Lake Pichola

Pichola Lake is one of the most beautiful lakes in Rajasthan. Located in the heart of Udaipur, Pichola is the oldest and one of the largest lakes in all of Udaipur. The lake and the dam on the lake were created in the 15th century by a grain merchant with the intention of allowing his carts of food grain to cross over during the monsoon. The beautiful Pichola Lake mesmerizes everyone and the scenic surroundings add to the charm of the lake. Maharana Udai Singh was also mesmerized by the lake and the surroundings so he extended the lake when he founded the city of Udaipur and also built a dam made of stone that is in Badipol region on the shore of the lake.

There are many small islands in the lake like Arsi Vilas which is a hotspot for birds and has a platform known as Natni Ka Chabutra. There are palaces, temples, bathing ghats and hills all around the lake. There is the Machhala Magra hill on the southern part of the lake from where one can see the Eklingarh Fort. The City Palace of Udaipur gets broader along the eastern bank of the lake. There is the Mohan Mandir built by Jagat Singh in the north-east corner of the lake.

There are many islands in Pichola Lake that add to the charm of the lake. The famous Lake Palace is on the Jag Island. Jag Temple in the lake is a very popular tourist attraction.

A trip to Pichola Lake is incomplete without a boat ride around the Lake Palace. The blue water gives a very calm and soothing sensation and a boat ride during sunset is an experience of a lifetime.

There are restaurants near Pichola Lake that offer local and ethnic cuisine from almost every region in the world for those who like good food and a great dining experience. Standards of international cuisine in Udaipur are high and the choice is varied. Top class restaurants in the city’s hotels offer Indian, French, Italian, Spanish, Greek, Mexican, Russian, British, German, Chinese, Japanese, Thai, Filipino and Korean cuisine to name just a few. Lovers of fast food can go to Sukhadia Circle or Rana Pratap Memorial where there are some good roadside food joints.