Main Info
Venna Lake
Mahabaleshwar Overview
Venna Lake is a beautiful man-made water body which is also one of the most visited tourist spots in Mahabaleshwar. Known for its scenic location, the lake receives a large number of tourists from different parts of the country. Venna Lake is surrounded by lush greenery and a vast expanse of well-maintained meadows. The serene ambience and clean environment makes this place a perfect spot for organizing a picnic. It is indeed a must-visit place for all nature lovers and wildlife enthusiasts.
The lake was constructed in 1942 by Shri Appasaheb Maharaj who was the descendant of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and also the ruler of Satara. This lagoon is built on a large area and occupies an area of about 28 acres with the perimeter as long as 7 to 8 km. The main objective behind building this lake was to cater to the water needs of the residents of Mahabaleshwar. The shore of the lake is adorned with a beautiful garden called Chhatrapati Pratapsihn Garden. Two thirths (holy place) are also under the water of this lake approximately at a depth of 1 to 2 km.
You can carry out interesting activities around the lake such as boating, horse riding, etc. People from all age groups visit this lake in order to enjoy various recreational activities. Locals generally prefer visiting the lake for morning or evening walk purposes. The lake is situated at a walking distance from the main market and bus stop. In addition to this, there are many food stalls situated outside the lake to satisfy your hunger.
More on Venna Lake
Things to do at Venna Lake
Of all the interesting things you can do at Venna Lake, you should undertake boating across the calm waters of the lake. You can explore the lake via two types of boats namely rowboats and paddleboats. In addition to this, you can also indulge in activities such as horse riding, merry go round and the toy train.
The food stalls around lake serve scrumptious Chowpatty food, Chinese dishes and other fast food items. Popular Indian street food like Bhelpuri, Corn, Vada Paav, etc is also widely sold here. Hirkani Garden and Bagicha Corner are the most famous restaurants around the lake.
Venna Lake Timings
Venna Lake is open to the general public on weekdays from 7 am to 7 pm. However, the boating facility is available only till sunset and the peak time here is around 4 pm.
Venna Lake Entry Fee
The entry to the lake is free but boating rides are chargeable. The rates of the same are as follows:
Row Boating: INR 250 for half an hour and can accommodate a maximum of 7 people at once. It costs NR 500 for a one hour ride.
Paddle Boating: INR 440 for an hour and accommodates around six people at once.
Best Time to Visit Venna Lake
The ideal time to visit the place is between the months of March and June. The weather at this time of the year is pleasant. During the monsoon season, Mahabaleshwar experiences a lot of rainfall and it becomes slightly difficult and inconvenient to explore the place without enough rain protection gear.
How to Reach Venna Lake?
Venna Lake is situated 2 km away from the main market of Mahabaleshwar. You can either walk or hire a taxi or an auto-rickshaw to reach the lake. The taxi ride will cost up to INR 100. You can also take a bus from the bus stop which is situated near to the market area.