Udaipur Lake Pichola - Is the Lake Dry?
Nov 18th, 2009, 11:18 AM
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Udaipur Lake Pichola - Is the Lake Dry?
Hi all,
Does anyone have an up-to-date report on if Lake Pichola in Udaipur is currently dry or not?
I am planning a trip to India the first two weeks of November in 2010 and would like to include Udaipur on the itinerary. However, if the lake has the potential to be dry during this time period, we may forgo adding this destination due to the added cost to get there.
I know the lakes begin to fill up again during the monsoon. When are the best months to visit Udaipur for the lake is filled with water?
Thanks!
Does anyone have an up-to-date report on if Lake Pichola in Udaipur is currently dry or not?
I am planning a trip to India the first two weeks of November in 2010 and would like to include Udaipur on the itinerary. However, if the lake has the potential to be dry during this time period, we may forgo adding this destination due to the added cost to get there.
I know the lakes begin to fill up again during the monsoon. When are the best months to visit Udaipur for the lake is filled with water?
Thanks!
Nov 18th, 2009, 01:23 PM
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There has been little rain the last two years, and Udaipur has been suffering with a 30% drop off in tourism. However, you can't tell what is going to happen from year to year.
The lakes were bone dry when I made reservations in 2005 for a 2006 trip six months later. People were taking 4X4's to the lake Palace. We were staying at the Oberoi and had made alternate plans if the lake stayed dry. However, the lake was overflowing its banks (literally) when we got there six months later. It is a shallow lake. One good monsoon in August did the trick.
Here's a webcam and you can see for yourself: http://www.earthtv.com/en/camera-loc...chola-india-en
One of the frames shows the water level against the Lake Palace. Wait until daylight i Udaipur so you can get a good view of the water or lack thereof.
The lakes were bone dry when I made reservations in 2005 for a 2006 trip six months later. People were taking 4X4's to the lake Palace. We were staying at the Oberoi and had made alternate plans if the lake stayed dry. However, the lake was overflowing its banks (literally) when we got there six months later. It is a shallow lake. One good monsoon in August did the trick.
Here's a webcam and you can see for yourself: http://www.earthtv.com/en/camera-loc...chola-india-en
One of the frames shows the water level against the Lake Palace. Wait until daylight i Udaipur so you can get a good view of the water or lack thereof.
Nov 18th, 2009, 05:04 PM
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The lake level depends on the strength of the monsoon, which runs from mid-July through about mid or the end of October. So the best time to see a full lake is from then through about mid-March (when it starts to get very hot). Evaporation and use depletes the level over the year.
It is of course impossible to predict how good or bad the monsoon will be each year, so the level of the lake right now has little bearing on the level it will have in November 2010. (If it were really really full, it might have some bearing, or if it were totally empty it might have some bearing. Neither is the case currently.)
I was in Udaipur in early September, about 2 months into the monsoon. At that time, the lake was about half full compared to good monsoon years. The monsoon in that area this year was fair but not great, and I don't believe it has filled up appreciably since my visit. However, if you have never seen the lake when it is full, you would think it was quite pretty, so I wouldn't worry too much about it. If you send me an e-mail at [email protected] I can send you a few photos of the status of the lake at that time.
I think the countryside around Udaipur is really lovely and even if the lake is not full, there are sights worth seeing.
It is of course impossible to predict how good or bad the monsoon will be each year, so the level of the lake right now has little bearing on the level it will have in November 2010. (If it were really really full, it might have some bearing, or if it were totally empty it might have some bearing. Neither is the case currently.)
I was in Udaipur in early September, about 2 months into the monsoon. At that time, the lake was about half full compared to good monsoon years. The monsoon in that area this year was fair but not great, and I don't believe it has filled up appreciably since my visit. However, if you have never seen the lake when it is full, you would think it was quite pretty, so I wouldn't worry too much about it. If you send me an e-mail at [email protected] I can send you a few photos of the status of the lake at that time.
I think the countryside around Udaipur is really lovely and even if the lake is not full, there are sights worth seeing.
Nov 20th, 2009, 01:04 AM
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Detective Marija strikes again - I'm close - but not quite there. I managed to miss my flight this morning. Well, truth be told, I didn't even attempt to make it, so seduced am I by my favorite haunts in old Bombay. Another non-refundabe $50 bites the dust. I, too, would like to see the Udaipur swamp looking like it's supposed to.
But I may be diverted instead to Ahmedabad. Or Madurai. Or both. All plans have been abandoned. The winds of fate have already had their way with me.
But I may be diverted instead to Ahmedabad. Or Madurai. Or both. All plans have been abandoned. The winds of fate have already had their way with me.
Nov 20th, 2009, 06:35 PM
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I am alive and well in Jodhpur. We just got here from Amritsar which was absolutely fabulous!
What the water level is now is not what it might be next year. Our guide in Amritsar there said that the monsoon was very abundant last year, but sparse this year. It may be abundant next year. Who can predict the weather? If I were you, gopp, I'd take a leap of faith and book an Udaipur trip in a way that it won't be too costly for you to cancel. By November of 2010, the monsoon season will be over and you should be able to determine the level of the lake before you depart.
We'll be in Udaipur in three days, so will give you a first hand report then.
What the water level is now is not what it might be next year. Our guide in Amritsar there said that the monsoon was very abundant last year, but sparse this year. It may be abundant next year. Who can predict the weather? If I were you, gopp, I'd take a leap of faith and book an Udaipur trip in a way that it won't be too costly for you to cancel. By November of 2010, the monsoon season will be over and you should be able to determine the level of the lake before you depart.
We'll be in Udaipur in three days, so will give you a first hand report then.
Nov 21st, 2009, 12:03 AM
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Hello dear the udipur is very nice city and the city gat 4 or 5 lake and the lake is not dry now but you are coming on nov.2010 i hope may be good ran on next monsoon and nov.is the good time to vist the rajasthan and udipur
Nov 21st, 2009, 09:17 AM
#13
I've been there in November 05 (full lake) and May 08 (low Lake). The only difference to me was that the 0beroi delivers you to the hotel by boat if the lake is high enough, adn you get the feeling you are on an island. When you arrive by car, the entrance is not nearly as nice.
Other than that, I see no reason to go /not go to Udaipur based on the lake levels. It's a very interesting town.
Other than that, I see no reason to go /not go to Udaipur based on the lake levels. It's a very interesting town.
Nov 24th, 2009, 07:05 PM
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Lake Pichola still has water, but the western end, which we could see from the Monsoon Palace, and the northern end, which we can see from Jagat Niwas, is marshy. The Lake Palace is surrounded with water. Judging from the high water mark on the retaining walls, I'd guess the lake is down about ten feet. The guy here in the internet spot has a photo of the water level in 2005 as a screen saver and many of the buildings were flooded.
Where is gopp, by the way?
Dogster, I'lll have to wait to read your TN entry 'til I have better internet access. Have a wonderful time!
Where is gopp, by the way?
Dogster, I'lll have to wait to read your TN entry 'til I have better internet access. Have a wonderful time!
Nov 27th, 2009, 06:47 PM
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We spent three days a JN, but it didn't have wifi when we were there. Perhaps it wasn't working at the time. I'll check with Mr.Pearl as he's the computer geek in the family. There's a cheap internet spot right outside the front door, though, so it didn't bother us not to have it. If this was a work related trip,it would be a PITA not to have it. The only place that has had wifi so far was at Svaas in Amritsar.
Nov 30th, 2009, 01:42 AM
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Hi Friend
It nice to know that you are planning a trip to India along with Udaipur too.
As far as your query regarding Lake Pichola dry or not. Currently it is no dry. i have been already visited this some days ago. you can also visit other attraction in Udaipur including city Place and Fateh sagar.
you can check this website for complete info about udaipur.
http://www.rajasthantour4u.com/Udaipur.html
It nice to know that you are planning a trip to India along with Udaipur too.
As far as your query regarding Lake Pichola dry or not. Currently it is no dry. i have been already visited this some days ago. you can also visit other attraction in Udaipur including city Place and Fateh sagar.
you can check this website for complete info about udaipur.
http://www.rajasthantour4u.com/Udaipur.html
