Mount Abu is one such location in Rajasthan that reflects a totally different side of the state. This is the only hill station in Rajasthan and is therefore a remarkably unique location to visit. From the landscape to the natural beauty everything about the location is stunning. And all of that further makes it a popular location to visit as well. However when you are in Rajasthan you must explore Mount Abu here. Mount Abu is one of the popular sightseeing spots here. And in Mount Abu you would find some more interesting sightseeing spots as well. One such location here is the Nakki Lake Mount Abu. The Nakki Lake is basically an artificial lake and a beautiful location. The lush greenery around the location further makes it a perfect location to visit. Especially for nature lovers, a visit to the Nakki Lake can be extremely enriching.
If you are ever visiting Mount Abu, then you simply cannot miss out on a visit to the Nakki Lake. Located at the centre of this hill station, Nakki Lake looks fascinating. The ambiance of the location is spectacular with the verdant greenery around. The clear blue water here further boosts the natural beauty here. For nature lovers and photographers this can be one of the most interesting locations to explore for sure. However a history and legends are associated with this lake as well that further makes it an interesting spot to explore for the visitors. Keep on reading this article as here I will mention everything that you probably need to know about Nakki Lake. This will be a helpful article for you if you are travelling to this lake in Mount Abu any time soon.
Nakki Lake Mount Abu
Location: Nakki Lake, Mount Abu, Rajasthan
Timings: The Nakki Lake timings are from 9:30 am to 6 pm
Entry fee: There is no entry fee
How to reach
By air
If you are travelling by air then the Maharana Pratap Airport in Udaipur is the nearest airport to reach Nakki Lake. From the Udaipur airport the distance of the lake is about 178 km. It would approximately take you around 3 hours and 10 minutes to reach the location of the lake from the airport. Buses are available on this route that you can opt for to reach the lake. Also you can take a car or hire a cab as well from the airport to reach the lake.
In case you are travelling from abroad then the Jaipur International Airport is the nearest international airport that is well connected. You will get flights from major cities and towns as well as from other countries to reach Jaipur. And from Jaipur the distance of Nakki Lake Mount Abu is 500 km. It would approximately take you around 9 hours to reach the lake from Jaipur. You can take buses from Jaipur to reach Mount Abu. Or else you can take a car or hire a car to reach there conveniently as well.
By train
While travelling in a train the Abu Road Railway Station is the nearest railway station to reach Nakki Lake. The distance of the lake from the railway station is about 28.9 km. It would approximately take you around an hour to reach the location of the lake from the railway station. You can easily take a car or a cab from the railway station to reach the lake easily.
By road
The roads in Mount Abu are easily accessible and you will get buses from different locations to reach there. Both private as well as government buses are available on this roué that you can opt for. The nearest bus stop is the Mount Abu Bus Station. And from there the Nakki Lake is located just a km away. And if you are travelling a shorter distance you can even take auto rickshaws as well to reach the lake. The lake is located near the main market in Mount Abu on the Ganesh Road. You can even take a car or hire a cab as well to reach the location from any direction.
Read More: Achalgarh Fort Mount Abu History, Timings, Distance, Photos
Best time to visit
The ideal time to explore this location is the winter season. This is the time when the weather of the location would be in check. So it would be more comfortable for you to explore the area and its surroundings as well. However, even the monsoon season is a good time to visit the location as well. But if you wish to skip the rains then post monsoon can be a great time to visit here too. After the monsoon the greenery here elevates and therefore makes the location even more beautiful in its appearance. However, avoid visiting Nakki Lake during the scorching summer months. It would not be a good idea to visit here during peak summers. The temperature and the weather during the summer season would not be favourable for the tourists to visit here.
And if we talk about the ideal time of the day to visit the location, then you can visit here early in the morning. The morning time is the time when the location remains comparatively empty so you would get to enjoy the surrounding in peace. You can visit here during the evening as well but that is mostly a crowded time to visit here so keep that in mind. Plan your visit to the Nakki Lake Mount Abu to enjoy the best of the location.
Overview of Nakki Lake
Nakki Lake Mount Abu is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the region. What makes this lake most attractive as a sightseeing location is obviously the splendid atmosphere and the serene ambiance here. Located in the backdrop of the Aravalli Mountain range the lake is the centre of Mount Abu. It is an artificial or man made lake which is located at a height of 1200 meters. Furthermore it is the largest man made lake as well that spreads across an area of half a mile. And the width of the lake spreads for about a quarter of a mile as well. This lake is located beside a dam and is also 20 to 30 feet deep.
This is truly a nature lover’s paradise with beautiful greenery around. The clear blue water of the lake looks even more beautiful. There are strangely shaped rocks around the lake and it’s a perfect destination for the tourists to relax. The lake also offers a very romantic ambiance and is therefore also popular as the Love Lake of Mount Abu. However, not just that people further consider this a sacred lake as well. For the Garacia tribe this is actually a sacred location as it is a spot for their worship and remembrance of ancestors. This lake further holds importance for them as they held a festival in the month of April. During the Shukla Paksha people of the tribe consecrate their nails into this lake.
There are some other major attractions located besides the lake as well. There is the Sri Raghunathji Temple, Maharaja Jaipur Palace as well as the Toad Rock. The Toad Rock is popular with this name as it exactly looks like a toad that is about to jump into the lake if noticed from the side of the rock. There are some ways that can take you up and down the rock. Also you can climb the rock here and there is a way leading to Nakki Lake. From the side of the lake there is another path that leads to the Nakki Lake Sunset Point Mount Abu. But no matter how beautiful the site is it is forbidden to climb up to the sunset point due to bandits that live around the location.
Read More: Trevor’s Tank Mount Abu Photos, Distance, Entry Fee
Nakki Lake History
The Nakki Lake is a man made lake and a few legends and myths are associated with this lake in Mount Abu. According to one legend the Gods created this beautiful lake to protect themselves from a demon Bashkali. They carved out the lake using their nails which is called Nakh. And hence the name of the lake became the Nakki Lake.
However there is another legend associated with this lake and that is based on a love story. Once there was a king who announced that whoever would be able to dig a lake with their nails in just one night, would get to marry his daughter. Rasiya Balam, a sage used to like the daughter of the king and so he did the impossible task. He dug the lake with his nails in just one night. However even then the king ditched the sage and did not allow his daughter to marry the sage even after completing the task. According to legends Rasiya Balam and his lover were actually incarnations of Lord Shiva and Devi Parvati.
Another legend associated with the lake is about Mahatma Gandhi. It is said that the ashes of Mahatma Gandhi were immersed here and so the Gandhi Ghat was constructed nearby as well.
Nakki Lake Boating
One of the major as well as popular activities at the Nakki Lake Mount Abu is the boating activity here. It is also one of the most interesting activities to enjoy in Mount Abu as well. Here you will find different types of boats from Paddle Boats to Shikara Boats. The price for the boat ride depends on the kind of boat that you will choose. There are other boats here like row boats and motorboats here as well. A boat ride on Nakki Lake would be more interesting because of the crystal clear water here. You would get to enjoy the ambiance and surroundings here as well. From majestic hills to the strange rocks the area is worth exploring.
Each boat ride here lasts for about 30 minutes. For pedal boats the charge of the ride is Rs. 50 per person. And for a Shikara Boat the price is Rs. 100 per person. So definitely make sure you are enjoying the boat ride here.
Wrapping Up!
So that was all about Nakki Lake and you can definitely plan a visit to this location. Mount Abu in itself is one of the magnificent locations with so many sightseeing spots to explore. And the Nakki Lake is definitely one of the picturesque locations that you can visit here. So next time you are visiting Mount Abu make sure you are including this location in your list of must visit places in Mount Abu. A boat ride there can be one of the best experiences that you can enjoy there. Let me know if this article on Nakki Lake Mount Abu is helpful for you in planning a trip to this beautiful location in Mount Abu.
