Rajsamand Lake is also known as Rajsamand Lake and is located near the town of Rajsamand in Rajasthan. This lake is one of the five famous lakes of Udaipur and is situated 66 km to its north. The approximate depth of this lake lying between Rajnagar and Kankroli is around 60 feet. The lake is 4 miles long and 1.7 miles wide.
The main source of water to this lake is the River Gomti. A glorious dam was built to harness this lake in the 17th century. The embankment on the southern end of the lake is made of white marble and is known as Nauchowki or nine pavilions. The marble terraces of this embankment along with the stone steps touching the water make it look remarkably beautiful. This embankment is dotted with five toranas which are weighing arches and chhatris. This is historically significant as this is where Maharana Raj Singh weighed himself in gold and distributed it amongst the Brahmans. This tradition, known as Tuladan, was continued by his descendants as well. The nine pavilions have beautiful and intricate carvings and are decorated with pictures of Gods, chariots, birds, the Sun and other fine carvings.  The stone steps leading to the lake are known as Ghats. Here, the history of Mewar has been inscribed on the 21 marble stones. Known as one of the longest engravings in India, there are a total of 107 stanzas describe Mewar’s history and is called as the ‘Raj Prasasti’.

This lake is formed by the dams that were constructed across the rivers Gomti, Tali and Kelwa and is the oldest known relief work in the Indian state of Rajasthan. Even though this is a large lake with a wide area of cross section, it is known to have dried up during severe droughts in the regions. This lake looks extremely beautiful at the time of sun rise and sun set when the water glitters in the dim light. The cool breeze flowing over the water, the serenity of still water and the amazing hues of early morning or evening are simply breath taking.

History

The Rajsamand lake is a result of the dams constructed across three different river, namely, Gomti, Kelwa and Tali. These were all built between 1662 and 1676 AD under the reign of Maharana Raj Singh I. There was a severe drought in the region in 1661 and the main purpose of building the dams and the lake was to provide employment to the local people of that region who were victims of the drought. This is the oldest known relief work in Rajasthan and cost around 4 million rupees. The ornamental pavilions and arches were commissioned by Princess Charumati as a symbol of gratitude towards Maharana Raj Singh. These add more beauty to the glorious embankment. The tradition of Tuladan began since the construction of these pavilions and was carried on by the successors of Maharana Raj Sing I. The Sanskrit inscription on the 27 white marble blocks is a special feature of the embankment. This inscription dates back to 1675-1676.

The Rajsamand Lake also served as the seaplane base of the Imperial Airways during the Second World War, for a period of over 6 years.

Attractions

The lake is one of the five popular lakes in Udaipur and has other tourist attractions located nearby. Some places that must be visited when you visit this lake are:

• Dwarkadhish Temple
• Shree Chhapariya Bheru Mandir
• Rameshwar Mahadev Mandir
• Neelkanth Mahadev Ji Temple
• Kalka Mata ka Mandir
• Hanuman Mandir

The huge white marble embankment at the southern end of the lake is another major tourist attraction. It is adorned with cenotaphs and carved arches and enhance the beauty of the lake, adding a touch of royalty to it.

Best time to Visit

The best time to visit Rajsamand Lake is from October to December and then during February. During this time the climate is cool and pleasant. You wouldn’t have to bear the sultry and suppressive heat that Rajasthan is known for. During this time, you can visit the lake as well as the nearby tourist attractions. The lake looks exceptionally beautiful at the time of sunset when the water glitters in the slowly fading light of the sun and the white marble shines in all its glory.

How to Reach

The Rajsamand Lake is 66 km away from the famous city of Udaipur, towards New Delhi.

By Air

The nearest airport is the Maharana Pratap Airport in Udaipur.

By Train

Rajsamand doesn’t have a railway station of its own and the nearest station is the Udaipur railway station which is 59 km away.

By Road

You can easily reach Rajsamand lake taxis or buses that run regularly from Udaipur.