Banswara, also known as the 'City of Hundred Islands', is a beautiful town situated in southern
Rajasthan and is 160 km to the south of
Udaipur. From rugged hills to rich fertile alluvial soils, the town has an interesting topography; the deep forested valleys and meandering lakes add to its inimitable charm. Banswara is the administrative headquarters of
Banswara District and is one of the biggest towns in the Vagad region.
Banswara derived its name from ‘Bans’ or Bamboo trees, which were once abundant in the region. It was a part of the erstwhile state of
Bagar in the 15th century and is believed to have founded by Maharawal Jagmal Singh. The town was once fortified in a stone wall and the remains of the wall exist in the town. An old palace stands overlooking the town and Jain and Hindu temples and old mosques can be seen dotting its length.
Places of tourist interest include Abdulla Pir, Madareshwar temple and Anand Lake. Mahi Dam (18 km), Arthuna (55 km) and
Talwara (15 km) constitute enchanting excursions.
Nearest airport is at Udaipur. Ratlam Railway Station in Madhya Pradesh (80 km) is the closest railway station. Regular buses connect Banswara with Ahmedabad, Vadodara, Ujjain, Bhopal, Udaipur, Jaipur, Jodhpur and
Mount Abu.
