Nakki Lake Mount Abu sits at the centre of Mount Abu, the only hill station in Rajasthan’s Sirohi district, roughly 1,200 metres up in the Aravalli range. It is a sacred lake ringed by granite hills, with the toad-shaped Toad Rock on one shoulder and Gandhi Ghat on its bank. People come for the boating, the lakeside walk, and the slow evenings. This guide covers the legend, boating, the viewpoints, how to reach, where to stay, and the rules.
Nakki Lake is a sacred, high-altitude lake in the heart of Mount Abu, Sirohi district, Rajasthan, at about 1,200 metres in the Aravalli hills. It is known for boating, a lakeside promenade, the nearby Toad Rock, and Gandhi Ghat, where Mahatma Gandhi’s ashes were immersed on 12 February 1948.
Key takeaways
- Nakki Lake lies in Mount Abu town, Sirohi district, Rajasthan, at roughly 1,200 m above sea level in the Aravalli range (coordinates 24.60°N, 72.70°E).
- Mahatma Gandhi’s ashes were immersed in the lake on 12 February 1948; Gandhi Ghat marks the spot, per Wikipedia drawing on local records.
- According to local legend the lake was dug by gods using their nails (“nakh”), which is said to explain its name — a legend, not recorded history.
- The nearest railhead is Abu Road, about 27 km away; the nearest airport is Udaipur (Maharana Pratap), roughly 165–175 km by road, as of October 2026.
- Mount Abu is Rajasthan’s only hill station; it stays cool in summer and can drop below 0°C in winter, with press reporting about -7°C in late January 2026.
- Boating and a promenade are the main draws; climbing the path to Sunset Point is barred because bears and leopards use it.
About Nakki Lake and quick facts
Nakki Lake is a hill lake in the middle of Mount Abu town, in Sirohi district, Rajasthan, set in a bowl of the Aravalli range at about 1,200 metres. Wikipedia places it at 24°35′46″N, 72°42′11″E and gives its shape as roughly half a mile long and about a quarter mile wide, with a maximum depth of 114 ft (35 m). The town itself sits at 1,220 m (about 4,003 ft), which makes Mount Abu Rajasthan’s only hill station; our Mount Abu travel guide sets the lake in the wider context of the town.
The lake is treated as sacred locally, and its banks carry temples, a ghat and a short walking promenade. Boats, horses and a line of stalls make the waterfront the busiest part of town. Granite domes rise on every side; the most famous, Toad Rock, looks down on the water from a hill to the west.
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Location | Mount Abu town, Sirohi district, Rajasthan |
| Setting | Aravalli range, about 1,200 m above sea level |
| Coordinates | 24°35′46″N, 72°42′11″E (Wikipedia) |
| Size | About 0.5 mile long, 0.25 mile wide; max depth 114 ft / 35 m (Wikipedia) |
| Known for | Boating, lakeside promenade, Toad Rock, Gandhi Ghat |
| Nearest railhead | Abu Road, about 27 km |
The legend of the nails
According to local legend, Nakki Lake was dug out by gods using their nails, and the name is said to come from the word “nakh” (nail). This is a legend, not recorded history. One account holds that the gods scooped out the hollow with their fingernails to make a home safe from a demon named Bashkali. Wikipedia records both this story and a second one.
The second legend tells of Rasiya Balam, a sculptor said to have worked on the Dilwara temples, who dug the lake in a single night to win a king’s daughter. The queen refused the match, and the marriage never happened; small temples to Rasiya Balam and Kunwari Kanya (the unmarried princess) are said to stand behind the Dilwara complex. Members of the local Garasia community are also reported to hold the lake sacred. Treat all of this as folklore passed down in and around Mount Abu.
Best time to visit
The best time to visit Nakki Lake is roughly November to February for clear, cool days, though Mount Abu’s long-standing role is as a summer refuge from the desert heat. Summer (April to June) stays far milder than the plains below, which is why Rajasthan’s rulers and, later, holidaymakers came up here. The monsoon (July to September) turns the hills green but brings mist and slippery paths.
Winter is cold at this altitude. Mount Abu regularly dips below 0°C, and press reports put the low at about -7°C in late January 2026, with ice on ponds — so the lake surface and edges can freeze in a hard spell. Carry warm layers from December to February.
| Season | Months | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| Winter | Nov–Feb | Cool to cold days, sharp nights; can fall below 0°C. Clearest views; pack warm layers. |
| Summer | Mar–Jun | Pleasant hill weather while the plains swelter; the classic reason Mount Abu exists as a retreat. |
| Monsoon | Jul–Sep | Green hills, mist, rain; boating may pause in bad weather and trails get slippery. |
| Post-monsoon | Oct | Washed-clean air, moderate crowds; a good shoulder window. |
How to reach Nakki Lake
Nakki Lake is in the centre of Mount Abu, so reaching the lake means reaching the hill station and walking the last stretch. The nearest railway station is Abu Road, about 27 km down the hill; shared taxis and buses climb the ghat road to town in roughly an hour. For wider planning, our Mount Abu travel guide covers the full approach in more detail.
By air, the closest airport is Udaipur’s Maharana Pratap (Dabok) Airport, roughly 165–175 km by road depending on the source; Ahmedabad is a larger airport farther south. By road, Mount Abu is a long but straightforward drive from Udaipur, Ahmedabad and Jodhpur. Once in town, the lakefront is an easy walk or a short auto ride from most hotels.
| From | Mode | Distance / note |
|---|---|---|
| Abu Road railway station | Road (taxi/bus) | About 27 km; roughly 1 hour up the ghat |
| Udaipur (Maharana Pratap Airport) | Road | About 165–175 km |
| Ahmedabad | Road | About 220–230 km (nearest large airport, indicative) |
| Town centre to lakefront | Walk / auto | A few minutes; the lake is central |
Boating and the promenade
Boating is the main thing people do at Nakki Lake, with pedal boats and shikara-style rowing boats working from the ghats through the day. Wikipedia notes boating and horse rides around the lake as the standard activities. Fares are charged at the counter and vary by boat type and season; the figures below are a planning estimate from travel operators, not an official tariff, so reconfirm on the spot.
The lakeside promenade is the other half of the experience — a paved walk past stalls selling snacks, kulfi (milk ice) and souvenirs, with benches to sit and watch the water. Early morning and late afternoon are the calmest times. Paddle out to the middle for the best angle on Toad Rock and the ring of hills.
| Option | Rough idea | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Pedal boat | Indicative only — confirm at counter | Self-pedalled; most common; priced per boat for a fixed slot |
| Rowing / shikara boat | Indicative only — confirm at counter | Oarsman-rowed; a calmer ride |
| Typical ride length | About 20–30 minutes | Varies with crowd and operator |
| Hours | Daytime, weather permitting | Boating can pause in rain or high wind; no fixed official timing confirmed |
Toad Rock, Nun Rock and Camel Rock
Toad Rock is the signature viewpoint above Nakki Lake — a large granite boulder shaped, from the lakeside, like a toad about to leap into the water. Wikipedia describes exactly this, and notes you can climb the hillside or take steps to reach it; the reward is a wide view over the lake and town. It is the most photographed rock on the waterfront.
The hills around the lake carry several other named boulders, pointed out by their resemblance to a nun in a habit (Nun Rock) and a kneeling camel (Camel Rock), among others. These are informal, shape-based names rather than official landmarks, so guides differ on exactly which boulder is which. Treat the spotting as part of the fun rather than a fixed checklist, and do not scramble on wet granite.
| Spot | What it is | Why go |
|---|---|---|
| Toad Rock | Toad-shaped granite boulder on a hill west of the lake | Short climb; best overview of the lake and town |
| Nun Rock / Camel Rock | Shape-named boulders on the surrounding hills | Easy spotting from the promenade or a boat |
| Gandhi Ghat | Lakeside ghat marking Gandhi’s ashes immersion | Quiet, historic corner of the waterfront |
| Raghunath Temple | Hill temple near the lake (Wikipedia) | A short, calm detour from the promenade |
Gandhi Ghat and Sunset Point
Gandhi Ghat is the stretch of the Nakki Lake bank where some of Mahatma Gandhi’s ashes were immersed on 12 February 1948, shortly after his assassination; the ghat was built to mark it. It is a simple, quiet spot and a reminder that the lake is treated as a sacred place, not only a boating pond. Visit it with the same restraint you would bring to any memorial.
Sunset Point sits a short way from the lake and is a classic end to a Mount Abu day. Note an important safety point from Wikipedia: climbing the path up to Sunset Point is forbidden because wild animals, including bears and leopards, use it. Reach the viewpoint by the proper road or track, not by cutting up the hillside, and be back before dark.
Where to stay
Most visitors stay in Mount Abu town within walking distance of Nakki Lake, which keeps evenings easy. Options run from simple guesthouses and dharamshalas to mid-range hotels and a few heritage and resort properties. Weekends, the summer season and long holidays fill fast, so book ahead. The ₹ bands below are rough planning figures for a double room and will swing with season and demand.
- Budget: guesthouses and basic hotels, often a few minutes from the lake. Simple rooms, limited frills.
- Mid-range: comfortable hotels with hot water, parking and in-house food, many near the Nakki Lake area.
- Heritage / resort: a handful of larger or older properties set in grounds, usually a short drive from the waterfront.
| Category | Rough band | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Budget | ₹800–₹1,800 | Guesthouses, dharamshalas, basic hotels; book ahead in season |
| Mid-range | ₹2,000–₹4,500 | Standard hotels near the lake; best value for most trips |
| Heritage / resort | ₹5,000 and up | Grounds and more facilities; rates jump on peak weekends |
Budget for a short trip
A simple two-day Mount Abu trip built around Nakki Lake can be done on a modest budget if you stay mid-range and eat local. The table gives a per-person planning estimate for two days and one night, assuming two people sharing a room, local buses or shared autos, and vegetarian thalis (plate meals) — it excludes long-distance train or air fares to Abu Road or Udaipur. These are indicative figures to reconfirm, not quoted rates.
| Item | Rough cost | Assumption |
|---|---|---|
| Stay (1 night, shared) | ₹1,000–₹2,250 | Half of a ₹2,000–₹4,500 double room |
| Food (2 days) | ₹500–₹900 | Local thalis, snacks, tea |
| Local transport | ₹300–₹600 | Shared autos / buses within town and to viewpoints |
| Boating + sights | ₹200–₹500 | Boat ride plus small entry/parking charges; reconfirm |
| Rough total | ₹2,000–₹4,250 | Excludes travel to Abu Road / Udaipur |
Permits, rules and eco-notes
No special permit is needed to visit Nakki Lake — it sits in open Mount Abu town and is free to walk around; you only pay for boating and the odd parking or entry charge. There is no ILP (Inner Line Permit) or restricted-area permit for Mount Abu itself.
Treat the lake as a sacred, protected space. Do not litter, feed wildlife or wade in; carry a cloth bag and take plastic back down with you, as Mount Abu’s sanctuary hills are ecologically sensitive. Dress modestly around Gandhi Ghat and temples, and follow the safety rule above — do not climb the Sunset Point path on foot because of bears and leopards. Swimming in the lake is not the done thing and is best avoided.
Nearby places
Nakki Lake works well as the base for a cluster of Mount Abu sights, most within a short drive. The Dilwara Jain temples, famous for marble carving, are about 2.5 km from town; Guru Shikhar, at 1,722 m the highest point in the Aravalli range, is roughly 15 km out and reached by a short climb. Achalgarh fort and the Mount Abu Wildlife Sanctuary round out a two or three-day trip.
| Place | Distance from town | Why go |
|---|---|---|
| Dilwara Jain temples | About 2.5 km | Fine marble carving; a major Jain pilgrimage site |
| Sunset Point | Short drive | Classic evening viewpoint (use the road, not the foot-path) |
| Guru Shikhar | About 15 km | Highest peak in the Aravalli (1,722 m), Dattatreya temple |
| Achalgarh | Short drive | 14th-century fort linked to Kumbha of Mewar |
| Mount Abu Wildlife Sanctuary | Around town | 290 sq km of Aravalli forest (set up 1960) |
Practical tips
A few practical notes make a Nakki Lake visit smoother. Mobile networks and UPI work in Mount Abu town, but carry some cash for boat counters, stalls and small hotels. ATMs are in the town centre. The nearest sizeable hospital facilities are in and around Mount Abu town; for anything serious, Abu Road and Udaipur are the larger centres down the hill.
- Timing: walk the promenade at sunrise or late afternoon to miss the midday crush; boats are busiest on weekend evenings.
- Altitude and cold: at about 1,200 m the air is thin and winter nights bite — carry layers from December to February.
- Solo and women travellers: the lakefront is busy and generally comfortable; still avoid the unlit hillside paths after dark, in line with the bear/leopard warning.
- Packing: sun hat and water in summer, a warm jacket in winter, sturdy shoes for the Toad Rock steps year-round.
- Respect: keep noise down at Gandhi Ghat and temples, and carry your waste out.
Frequently asked questions
Where is Nakki Lake located?
Nakki Lake is in the centre of Mount Abu, the only hill station in Rajasthan, within Sirohi district. It sits at about 1,200 metres in the Aravalli range, at coordinates near 24.60°N, 72.70°E. The lakefront is an easy walk from most of the town’s hotels and the main market.
Why is Nakki Lake sacred, and what is the legend?
Nakki Lake is held sacred locally and tied to legend. According to folklore recorded on Wikipedia, gods dug the lake using their nails (“nakh”), which is said to explain its name. A second legend credits a sculptor, Rasiya Balam. Mahatma Gandhi’s ashes were also immersed here in 1948, adding to its standing.
Can you go boating on Nakki Lake?
Yes, boating is the main activity at Nakki Lake. Pedal boats and rowing (shikara-style) boats run from the ghats through the day, weather permitting, and Wikipedia also notes horse rides around the lake. Fares are paid at the counter and vary; any figure you see online is indicative, so reconfirm the current rate on arrival.
What is Gandhi Ghat at Nakki Lake?
Gandhi Ghat is the part of the Nakki Lake bank where some of Mahatma Gandhi’s ashes were immersed on 12 February 1948, soon after his assassination. The ghat was built to mark the event. It is a quiet, respectful corner of the waterfront and one reason the lake is treated as a sacred place rather than only a boating spot.
When is the best time to visit Nakki Lake?
The best time to visit is November to February for cool, clear days, though Mount Abu is also a well-loved summer refuge when the Rajasthan plains are hot. Winters are cold at this altitude and can fall below 0°C, with press reporting about -7°C in late January 2026, so pack warm layers in that window.
Can you climb to Sunset Point from Nakki Lake?
No — climbing the path up to Sunset Point on foot is forbidden, according to Wikipedia, because wild animals including bears and leopards use the route. Reach the viewpoint by the proper road or track instead, and head back before dark. The warning is a safety rule, not a formality, so take it seriously.
Last updated and sources
Nakki Lake suits anyone wanting a calm, central base in Mount Abu — families, couples and first-time visitors to Rajasthan’s only hill station. Come between November and February for clear days, or in summer to escape the heat of the plains, and build the Dilwara temples, Guru Shikhar and Sunset Point around it, as our Mount Abu travel guide lays out.
Last updated: 16 October 2026. Fees, timings and permits change — reconfirm with official sources before you travel.
Sources: Wikipedia, “Nakki Lake” (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nakki_Lake); Wikipedia, “Mount Abu” (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Abu); Patrika / Amar Ujala winter-temperature reports, Mount Abu, January 2026 (amarujala.com); Drishti IAS state current affairs, Mount Abu temperature, January 2025 (drishtiias.com); Outlook Traveller, Mount Abu places (outlooktraveller.com). Boating fares and ₹ bands are indicative planning estimates only, to reconfirm locally. Accessed October 2026.
