Balsamand Lake, lake in India
Balsamand Lake is a water reservoir near Jodhpur in Rajasthan surrounded by maintained gardens full of fruit trees including mangos, papayas, pomegranates, guavas and plums. A red sandstone palace built in 1936 sits on the shore, while the lake itself measures roughly one kilometer long and fifteen meters deep.
The reservoir was built in 1159 AD by Balak Rao Parihar to serve the nearby town of Mandore as a water source. The palace on the grounds was constructed in 1936 by Maharaja Sur Singh as a summer retreat and served the royal family of Jodhpur for many years.
The site is open daily with no entry fee to access the lake and gardens, though boat rides and overnight stays at the palace hotel involve additional costs. Visitors should watch for monkeys wandering freely in the area, as they are curious and may investigate food or belongings.
The palace now operates as a luxury hotel where guests can stay overnight in a building that once served as a royal summer retreat, blending Rajput and Mughal architectural styles. This overnight experience allows visitors to live within history rather than simply viewing it from outside.
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