The Pushkar Lake is a semi-circular shaped sacred water body, also known as ‘TirthaRaj’. According to the Hindu mythology, the lake was created from one of the petals that fell from the lotus flower with which Lord Bramha killed the demon Vajra Nabh.

 

The Pushkar Lake is surrounded by more than 300 temples and has 52 ghats, where devotees take holy bath. It is a belief that if a person takes a holy dip in the lake on Kartik Purnima, then that person attains salvation it is also a belief that taking a sacred bath in the lake clears one from all sins and that it cures all skin diseases. A week long fair before Kartik Purnima is very famous. Known as ‘Pushkar Fair or Pushkar Camel Fair‘, it witness over 50000 camels with lakhs of visitors.

The Gadsisar Lake, an artificial waterbody, was built by Raja Rawal Jaisal, the first ruler of Jaisalmer. In the later years Maharaja Garisisar Singh rebuilt and revamped the lake. This historic lake is located towards the south of Jaisalmer city and the entrance to the lake is through Tilon-Ki-Pol, a magnificent and artistically carved yellow sandstone archway . The Tilon Ki Pol is adorned with an idol of the Hindu deity Vishnu, installed in the year 1908.

 

The bank of the Gadsisar lake is sorrounded by artistically carved Chattris, Temples, Shrines and Ghats. Its charm lies in the fact that it was the only source of water for the Jaisalmer city in the olden days. Due to its proximity to Bharatpur, different migratory birds can also be seen on the bank of the lake, adding to its beauty. This is the most popular point to take photographs of Jaisalmer fort early in the morning when the fort looks golden with the first rays of the Sun and also a bird viewing site and a major attraction of Jaisalmer city.

 

The Gadsisar lake is just 2 kms away from Jaisalmer railway station. Tourists can take an auto rickshaw or rickshaw to reach the beautiful heritage site.

Pichola Lake, an artificial lake was developed in 1362 AD. It is a located on the heart of the Udaipur city and is the oldest and one of the largest Lakes of Udaipur. Intiallly it was built by Pichhu Banjara, a gypsy “Banjara” tribesman who transported grain, during the reign of Maharana Lakha with the backdrop of green hills. Later Maharana Udai Singh established the beautiful city of Udaipur on the bank of this Lake and constructed a dam in the Badipol region to meet the drinking water and irrigation needs of the city and also to enlarge the Lake. The lake has a surface area of 696 hectares, and its maximum depth is 8.5 m. It is named after the neighbour village Picholi.

 

There are four islands on the lake namely- Jag Niwas, Jag Mandir, Mohan mandir and Arsi Vilas. The most beautiful and eye-catching are the Jag Mandir, a renowned lake Palace and Jag Mandir, also known as Lake Garden Palace were conceptualised buy Maharana Jag Singh. These beautiful Palaces of the olden days, richly architectured heritage adds to the beauty of the Lake. The City Palace, located on the east bank of the pichola lake and sorrounded by many historic temples, mansions and a number of bathing ghats, adorns the Pichola Lake.

 

One major attraction of the lake is the incredible view of the sunset from here during this time the sky looks like a canvas splashed with spectacular colors. Bird watchers can also have a glimps of many different species of birds like tufted ducks, coots, egrets, terns, cormorants and kingfishers near the Arsi Vilas. In the vicinity of the lake, travellers can also see the Natini Chabutra, a raised platform, built in honour of a tightrope walker ‘Natini’ commemorating the legend around her and her curse.

 

The Pichola lake is about 23.6 km from Maharana Pratap Airport, Udaipur and just 2.4 km from Udaipur railway station. Tourista can hire hire tongas, taxis, and auto-rickshaws to reach the lake.