Nawal Sagar Lake, Bundi: Varuna Temple and Palace Views

Right in the heart of Bundi lies Nawal Sagar, a square artificial lake whose still waters throw back a flawless mirror image of the palace, the fort and the blue-washed houses on the surrounding slopes. On a calm morning the reflection is so perfect it can be hard to tell where the town ends and the water begins.

In the middle of the lake stands a half-submerged temple dedicated to Varuna, the Vedic god of water, its spire rising just above the surface. The lakeside makes a lovely spot to sit at dawn or dusk, watch the light change on the fort walls, and photograph one of the most iconic views in the Hadoti region.

History of Nawal Sagar Lake

Nawal Sagar was created by the Bundi rulers as part of the town’s elaborate water-management system, which also included numerous stepwells and reservoirs. The lake was fed by rainwater and served both practical and ornamental purposes for the palace above.

The submerged shrine to Varuna reflects the deep reverence for water that shaped Bundi’s culture in this dry land, where the storage and worship of water went hand in hand for centuries. The same impulse produced the town’s famous stepwells, several of them a short walk from the lake.

When Rudyard Kipling visited in 1887-88 he called it “the Nal Sagar, a lovely little stretch of water” at the head of the valley, and worried, like a good Victorian, about the town’s drainage running into it. Our Kipling in Bundi guide tells the rest.

Nawal Sagar at festival time

The lake is at its most magical during Bundi Utsav in November, when earthen lamps are lit and floated on its water as part of the deepdan ceremony, with the floodlit palace above. In the monsoon, during Kajli Teej, the lake is full and the hills behind it are green.

What to see at Nawal Sagar Lake

• Perfect palace-and-fort reflections
• Half-submerged Varuna temple
• Golden-hour photography
• Peaceful lakeside strolls
• Central Bundi location

Visiting Nawal Sagar Lake: practical details

Detail	Information
Where	Hadoti Region, Bundi district
Distance from Kota	About 36 km
Best time to visit	October to March, especially early morning
Timings	Open access, best at dawn and dusk
Entry	Free
Getting there	From Kota, drive 36 km to Bundi; the lake lies in the town centre below the palace, easily reached on foot.

Distances are approximate road distances. Timings and entry charges change from season to season, so confirm them locally or with the district tourist office before you set out.

Photography tips

• Morning gives the stillest water and the clearest reflection of the palace.
• From above: climb towards Taragarh Fort for the classic view down over the lake and blue houses.
• Respect the ghats: people bathe and pray at the water’s edge; ask before photographing them.

Combine Nawal Sagar Lake with nearby places

• Bundi Palace: A dramatic hillside palace celebrated for the Chitrashala, whose walls are covered in some of Rajasthan’s finest miniature murals.
• Raniji ki Baori: A magnificent 17th-century stepwell, over 45 metres deep, adorned with sculpted pillars, arches and carved deities.
• Sukh Mahal: A graceful lakeside summer palace beside Jait Sagar Lake, associated with Rudyard Kipling and his novel Kim.