Lake Pichola is the classic view people imagine when they think of Udaipur – calm blue water surrounded by ghats, palaces, temples and distant Aravalli hills. Boat rides pass island palaces, stone steps where locals bathe or wash clothes, and old havelis reflecting in the water. In the evening, when palaces like City Palace, Jag Mandir and Lake Palace are lit up, the lake looks like a floating city of lights. Unlike many urban lakes, Pichola is relatively clean, and the sound of temple bells and bhajans often carries across the water at night, adding to the spiritual-romantic mood that makes Udaipur famous as the “City of Lakes.”
About this place
History & highlights
Pichola is an artificial freshwater lake created in 1362 CE by a local Banjara chieftain and named after nearby Picholi village. Later, when Udaipur became the Mewar capital under Udai Singh II (16th century), the lake was enlarged and integrated into the new city’s water system through dams and bunds to meet drinking and irrigation needs. Over centuries, rulers added palaces, temples, bathing ghats and islands, turning the utilitarian reservoir into a royal scenic stage. In modern times, pollution and water-level issues have triggered conservation efforts and lake-cleaning campaigns, as authorities recognise that Pichola is both Udaipur’s lifeline and its main tourism asset.
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