Banswara sits in the far south of Rajasthan, close to the Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh borders, and it looks nothing like the Rajasthan of postcards. The Mahi River runs through the district, scattering islands across its course, which is where the nickname 'City of a Hundred Islands' comes from. Heavy monsoon rain earns it a second nickname, 'Cherrapunji of Rajasthan', and the hills turn properly green from July to September.
The name is usually traced to bans, the Hindi word for bamboo, or to a Bhil chief remembered as Bansia. Local tradition holds that the area was Bhil territory before Rajput rule; the princely state was founded in the 16th century under Maharawal Jagmal Singh. Bhil communities remain the majority of the district's population, and that shapes what you see here: the Wagdi language, village fairs, and the memorial at Mangarh Hill to the 1913 killing of Bhil gatherers led by Govind Guru.
This is a destination for travellers who like temples, water and landscape more than polished attractions. The big names are the Tripura Sundari temple, the Mahi Bajaj Sagar dam and its reservoir, the Paramara-era ruins at Arthuna, and a cave shrine to Shiva on a hill above the town. Facilities are modest and some distances are long, so it works best as a slow two-day stay with a hired car.
It also needs honest expectations about transport. There is no airport in the town and, at the time of writing, no passenger railway: a new Dungarpur–Banswara–Ratlam line is still under construction. Most visitors arrive by road from Udaipur or from Ratlam, and that road journey is part of the trip.
Before you plan
Banswara at a glance
- Best months
- October to MarchOctober to March; November to February is most comfortable. July to September is very green but wet. April to June is very hot.
- Ideal trip length
- 2 days for the town and nearby sights2 days for the town and nearby sights; add a third day for Arthuna and Mangarh
- Airport
- No airport in townNo airport in town. Udaipur (UDR) is the nearest major airport, roughly 160-165 km by road, about 3-4 hours
- Railway station
- No station in Banswara yetNo station in Banswara yet; the Dungarpur-Banswara-Ratlam line is under construction. Ratlam Junction (RTM), about 80 km away, is the usual railhead
- Getting around
- A hired car and driver is the…A hired car and driver is the practical option; autos work within town, and buses link nearby towns
- Daily budget
- Roughly ₹1,500-₹3,500 per person per…Roughly ₹1,500-₹3,500 per person per day excluding hotel, mostly car hire, meals and small entry costs; varies with how far you drive
- Senior comfort
- Fair: the damFair: the dam, lakes and Tripura Sundari are easy, but Madareshwar and Andheshwar involve climbs and Arthuna is rough ground; long drives need breaks
- Language
- Hindi is officialHindi is official; Wagdi (Bhili) and Rajasthani are widely spoken locally; English is limited outside hotels
Prices, opening hours and weather change. Recheck live details before booking.
Best time to visit Banswara: January, February, November, December. Month-by-month weather →
How many days do you have?
Banswara itinerary
One good day
1 day in Banswara
Start at the Tripura Sundari temple at Umrai near Talwara in the morning, when it is quiet and cool. Return towards town and continue to the Mahi Bajaj Sagar dam, about 16 km from the town, for views over the reservoir. Have lunch in Banswara and rest through the early afternoon. In the late afternoon, drive to the Madareshwar cave temple on the eastern hill, climbing only as far as you are comfortable, and finish with a slow walk by Anand Sagar Lake at dusk.
Day-by-day plan →Two days
2 days in Banswara
Begin at Anand Sagar Lake while the light is soft and the lakeside is quiet. Drive out to the Tripura Sundari temple before the day warms up, then return for lunch and a rest. In the afternoon visit the Mahi Bajaj Sagar dam and, in the monsoon months, the swollen reservoir. Watch sunset from near the Madareshwar hill if you have the energy for the steps.
Day-by-day plan →Three unhurried days
3 days in Banswara
Morning at the Tripura Sundari temple, then the Mahi Bajaj Sagar dam and reservoir viewpoints. Rest after lunch and spend the evening at Anand Sagar Lake.
Day-by-day plan →
