Jaipur is one of the few cities in India which undergoes a massive transformation during the monsoon. The hills and landscape near Jaipur can easily fool a traveler, giving an impression of being a hill station.

The arrival of the monsoon marks the end of long scorching summers. And this puts the residents in a cheerful mood. Symbolically, the monsoon has always been celebrated in India because it is a primary source of water, necessary for life and agriculture. In most cities, people refrain from stepping out during excessive rains. At the same time, the Jaipur residents exhibit this unique behavior. They love riding and driving in the rain because it signifies celebration. It is not surprising to witness traffic jams on the roads leading to well-recognized places like Nahargarh Fort and Amer Fort on a rainy day

Short Driving Trip From Jaipur

People are always scouting for places to visit near Jaipur within 50 kilometers. One of the most popular places over the last few decades has been Ramgarh Lake Dam. Until the late 1990s, it was a favorite picnic spot for Jaipur residents during the monsoon. Unfortunately, the lake dried up and it ceased being a popular picnic spot like before. All that’s left is a huge open area devoid of water. Even though the dam lacks water, the drive to the Ramgarh dam is worth undertaking at least once during monsoon. The total distance from the heart of Jaipur- Johari Bazaar to Ramgarh dam is around 31 km. So to and from will comprise approximately 62 km.

Ramgarh Lake Location

Ramgarh Lake is located on the road connecting Jaipur with Aandhi. Aandhi was previously famous for its marble quarries. But many of these were closed due to environmental and ecological issues. Ramgarh Lake is on state highway 55.

How to reach Ramgarh Dam?

For ease, I will mark the route from Johari Bazaar, located in the heart of Jaipur.

• Johari Bazaar to Jal Mahal

The drive from Johari Bazaar to Jal Mahal provides an opportunity to enjoy the heritage buildings and the sight of vibrant bazaars. The highlight of this section is the Hawa Mahal. Once past this iconic building, as you move out of the walled city through one of the many city gates of Jaipur– Jorawar Singh Gate.

The road from Jorawar Singh Gate to Ramgarh Mod is not congested. This road is called Amer road as it leads to Amer Fort. At the same time, it is not free from traffic either. Once you arrive at the first traffic light, take a right turn towards the Delhi bypass to Chungi Mod. Additionally, you can choose to drive another 300 meters on Amer Road to witness the beauty of Jal Mahal and devote a couple of minutes here.

• Amer Road to Ramgarh Mod

Once you take a left turn on the Delhi bypass towards Delhi, you drive past the back side of Jal Mahal. If you possess the time, you can choose to stop over at Jal Mahal Ki Paal to enjoy the view of Jal Mahal from the opposing side of Amer Road. Not many people explore this place. It is a popular spot among people who like to feed fish. And for this reason, garbage and filth can be found all around the entrance. Another option for a stopover is the Sankat Mochan Hanuman temples right next to the Jal Mahal Paal. It is not an old temple but rather a modern building. A towering Hanuman Ji statue overlooks the oncoming traffic from Delhi. From this temple, it merely requires a couple of minutes to reach Ramgarh Mod. From this spot, one takes off from the Delhi highway to the road leading to Aandhi and Alwar. It is the state highway 55.

• Ramgarh Mod to Saipura & Chainpura

This section of the drive is the least pleasant of all. The road is congested and not properly maintained. Often, garbage dumps line both sides of the road for half a kilometer just outside Jameya Tul Hidaya mosque. Things start improving past the CRPF Lalwas campus. However, until you reach Chainpura, you are unlikely to enjoy the driving experience. This stretch passes through the residential and market area and is therefore congested in many places.

• Chainpura to Jamwa Ramgarh village

After Chainpura you will find the best section of the drive. The drive to Jamwa Ramgarh village is pleasant. You will be greeted with the towering cliff-like hill on your left side. An extremely popular temple in this area can be found on the hill called Daant Mata temple. It is a fascinating place to visit since it provides nice views of the surroundings. At this point, the road forks into two, the one on the left leading farther inside the settlement; the other leading to the Ramgarh dam. The car can be parked just outside the Jamwa Mata police station, and one can walk up to the temple. If you are not in the mood to walk, you can find a place to park the car, closer to the temple.

• Jamwa Ramgarh Village to Ramgarh Dam

The road from Jamwa Ramgarh village to the dam gets interesting with a hill range running all along the right side. During monsoon, one can witness waterfalls every few hundred meters cascading along the hill. This is the most scenic part of the entire drive. A lane on the left-hand side leads to the now-closed RTDC Jheel hotel. The property overlooks the lake; a strategic location marred by bad management. Most state-run hotels across India confront this issue. You reach the lake with this expansive view. A viewing deck overlooks the lake; you certainly can walk up to this place.

• Ramgarh Dam

The expansive view of the Ramgarh lake with green cover everywhere in sight is extremely picturesque. It will be difficult for people who have never visited Rajasthan to imagine such sights. People associate the state with desert and semi-arid landscapes. It is worth spending a couple of minutes soaking in the atmosphere.

While It seems like an ideal place to meditate or do Pranayama or Yoga; be warned, though. This entire area is infested with red face monkeys, Rhesus Macaque. There are other places I will suggest for spiritual moments further in this blog. One can sometimes also spot the Grey Langur monkeys. This species of monkey is not as aggressive as Rhesus Macaque. But monkeys are monkeys.

Having spent some time near the dam, you might want to explore further. A preferred option would be to continue on the same road- SH55 that leads to Aandhi. The road enters a deep gorge or valley with hills on both sides and a road diverging to your left.

This road connects you with NH148 at Raisar. You can take this for your return journey and from Raisar take left towards Chandwaji and then use NH 248 connecting Jaipur-Delhi. This is a long route though but in excellent conditions, as it is a national highway.

When you descend into the valley on the road leading to Aandhi, you will find date trees on your left. A very interesting ancient temple situated midway on the hill with a steep staircase will be on your right side. It is an old temple. If you are fit and not scared of a steep flight of stairs or acrophobia, I will recommend a climb and exploration.

Jamwai Mata Temple

Drive a little further and you will arrive at Jamwai Mata temple. A few shops and a parking lot make it unmissable. Jamwa Mata is a “Kuldevi” of Kahchawha Rajput who ruled over the region & the erstwhile rulers of Jaipur state. For many decades, the temple was managed by a priest family, lately, the princely family has regained control and the ownership is entangled in a court case. Many Rajputs visit this temple. Jamwa Ramgarh village has been named after Jamwai Mata.

Drive further and you will find an old Hanuman Temple on your right side usually masked by the thick overgrowth of trees. It is a good place to stop, meditate, and do yoga or Pranayama. If you love to explore walk right behind these buildings in a valley enclosed by hills around.

Old Ramgarh Dam

Further down this road, you will arrive at a broken dam. This was the first attempt to dam the area for obtaining water for irrigation. The marker stone indicating the year can be seen on this building. The old surviving structures can be observed on your right while the ones on your left have already disappeared. This dam was built by Sir Swinton Samuel Jacob.

You can return from this point unless you like to drive further and explore the area. If you love driving the rural roads, I will suggest the road connecting Ramgarh Aandhi road with Naila via Nakchi Ghati and Booj. It is a rustic road with a scenic drive. As of June 2022, the road is in good condition. You can confirm the status of the road at Nakchi Ghati shops.

Umri Dham Eco-Trail

A couple of years ago, I chose to trek to Umri Dham. It is a very long valley walk leading to a picturesque spot during the monsoon. I don’t recommend this trail as there are regular leopard sightings here. Plus, the trail is not used regularly hence, it doesn’t witness much traffic. It is nestled in between two hills. During the monsoon, the walk becomes laborious with high humidity & little wind since it is nestled in a valley.

Taj Ramgarh Lodge

Taj Ramgarh Lodge overlooks the Ramgarh lake and is a historic hotel constructed during the princely rule. It was built under the rule of Maharaja Sawai Man Singh II and was a preferred place of Maharani Gayatri Devi. The building is built in the Art Deco style of architecture.

It is an excellent option for a weekend stay near Jaipur for 1 day. It is recommended for those seeking a romantic getaway surrounded by hills near Jaipur. The lunch, breakfast, or sundowner in the garden overlooking the expansive views of what was once Ramgarh lake remains infallibly a good idea.

A good alternative to Taj Ramgarh is the Anopura resort. Taj Ramgarh Lodge fills up fast, as it is a popular choice among the people of Delhi NCR. Both these are good choices as a place to visit near Jaipur within 50 kilometers, especially for couples.

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