Dungarpur and Banswara in 2 Days: Rajasthan's Quiet South TRIP BLOG Photo: Nizil Shah · CC BY-SA 4.0
India · Rajasthan · Dungarpur

Dungarpur and Banswara in 2 Days: Rajasthan's Quiet South

2 DAYS 4 places by WaTrips

Dungarpur's painted Juna Mahal and Gaib Sagar lake, then Banswara's Mahi Bajaj Sagar dam and the Mangarh Dham memorial.

A short trip into the green, hilly Wagad region, about two hours south of Udaipur. Dungarpur's Juna Mahal is a seven-storey palace with rooms covered in paintings, mirror work and glass, and Gaib Sagar lake below it is lovely in the evening. Day two goes to Banswara, sometimes called the 'city of a hundred islands' for the islands in the Mahi Bajaj Sagar dam's reservoir, best after the monsoon. The trip ends at Mangarh Dham on the Gujarat border, a memorial to the hundreds of Bhil tribal people killed there in 1913. Few travellers come this way, so the roads and sights are quiet, and the area is greenest from August to November.

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STOP 1 OF 4

Juna Mahal

Juna Mahal, the Old Palace of Dungarpur, was begun in the 13th century and grew over time into a seven-storey fortress-like building on a hillside. Plain outside, it is remarkable inside for rooms covered in miniature paintings, mirror work and glass inlay that have survived in excellent condition. Entry is arranged through the Udai Bilas Palace. It is one of the least-known treasures of Rajasthan.

Best weather: Nov – Mar
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STOP 2 OF 4

Gaib Sagar Lake

Gaib Sagar is a lake in the centre of Dungarpur, built in the 15th century by Maharawal Gopinath. On its banks are the Shrinathji temple complex and the Udai Bilas Palace, and a small temple, the Badal Mahal, stands in the water. The lake draws many birds in winter. A walk along its edge takes in most of what the town has to offer.

Best weather: Oct – Feb
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STOP 3 OF 4

Mahi Bajaj Sagar Dam

The Mahi Bajaj Sagar Dam, on the Mahi river near Banswara, was built between 1972 and 1983 for irrigation and power, and is one of the longest dams in Rajasthan. Its reservoir is dotted with islands, which has earned Banswara the name City of a Hundred Islands. The dam is most impressive when its gates are opened during the monsoon.

Best weather: Oct – Feb Heavy rain: Jul – Aug
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STOP 4 OF 4 · LAST STOP

Mangarh Dham

Mangarh hill, on the border of Rajasthan and Gujarat, is a memorial to the Bhil followers of the reformer Govind Guru. In November 1913 a large gathering here was fired on by British and princely state forces, and many hundreds of tribal people are believed to have been killed. A memorial pillar and a museum now stand on the hilltop, and a fair is held each year on Margashirsha Purnima.

Best weather: Oct – Feb Heavy rain: Jul – Aug

Seasons from 20 years of NASA POWER climate data.

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