Pichola Lake Udaipur

Pichola Lake is one of the most beautiful and picturesque lakes of Rajasthan, India. Located in the heart of the city, Pichola Lake is the oldest and one of the largest lakes of Udaipur. In 1362, the beautiful lake was built by Pichhu Banjara during the ruling period of Maharana Lakha. Talking about the dimensions of Pichhola Lake, it is extended to 3 miles in length, 2 miles in width and has depth of 30 feet.

The beauty of this lake has not separated anyone to attract towards it. The lake looks more enchanting with its scenic surroundings. Maharana Udai Singh must have been certainly captivated by the charm of this pristine lake with the perfect backdrop of lush green hills as when he founded the city of Udaipur, he enlarged this lake. He also constructed a dam made in stone that falls under the 'Badipol' region on the shore of this lake.

Pichola Lake is enveloped by lofty Palaces, temples, bathing ghats and elevated hills on all its sides. In the southern part of this lake, there is a hill that is known as Machhala Magra and one can see glimpse of Eklinggarh Fort from here. The City Palace of Udaipur broadens along the eastern banks of this lake. Built by Jagat Singh, Mohan Mandir is situated in the north-east corner of Lake Pichola.

Lake Pichola comprises several islands that accompany the calm waters of the lake. The world-renowned Lake Palace is perfectly located on the Jag Island of this tranquil lake. Even the Jag Mandir, another destination of tourists, is located on an island of this lake. Above all, a trip to Pichola Lake would be incomplete with a boat ride. The pristine blue waters of the lake leave a soothing impact on the spectator. At the time sun-set, a boat ride in this lake is sufficient to enthrall anyone.

Rudyard Kipling mentioned this lake in his Letters of Marque (1899), "If the Venetian owned the Pichola Lake, he might say with justice, `see it and die'". The beauty of Lake Pichola attracts people from all over the world. One can undeniably say for Pichola that once, if you see this lake, you would definitely fall in love with it. The mesmerizing beauty of Lake Pichola makes it worth visiting during your visit to Udaipur.

Best Time to Visit
It is not advisable to take a tour of this magnificent city of lakes and palaces in the hot weather. A little relief with the cooling showers can be sensed during the monsoon season, but the duration is short lived because the city does not receive much rain even during the season, making the weather humid and sticky. The best time to visit Udaipur is during the months from September to March. The weather is very pleasant and you can enjoy every bit of your stay during this period. A number of festivals and celebrations take place during this time, the most significant being Shilpgram Crafts Mela, which attracts thousands of tourists from all over the world.

How to Reach
The nearest airport is the Maharana Pratap Airport, which is 22 km away from the main city. The railway station is located at a convenient distance from the city. Udaipur is connected through a major railway network with all the major cities of India. If you wish to experience that royal feeling, you should travel on 'Palace on Wheels', a luxurious train that offers the travellers an unforgettable experience. The city also has a well-established bus service network, which includes deluxe and non-deluxe buses as well as state-run transport.
With a brilliant road network to its credit, you can drive down to the city, or if you don't want to drive, you can hire a vehicle from the tour operators and enjoy a wonderful chauffer driven journey to this city.