When we think about Udaipur, the images that crosses our minds are man made royal palaces and artificial lakes.
But what if I tell you that there is more to Udaipur besides its lavish palaces , lakes and all its regality ! Yes, The ‘city of Lakes’ has a hidden gem of nature tucked away in one of its lakes.
About 12 kms away from the hustle-bustle of the city life of Udaipur, is lake Badi in its namesake village.
The lake is not as popular as its famous counterparts like Lake Pichola or Lake Fateh Sagar, but is slowly gathering people’s attention as the hidden natural beauty which was recently discovered is located just 1 km from the lake and is called Bahubali hills or Badi hills, as the locals call it.
I was ecstatic when I found out about Badi Hills and as nature delights me more than man-made architecture, the first place I went to explore after reaching Udaipur was lake Badi and Badi hills.
Though, I was quite surprised, how such a beautiful place could still remain unexplored.
How did I stumble upon this place?
Before venturing upon a new journey, I always do my research and chalk out my itinerary in advance, so that I don’t miss out on any new and exciting place.
When it comes to finding new offbeat locations, I resort to Instagram for travel inspiration as I find Instagram more informative than any other social media platform or search engines.
This is how I found out about Bahubali hills through Instagram and was instantly mesmerised by its beauty.
Tip: Search for relevant hashtags and locations of near -by places on Instagram to get an idea of off-beat locations.
About Badi Lake
Lake Badi is an artificial fresh water lake built by Maharana Raj Singh I (1652-1680) in the village of Badi, to compensate for the devastation caused by a famine.
The lake supplied water to the people of Udaipur during a drought in 1973.
Lake Badi is now home to a rare species of fish, Mahseer,(aka Tor Khudree/Deccan Mahseer).
The lake is graced by three artistic chhatris along the embankment, which can be seen from Badi hill and serves as a tourist attraction.
How did Bahubali hill get its name?
The hills are referred to as Badi hills, by the locals. Even the locals were not sure how their Badi hills suddenly became so popular and was now known as Bahubali hills.
A few of them said that, to some tourists, the hills looked similar to the hills in a famous movie “Bahubali”. So they started referring to them by the movie’s name.
Whatever be the reason, after all, what’s in a name.!
And God bless the soul who discovered this place for us to see.
How to reach Badi Lake & Badi Hill
Lake Badi is approximately 10 kms from the city centre and about 7 kms from Fateh sagar lake. One can stop over at the lake for some serenity before heading towards Badi Hills, which is just 1 km away from Lake Badi.
The best way to reach Badi village is via a rented bike, as one can go at one’s own pace. Other options include cabs and auto rickshaws.
The location is easily navigable via google maps. While going towards the village, the road bifurcates into two paths.
There is a signboard which mentions “Nathawaton Ka Guda” written in Hindi near the bifurcation. Take that road. If still in doubts, it’s always best to ask the locals nearby.
Tip: There is a resort named Aravali Silence LakeEnd Resort in Badi village. If the google map doesn’t show Bahubali hills, reach till the resort as the hike towards Bahubali hills begins from near the resort.
Near the silent resort in the village, the locals have a temporary parking space for vehicles near the resort area, for which they charge a nominal fee.
The parking area marks the starting point of the small uphill hike which takes about 10 minutes to reach Bahubali hills.
The trail is not very well marked, but is easily accessible and doable on one’s own.
Tip: To maintain the sanctity of the nearby villages do not play loud music during the hike and while at the hills.
At the end of the trail there’s a make-shift stall selling snacks and tea as refreshments.
Further ahead there are numerous foliage of cacti.
View from the Top
Often good things happen in a breeze and when it does, it’s difficult to believe.
That’s how I felt when I reached the top and saw the first glimpse of the hills, as the view from the top was absolutely breathtaking and I couldn’t believe that it took a bare 10 minutes hike to witness such beauty.
Beyond the foliage is the edge of the viewpoint where one can watch the entire panorama of the lake Badi overlooking the spectacular ridges of Aravali range as the backdrop, with Bahubali hills being the cynosure.
A part of Bahubali hills when viewed from Badi lake looks like a brown bear lying on its stomach. But when viewed from the viewpoint or from a drone,one of the hills resembles an approaching alligator and the pointed tip of the base of the hill appears like the snout of the alligator while the hill in front of the viewpoint resembles a resting turtle.
Things to carry when hiking to the Hills
It’s a small uphill hike towards the viewpoint, and there is just one makeshift stall for refreshments.
Therefore I would suggest that you bring a daypack with a few essentials such as a reusable water bottle(I had my own bottle),snacks, a sunscreen, scarf/stole, cap & sunglasses to protect yourself from the heat and a good pair of shoes (avoid heels/flats) for walking on the trail.
Tip: Carry your own water bottles, and try not to litter the place to help retain the natural beauty of the place. Make sure to take your waste back with you.
Nature’s hack: Aloe vera is known for its cooling and moisturising properties and there were small scrubs of aloe vera growing abundantly near the stall. So if you burn your skin, you know what to use. Mother Nature takes care of everything.
Best time & season to visit
Having visited the place just once, I cannot really say when it is the best time and season to visit Bahubali hills, as every time and season has its own charm.
However, that being said, sunsets and sunrises from such viewpoints offers stunning panoramas of the Aravali ranges.
I reached at around 4pm in the afternoon and stayed till 7pm to watch the sunset which was beautiful.
Therefore, I would highly recommend visiting an hour before sunset to witness the sun setting behind the horizon.
But try not to stay late till dusk as the locals say that it gets secluded after dusk and finding one’s way back becomes difficult. While returning from the hills,I stopped to click the sunset from Badi lake.
The weather in Udaipur is pleasant almost throughout the year, except for the months of March till May- when it is peak summer time in Rajasthan. Monsoons are the best time to visit.
So the next time you are in Udaipur, make sure you visit this hidden gem-‘Bahubali hills’.
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