Sunset Boat Cruise on Lake Pichola in Udaipur

A visit to Udaipur is incomplete without a boat cruise in Lake Pichola, the historic 14th century lake made by a local gypsies’ that was extended in the 16th century by Rana Udai Singh II to establish Udaipur, the city of lakes. The picturesque boat ride on Lake Pichola not only provides the best scenic view of the lake and the mountains in the city, but also presents some of the most important historical monuments dotted along the lakeside. Beginning with the monumental lakeside facade of the City Palace Complex, the boat ride moves to the picturesque banks (ghats) with their distinctive steps, still used by the locals. The lake-side is lined with the havelis of the nobles, most prominent being the Bagore ki Haveli. The most splendid sights on the boat ride are the island palaces. The 17th century Jagmandir Island Palace is one of the oldest and most grandiose palace that is legendary as place of refuge to Prince Khurram (later Emperor Shahjahan). The other island palace of Jag Niwas, now the Lake Palace Hotel, is an 18th century creation of Rana Jagat Singh II. It is said that he constructed the palace in response to his father’s statement that if he wanted to stay in an island palace like Jagmandir Island Palace, he should build his own. Beyond the lakeside history and the beautiful island palaces, the boat ride provides a fantastic view of the distant monsoon palace perched on the hills. Sajjangarh was the palace built by Maharana Sajjan Singh in the late 19th century to enjoy the beautiful monsoon season of the lake city of Udaipur.