Jaisamand Lake from Udaipur: Bike Ride, Timings and What to See

01Jaisamand at a glance

02Timings and costs

Fees and timings checked October 2026. Foreign visitors pay more where shown. Rates change from time to time, so check at the counter.

03The route from Udaipur

• 1Udaipur to Kewda ki NaalLeave the city through Savina and Titardi and stay on the same road. There are no turns to take; it runs straight to Jaisamand. Fill up at the Indian Oil pump at Dakan Kotra, the last one for 25–30 km. After the last of the city traffic, the road enters the Kewda ki Naal forest, the prettiest stretch of the ride and the one that needs the most care. The road is narrow, the bends are blind and animals cross it. Keep to 30–40 km/h all the way through.
• 2Kewda villageThe chai stop. The old tea and pakora stall inside the forest has closed. The one that is open is at the start of Kewda village, on the right-hand corner just as the forest stretch ends.
• 3Kewda to Jaisamand, ~55 km from UdaipurThrough villages and low hills to the dam. Watch for cattle and tractors. Hotel Jaysamandgarh, also signed as The Jaisamand Restaurant and Hotel, is on this road shortly before the lake. Park near the dam gate.
• 4Hawa MahalThe old palace on the hill at one end of the dam. It is a walk of about a kilometre up from the dam.

The way back is the same road. Take Kewda ki Naal just as slowly on the return, and you are home by mid-afternoon.

04The day, if you leave at 8 AM

These times are a guide for a relaxed half day.

05What to see at Jaisamand

Hawa Mahal palace on the hill above Jaisamand Lake · Photo via Wikimedia Commons

Maharana Jai Singh built the dam in 1685. For a long time Jaisamand was the largest man-made lake in Asia, and it is still one of the largest in India. On a calm day the water seems to go on to the horizon.

• The dam is about 1,200 ft long, with steps down to the water, small chhatris and a Shiva temple in the middle.
• Hawa Mahal is the palace on the hill beside the dam. The walk up is about a kilometre, and the view from the top takes in the whole lake.
• Ruthi Rani ka Mahal is the second palace, on the far hill. It is a longer walk of about 2.5 km, so most riders see it from the dam or the boat.
• The islands in the lake are home to small villages, and one has a resort that you reach by boat.
• The sanctuary around the lake has deer, wild boar and plenty of birds, especially in winter.

06Breakfast and lunch

• Chai: the stall at the start of Kewda village, on the right-hand corner where the forest stretch ends. The older tea and pakora stall inside the forest is closed now.
• A proper meal: Hotel Jaysamandgarh, also signed as The Jaisamand Restaurant and Hotel, on the road shortly before the lake. Good for breakfast, lunch or tea. It costs a little more than a dhaba, and it is the only real sit-down option here.
• At the dam: there is no proper restaurant. There are snack stalls, and a few dhabas that non-vegetarians like for their fish pakoras.
• A warning about those dhabas: some of them also sell liquor without a licence. Don’t buy it. It may not be genuine, and you have a forest road to ride back on.

07Riding tips

• Don’t drink and ride. The police check riders on this road too, and the liquor sold at roadside dhabas near the lake can be fake. A drink can cost you a heavy fine, the bike and your licence.
• Helmets for both riders. Ask us for a second helmet for the pillion when you book.
• Leave early. The dam has little shade, and it gets hot by noon for most of the year.
• Fuel: the Indian Oil pump at Dakan Kotra is the last one as you leave Udaipur. After it there is nothing for 25–30 km, so fill up there or before.
• Kewda ki Naal needs respect. It is a narrow forest road with one blind bend after another. Stay at 30–40 km/h, keep to your side, sound the horn before bends and expect an animal on the road at any time.
• Watch for cattle and tractors on the village stretches.
• Don’t swim. The lake is very deep, and there are no lifeguards.
• Be back before dark. The road is quiet and unlit outside the towns.

08Which bike for this ride

An easy 110 km round trip. A Pulsar 150 or Yamaha FZ-S is ideal, and any Royal Enfield makes it a comfortable cruise for two. See all our bikes and prices on the bike on rent in Udaipur page, or ask us about a taxi if you’d rather not ride.