A lake of legend
At the heart of Vadnagar lies Sharmishtha Lake (Sharmishtha Talav), a large and serene old tank that has been the social and spiritual centre of the town for centuries. Named in legend after Sharmishtha, a princess of the Mahabharata era associated with Vadnagar’s mythical past, the lake is fringed by ghats, temples and shrines, and offers a peaceful counterpoint to the busy old town.
In the cool of morning and evening, locals gather at its steps and lakeside gardens, and the water mirrors the sky and surrounding buildings. Recently landscaped and beautified as part of Vadnagar’s heritage development, Sharmishtha Lake is a lovely place to pause and absorb the atmosphere of one of India’s oldest living towns — best combined with a visit to the nearby Kirti Toran and Hatkeshwar temple. (Freely accessible; a public lakeside space.)
Sharmishtha Lake, Vadnagar.
A tank named from the Mahabharata
The lakeside ghats at dusk.
The lake is named for Princess Sharmishtha.
It becomes Vadnagar's spiritual centre.
Shrines ring its banks.
Landscaped as a heritage centrepiece.
Reasons to make the time
Ancient sacred tank
The tank sits at the centre of Vadnagar and has organised the town around it for centuries — the ghats are where daily life happens.
Mythic namesake
Local tradition names it for Sharmishtha, a princess of the Mahabharata cycle, tying the lake to Vadnagar's claim to great antiquity.
Ghats & temples
Temples and small shrines ring the banks, most of them modest and in continuous use rather than monumental.
Peaceful centre
It is a genuinely quiet place a few minutes from a busy old town, which is much of why people come down to it.
Lovely at dusk
On still mornings the ghats and temples reflect across the water, and this is the lake's best hour.
Heritage setting
The lakeside has been landscaped as part of Vadnagar's wider heritage development, with paths and lighting along the banks.
What to look for inside
THE LAKESharmishtha Talav
A large old tank at the centre of the town, ringed by stone ghats.
THE GHATSLakeside steps
The lakeside steps, with temples and gardens along the banks.
How to spend an hour or two
Walk the ghats
Walk the full circuit of the tank, which takes under an hour and is how the town uses it.
Enjoy the calm
Sit on the ghats for a while; the lake's appeal is that it is calm rather than that it contains anything specific.
Visit lakeside shrines
Look at the shrines around the banks, small and mostly still in daily use.
Photograph at dusk
Come at first light or last, when the water is still enough to reflect the ghats and temples.
Learn the legend
Note the Sharmishtha association, which connects the lake to Vadnagar's very old mythic history.
Pair with Kirti Toran
Combine the lake with Vadnagar's torans, the excavations and Hatkeshwar temple, all within walking distance.
The lake mirrors the town.
Water, ghats and shrines
Sharmishtha Lake is a large old sacred tank at the centre of Vadnagar, ringed by stepped ghats, lakeside gardens, temples and shrines, and recently landscaped as the centrepiece of the town’s heritage revival. Its value is atmospheric: a tranquil sheet of water that reflects the sky and the old town, busiest and loveliest in the cool of morning and evening. (Freely accessible; a public space.)
Planning more of the area? Our Mehsana guide covers the whole district.
Large old sacred tank
Stepped lakeside ghats
Ringed by temples
Landscaped heritage setting
When to go
November to February is the season in north Gujarat — cool, clear and comfortable for walking the banks.
The monsoon fills the tank and greens the surroundings, though the ghats get slippery.
April to June is hot and the water level drops; walk at dawn or after sunset only.
⏰ Come at dawn or dusk for reflections and cool air; combine with the Kirti Toran and Hatkeshwar nearby.
Timings & entry
- A freely accessible public lake
- Loveliest at dawn and dusk
- Take care near the water
- A short, relaxing visit
- No entry fee
- Don't litter at the ghats
- Be respectful at shrines
- Pair with Vadnagar's sites
Getting there
By Air
Ahmedabad airport is nearest.
By Rail
Vadnagar / Mehsana stations.
By Road
In central Vadnagar.
At the lake
WATER & CALM
Vadnagar's serene centre
What to shoot
The lake and ghats.
Detail
Lakeside shrines.
Best light
Dawn and dusk reflections.
Setting
The old town beyond.
Know before you go
More to see close by
STEPWELLStepwell Country
Gateway to Patan’s Rani ki Vav & Adalaj
Hatkeshwar Mahadev
The ornate Nagar Brahmin temple
Trimandir
A vast modern non-sectarian temple
WEAVINGTana Riri Memorial
Gateway to Patan’s double-ikat silk
HERITAGEKirti Toran
Soaring 12th-century ceremonial arches
Bahucharaji
◐ Temple detail & ritual
Where to eat near Sharmishtha Lake
THALIGujarati Thali
Sweet-savoury full meals.
FARSANDhokla & fafda
Steamed and fried snacks.
STREETChaat & snacks
Lively market-town fare.
Dairy capital
Home of Dudhsagar Dairy & superb milk sweets.
Sharmishtha Lake FAQ
What is Sharmishtha Lake?
A centuries-old sacred tank at the heart of Vadnagar, ringed by ghats and temples.
Who was Sharmishtha?
A princess of Mahabharata-era legend linked to Vadnagar's mythical past.
Is there an entry fee?
No, it is a freely accessible public lake.
What can I do there?
Walk the ghats, visit lakeside shrines and enjoy the calm.
When is it loveliest?
At dawn and dusk, for reflections and cool air.
Where is it?
In central Vadnagar, Mehsana district.
Is it good for photography?
Yes — especially at golden hour.
What's nearby?
The Kirti Toran and Hatkeshwar temple.
Related places across Gujarat
INDUSTRYAnkleshwar
Gujarat’s storied industrial hub
PALACEHuzoor Palace
A seafront royal palace of the Jethwa rulers
1Pithora Wall Art
Watch ritual horse-paintings come alive on village walls
FORT & COASTJafrabad
An old fort guarding a fishing coast
TOWNBilimora
Gateway town to the Vansda forests
QUIETSector Gardens
Leafy, walkable greens between the sectors
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Published 24 June 2026 · Updated 24 August 2026