Jaisamand-A romantic hidden paradise of Rajasthan tourism

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Jaisamand travel blog of Rajasthan tourism

While Udaipur the city of lakes is a paradise in itself the small island of Jaisamand which is situated on Jaisamand lake {2nd largest artificial lake in Asia } is a perfect spot for someone who’s looking to connect with one’s inner self.

Jaisamand lake is located in the Udaipur district of Rajasthan which is spread across an area of 87 square kms and is more then 100 feet in depth . The lake has 3 small islands on which there are resorts built up giving a majestic view of this man made wonder .

The lake was built in 1685 by erstwhile Maharaj of Udaipur Maharana Jai Singh and is named after the Majesty himself .The lake was constructed to facilitate building of a dam on the Gomti river. The lake boasts sits interesting cenotaphs carved from marble on its embankment on the northern shore of the lake where there is a stunning palace with a courtyard and on its southern shore there is a pavilion of 12 pillars. From the courtyard of the palace you can see the dazzling view of Jaisamand lake.

In total, this lake comprises 7 islands and one of the island is still inhabited by the tribe of Bhilminas. The biggest island is known as Babaka Bhagra and the second one is known as Piari.

The Weather:

While Jaisamand has pleasant weather all round the year, its winters and monsoons that is the best time to visit this place, winters make it ideal for bird watching as they are a lot of migratory birds that come in during this season. The monsoon is lush green and is the perfect time for a trek or a hike up to the hill to the palace.

Reaching there :

Jaisamand is about 50 kms away from the city of Udaipur and one can hire a cab or drive down until the boat pick up point to get access to the island. The cab would cost about 1300/1500rs one way and alternatively you can ask the resort or hotel to arrange a cab for you.

PS : Don’t forget to feed the fishes in the lake while you wait for your speed boat to arrive.

Things to do in Jaisamand:

1. Jaisamand wild life sanctuary : The forest areas around the lake which were once hunting grounds for the Maharana’s of Mewar was converted into in a game reserve cum resort lodge. The place spans across an area of 62 kms and one can enjoy viewing a lot of wild animals including boars, panthers, deers and a variety of bird species in their natural habitat.

2. Roothi Rani ka mahal : A palace build by Maharaja Jai Singh which was gifted to the younger queen who eventually stayed here after being upset with the king hence leading to this name. The palace is in shambles now but the trek of 4 kms leading to palace is a delight for trekkers and climbers. The queen hailed from Panwar family of Bijolia. After her marriage the queen is said to have spent long hours in waiting for the Maharaja so she got so annoyed and pledged never to return and hence ended up living in this palace.

3. Fishing, boat rides, camping alongside the lake : The joy of catching your own fish and cooking it is something which cant be explained in words and Jaisamand gives you an opportunity to do that.

WHERE TO STAY :

The biggest resort on the lake is JIR (Jaisamand Island Resort) which is spread across an area of 40 acres and has over 300 bird species over its premises. It has an inventory of 43 rooms with a swimming pool and is one of the most popular option to stay. Since mine was a super prompt plan this property was sold out and hence I chose to stay at Karni Mahal Palace. For accomodation in the resort visit the link below:-

Booking.com

KARNI MAHAL home-stay which is a 10 room heritage property approved by the govt of Rajasthan.

KARNI MAHAL is a beautiful quaint home-stay built by the official restorers of the Udaipur palace which is now handled by his model cum entrepreneur son  Mr Sarthak Saxena.

The property though has a limited inventory in terms of rooms but it is a perfect place for a big group party or a small family get together . It has got a beautiful veranda where you can sit with a cup of your tea and keep gazing at the infinite water body protected by the mountains.The property also has a swimming pool to cool yourself from the Rajasthan heat.

1. Rooms : All the rooms have a beautiful lake view and are extremely spacious and comfortable.Inspite of being a traditional property utmost care is taken regarding the comfort of the guest and all modern amenities are provided including toiletries and tea coffee maker in room .While I stayed in a standard room which is huge compared to the itsy bitsy rooms in Udaipur city they offer a villa or a family room which is ideal for a family of 4/6 people .It boasts of a personal kitchen area where you can cook your own meal if you wish to .The rooms are equipped with 2 bedrooms , 1 common area with a tv to sit and chill with.

Since its a stand alone property and there are no restaurants in the vicinity, it is very important that the food be up to the mark to make your stay memorable .Since the owner himself is an ex chef at Taj I had high expectations from the food and it surely lived up to them .

2.The food is freshly prepared and made to order and there is enough options for both vegetarians as well as non vegetarians.Though it doesn’t boast of a huge variety which you can experience at a buffet but the food justifies the home stay tag by being ekdum desi and home style. The highlight of my meal was definitely the breakfast served by the pool consisting of simple Upma with Aloo paratha and fresh fruits with bread toast and preservatives,There are a lot of places which take guests for granted when the bookings are made on MAP basis but here the chef ensures that your thoroughly enjoying your meal.

Service :

Normally its a hassle to train locals to make them adapt to the hospitality industry standards but I must say the owners here have done a commendable job.T he staff though locals are trained well to meet the guests requests. Right from room service to pick up and any assistance needed during the stay, they were always willing to help with a smile.

Overall I would definitely recommend everyone who’s visiting Udaipur to keep a spare day in their itinerary and visit this beautiful man-made creation which will leave u spellbound. Make sure you stay at the above-mentioned home-stay to make your stay completely memorable.

PS : Take the efforts to wake up for the sunrise early morning ( you can thank me later).

So whether you are a luxury seeking traveller or an adventurous one Jaisamand has something to offer for everyone making it an ideal weekend get-away from the city of Udaipur for the locals and otherwise making it for a perfect offbeat destination for a wanderlust person who is always seeking something new.

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