Sambhar Lake is the largest inland saltwater lake in India. Located at a distance of 80 kms from Jaipur and 64 kms from Ajmer, Sambhar Lake sprawls over 5700 sq. km. of the catchment area. Boasting of an extremely extensive saline wetland, the lake is divided by a 5.1 kms long dam that also helps in the salt-making process. Besides, the area attracts a lot of migratory birds. That makes it one of the most popular tourist spots in the city. It is frequented by nature lovers, wanderers, birdwatchers, photography enthusiasts and all kinds of tourists.
Sambhar Lake is fed by five rivers namely Medtha, Samaod, Mantha, Rupangarh, Khari and Khandela and is elliptical in shape. The beauty of the landscape is further enhanced by the backdrop of the beautiful Aravalli mountains. In addition to that, the city surrounding the lake is called the Sambhar Lake town and that also has a couple of tourist attractions like the Salt Laboratory and the Salt Museum.
History
Sambhar Lake is steeped in antiquity and even finds a mention in the Hindu epic Mahabharata. History states that the lake was part of the kingdom ruled by the demon king ‘Brishparva’. According to a Hindu legend and local beliefs, the protector goddess of the Chauhan Rajputs (Of Prithviraj Chauhan fame) – Maa Shakambari Devi, converted the forested region into a vast plain of precious jewels. People around the area got worried that this will result in permanent strife in the region and prayed to the Goddess to withdraw the boon Rajasthan Monuments.
Shakambari Devi relented and converted the area of jewels into a jewel of different kind, ‘salt lake’. Thus, Sambhar Salt Lake is said to have come into existence. A temple devoted to Maa Shakambari Devi is located on a rocky outcrop near Sambhar Lake. From the higher elevation on which it is situated, it appears as if the Goddess is guarding the lake. Shakambari Mata Temple is the venue for a popular religious fair in the month of August when people from the surrounding villages come to attend it.
Sambhar is the setting for an important event in Indian Mughal history – the wedding of Akbar and Jodha Bai took place at Sambhar Lake in 1562. Over a period of time, Sambhar Lake was controlled by the Scindhias, Marathas and Mughals. In 1709, the Rajput Kingdoms of Jaipur & Marwar regained control over it. The rulers of Jaipur and Jodhpur jointly owned the lake, and in the year 1870 Sambhar Lake was leased to the British.
According to some historical records, Sambhar town was founded in the 6th Century AD by Raja Vasudev of the Chauhan Kings.
Sunset and sunrise in Sambhar Lake are surreal and must be experienced for the feeling of calmness that they bring. There is also a Bhairav Temple in front of Shakambari Mata Temple. Locals worship the deity and make small homes with rocks in the open space, I couldn’t understand the reason for the same though.
Best Time to Visit
The best time to visit Sambhar Wildlife Sanctuary and the lake is from October to March. Avoid travelling to Sambhar from June to September, as this is the monsoon season and neither would you find much wildlife then, nor would you be able to witness much of salt production Rajasthan Budget tours.
Sambhar is home to the largest saline lake in India and home to rare avian species. Located 60 kilometers to the west of Jaipur, Sambhar is a quaint, yet picturesque town and is also becoming a very popular tourist destination. For those wanting to savor a unique, outdoor experience, Sambhar gives you the opportunity to enjoy the vast expanse of the wildlife sanctuary and one can admire the famous view of the Salt Lake.
How to Reach
The best way to reach Sambhar Lake is by road in a bus. You can take any bus bound for Nagaur or Kuchaman, from Jaipur Sindhi Camp Bus Stand. The first stop is Sambhar and here you can get down. The nearest railway station is at Sambhar Salt Lake Station. Most trains do stop at this station, however, it will be better to confirm before booking tickets. The nearest airport is in Jaipur which is around 120 kms from Sambhar Lake.
By Road: Sambhar lake is located near the Jaipur city at a distance of 80 km. One can easily reach here with the local taxi, roadways or private buses or cab.
By Rail: Sambhar lake, Jaipur is well connected through nearest Sambhar Lake Railway station to major cities railway stations like Delhi, Agra, Mumbai, Chennai, Bikaner, Jodhpur, Udaipur, Ahmedabad.
By Air: Sambhar lake can be reached through nearest Jaipur Airport, also called Sanganer Airport which is well connected with regular domestic flights to Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Jodhpur, and Udaipur.
