Balsamand Lake

Lake / Backwaters

Photo Credit: Flickr

Distance (From Jodhpur Jn): 10 Kms

Trip Duration (Including Travel): 30 Mins

Place Location: At Mandore

Transportation Options: Cab / Auto

Travel Tips: None

At a distance of 8 km from Mehrangarh Fort and 10 km from Jodhpur Junction, Balsamand Lake is an artificial lake situated at Mandore on Jodhpur - Mandore Road. It is one of the prominent places to visit in Jodhpur.

Balsamand Lake was built in 1159 AD by Gurjara-Pratihara rulers as a reservoir to supply water in the Mandore region. The lake has a length of one km, breadth of 50 m and a depth of 15 m. The lake is surrounded by lush green gardens that house groves of mango, papaya, pomegranate, guava and plum. An artificial cascading waterfall brings water from the reservoir to the gardens. The embankments of the lake, in front of the palace, have domed structure that offers fabulous views of the lake. Visitors can also see animals and birds like peacock, jackal and blue bull roaming in the area.

On the banks of the lake is the Balsamand Palace that was built by Maharaja Sur Singh in the 1936. The palace used to be the summer resort of the Maharajas of Jodhpur and the palace is built in red sandstone and is really an eye retreat because of its ornate and gorgeous architecture. Boasting of a grand architecture, this 8-pillared castle has 3 gates for the entrance purpose and is one of the best heritage hotels of Jodhpur.