makes it a much pretty spot and most travelers wish to explore this wonderful destination. So let's take a quick look at the interesting facts and details of Lake Pichola.

History of Lake Pichola

Lake Pichola attracts many visitors with its charm and enchanting beauty and is an artificial lake constructed in 1362 AD. Picchu Banjara, a tribesman built this lake and he used to transport grains at the time of Maharana Lakha’s rule. Maharana Udai Singh was much attracted by this majestic lake so he decided to establish Udaipur city on the borders of this very lake. Maharana Udai Singh enlarged the lake by constructing a dam on its shore. Later various palaces, islands, mansions, temples and bathing ghats were established in the surrounding areas of the lake which made it even more attractive. The Lake Palace is the highlight of this beautiful lake which rests in the heart of the lake built on Jag Island. During the time between 1628 – 1652, Jagat Singh built Mohan Mandir and Jag Mandir is the other island to explore here. City Palace is the other famous tourist attraction which is found in the surrounding areas of the lake from where boats are used for a regular journey to other parts of the lake from Bansi Ghat. Check out Arsi Vilas which is a famous bird sanctuary and Sitamata Game Sanctuary located on the western part of the lake are the other attractions to explore over here. You can also find out ornamental arch bridges at various places which further increases the beauty of the lake. These bridges are constructed at spaces where the lake becomes less wide so that the water can reach easily to the banks.

Things to Do at Lake Pichola

• Boating is the major activity which is carried out at Lake Pichola and doing boating by enjoying the sunset is quite delightful for the visitors as the clean and fresh waters look exquisite at evenfall.
• Exploring the Lake Palace which is located on one of the islands of Lake Pichola is a must-visit place for every visitor. It houses many beautiful, luxurious floating hotel for a comfortable and grand stay.
• One of the other islands consists of Lake Garden Palace, which is well known for its majestic architecture and is a famous tourist destination.
• Lake Pichola is a home for a pretty building called as Mohan Mandir from where Maharanas used to watch out the local Gangaur festival celebrations.
• The other island of Lake Pichola contains a palace and an ammunition depot called Arsi Vilas. This has been used by Maharanas to see the sunset and it serves as a sanctuary to a large number of birds.
• You can check out an arched bridge which connects to Fatehsagar Lake and it was constructed by Maharana Swaroop Singh which is really a great view to watch out.
• One should definitely visit the hotel Lake Pichola for a lakeside sight while having dinner or can be used for a stay also.

What All Things To Carry

• For a trip to Lake Pichola and its islands which will last for the whole day, plenty of food and water should be carried along with you.
• Dress up yourselves with comfortable clothes and should wear comfortable footwear also to get a hassle-free experience of the charming islands of Lake Pichola.
• Most of the areas are permitted with the facility of photography but in some areas, you have to pay charges for the same. So try to bring your cameras with you in order to click pictures of the beauty of the scenic background.

Ways to Reach Here

Lake Pichola is located in the center of the city of Udaipur and can be reached there by roadways through private or public vehicles as per your need. You can also make use of tongas, auto rickshaws or cabs. Local buses are available on a regular basis from several sections of the city to the lake. The city of Udaipur is well connected to other parts of the country by air, rail, and road. Maharana Pratap Airport is the closest airport in Udaipur located at a distance of 20 km from the city center. This airport is connected to major cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Jaipur, Kolkata and so on. Udaipur Railway Station is well connected to main cities such as Ahmedabad, Khajuraho, Ajmer and Sealdah by Adi Udz Express, Mewar Express, Bdts Aii Udz Express, and Ananya Express. A number of states use buses of Rajasthan State Road Transport Corporation (RSRTC) and private trip operated buses connect Udaipur city to a large number of other cities with the help of roadways.

Entry Fees

There are no fees for making an entry to this amazing place.

Ticket Charges for Boating

• Charges for Adult – Rs. 340
• Charges for Child – Rs. 170

Sunset Boat Ride Cost

• Adult – Rs. 560
• Child – Rs. 280
• Private boat rides will be having higher charges.

Operating Hours

The timings to explore Lake Pichola are from 9 am to 6 pm on all seven days of the week. And for boating in Lake Pichola, the opening time is 10 am and the closing time is 5 pm.

Availability of Guides

Guides are available for you only on request. You can get Hindi as well as English speaking guides on request at this private boat rides. The cost of the guides depends on private boat ride rates.

Perfect Time for Exploration of Lake Pichola

The best time is from October to March that is the wintertime to visit this famous and beautiful place. Monsoons are also perfect to explore this place that is from July to September.  The city of Udaipur is quite warm during the summer season when the temperature reaches to 40-degree celsius. It has been advised not to visit Lake Pichola during the time from March to June in order to avoid the burning heat of the city. During the winter and monsoon time, the weather is quite pleasant with temperatures ranging between 25 to 35-degree celsius. The perfect time to explore this wonderful lake in the evening hours when you will be able to get the best sight of the sunset which is truly awe-inspiring.

Nearby Attractions 

• Lake Pichola’s eastern seaside is an abode to the dazzling City Palace of Udaipur which is considered as the famous tourist spot.
• You can enjoy shopping and even dining which are easily available around the streets of Lake Pichola and also you can include islands which contain many restaurants.
• The Jagdish temple and several other conventional Havelis are placed upon the edges of the lake which depicts the culture of Mewar.
• The Fatehpur Sagar Lake situated nearby is a popular tourist attraction as well.
• The Fateh Prakash Palace complex consists of a crystal gallery which is a must-visit spot for every traveler.

Conclusion

Lake Pichola is a great tourist destination of Udaipur and one cannot miss this spot while traveling to this beautiful city. Though Udaipur city consists of many lakes, Lake Pichola is possibly the most alluring one of all. The words were written by Rudyard Kipling in his letters of Marque in 1899 “ If the Venetian owned the Pichola Lake, he might say with justice, ‘see it and die’ are really true. Lake Pichola has the power to fascinate anyone with its charming and lovely beauty. So don’t miss to explore this wonderful Lake Pichola of Udaipur.