Balsamand Lake was built long back in the 12th century, famous for being the location of Bal Samand Lake Palace, a heritage hotel. Situated only 5 km from Jodhpur, this is a world away from the city’s crowds and hustle. The Gurjara-Pratihara rulers built the lake in 1159 AD to save the town of Jodhpur from droughts. The Maharaja Sur Singh, who built this artificial lake, in turn was honored with the title of Sawai Raja for his impeccable services. Surrounded by lush gardens, it includes a large range of trees such as mango, papaya, grapefruit, etc. Balsamand Palace, built on the lake during the 17th century, is an architectural red sandstone wonder that overlooks the lake.

Its adjacent estate has made the mesmerizing lake popular as the summer home of the Jodhpur Maharajas. It not only provides a comfortable stay experience it also provides an idyllic place to enjoy sunset views and picnics on the lakeside. You can have long walks alongside its water or have dinner while sitting in the restaurant at Balsamand Palace, seeing spectacular views of the lake. Access to the lake is cost-free, but it may cost a little depending on the season to get to the gardens.