Rajsamand Lake is one of the largest artificial lakes in India, constructed between 1662 and 1676 by Maharana Raj Singh I of Mewar. The maharana ordered the dam built partly as a famine-relief project, employing tens of thousands of workers during a period of drought; the resulting reservoir stretches for about 10 km and holds an enormous volume of water that has sustained the surrounding countryside for more than three centuries.
The lake is at its most magical at sunrise and sunset, when the light turns the water shades of gold and pink and reflects the marble pavilions along the northern embankment. Egrets and cormorants gather in the shallows, and on quiet mornings the only sounds are birdsong and the lapping of small waves. A path runs along much of the embankment, and local families come here in the evenings to stroll and sit by the water.
There is no entry fee to walk along the ghats and embankment. The lake is always accessible, though arriving in the early morning or late afternoon makes for the most rewarding visit.