Lake Pichola & Lake Palace
पिछोला झील
The heart of Udaipur. Boat trips bring you close to the white Lake Palace floating in the lake and the Jag Mandir island palace, and the views are best at sunset.
Lake Pichola is an artificial lake built in the 14th century and later expanded by Maharana Udai Singh II. Two island palaces stand in the lake. The Lake Palace (Jag Niwas, built 1743 to 1746) is now the Taj Lake Palace hotel, and it admits only hotel guests and diners who have booked the restaurant. It became famous as a filming location for the James Bond film Octopussy. Jag Mandir, an island palace built in the 17th century, can be visited by stepping ashore during a boat trip. The island has gardens, elephant stone sculptures and a café. There are two main boarding points for boats. One is Rajmandir Ghat inside the City Palace (you must first buy a City Palace ticket; the trip including the island visit takes about an hour). The other is Lal Ghat on the south side. Sunset cruises cost more and must be booked in advance. You do not have to take a boat to see the views. Gangaur Ghat, Hanuman Ghat or Ambrai Ghat (Ambrai Ghat) offer panoramic night views of the Lake Palace and City Palace, and rooftop restaurants on the west bank are the best spots for sunset. Water levels can be low during the dry season, so check before you travel.
Opening hours
Cruises approx. 09:00–18:00 (sunset departures vary by season)
Nearby sights
- Jag Mandir
- Ambrai Ghat
- City Palace, Udaipur
- Doodh Talai & Karni Mata Ropeway
- Bagore Ki Haveli
- Jagdish Temple
- Gulab Bagh
- Vintage and Classic Car Collection