Lake Pichola - The Iconic Lake of Udaipur

Udaipur, RajasthanLAKE

A man-made lake at the center of Udaipur, known for its island palaces like Jag Mandir and scenic boat rides with views of the City Palace.

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Info

LAKE

Info

1-2 hours

Accessibility

Not Wheelchair Friendly

Parking

No Parking

Photography

No Photography

About the Destination

Overview

Lake Pichola is an artificial freshwater lake that forms the heart of Udaipur. Created in the 14th century, it is surrounded by historic palaces, temples, ghats (bathing steps), and hills, creating a stunning backdrop. The lake contains four main islands: Jag Niwas, home to the famous Taj Lake Palace hotel; Jag Mandir, a palace open to visitors; Mohan Mandir, from where the king would watch the Gangaur festival; and Arsi Vilas, a small palace that was once an ammunition depot and now serves as a bird sanctuary.

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Location & Address

Pichola, Udaipur, Rajasthan 313001, Old City, Udaipur, Rajasthan, India

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Best Time to Visit

The best time to visit is from October to March when the weather is pleasant and cool, with temperatures ranging from 12°C to 28°C. This period is ideal for boat rides and exploring the lakeside attractions comfortably. The summer months from April to June are very hot. The monsoon season (July to September) sees a full lake and lush green surroundings, which is beautiful, but boat services can be intermittently suspended due to heavy rain.
Peak Crowd: October to January, especially during Diwali, Christmas, and New Year holidays. Weekends are always busier.
Moderate Crowd: February, March, August, and September, particularly on weekdays.
Low Crowd: April to July, due to the extreme summer heat and the onset of the monsoon.

How to Reach

Air

Maharana Pratap Airport (UDR) is the nearest airport, located about 24 km from Lake Pichola. It takes approximately 45-60 minutes to reach the lake area by taxi.

Train

Udaipur City Railway Station (UDZ) is about 3 km from Lake Pichola. It is well-connected to major Indian cities like Delhi, Mumbai, and Jaipur. Auto-rickshaws and taxis are available at the station.

Road

Udaipur is well-connected by National Highway 48 and other state highways. Regular government and private buses run from cities like Jaipur (400 km), Ahmedabad (250 km), and Delhi (660 km).

Local Transport

Auto-rickshaws are the most common way to get around near the lake. Taxis and ride-hailing services like Ola and Uber also operate in the city. The narrow lanes of the Old City are best navigated on foot.