Location - Jammu & Kashmir
Best Time To Visit - May to October and November to February
Often when I dream, with my eyes open - I dream of all good things in life.
Dal Lake is one such such good thing, that probably is a part of many
persons likes. The Dal Lake is one of the most beautiful lakes in India and
the second largest in the state of Jammu & Kashmir. The tall majestic
mountains surround the Dal Lake from the three sides. The lake is connected
to a number of other lakes of the Kashmir valley. The lake is spread in an
area of 18 sq. km. It is well known for its about 500 Victorian-era wooden
houseboats. There are captivating Mughal Gardens around the lake that are
said to have been inlaid during 16-17 th century. The number of Mughal
gardens have fallen down from five hundred to only a few.
The
origin of the lake is a mystery and has remained unresolved since time
immemorial. It is believed by some geologists that the Dal Lake is the
remnant of a Pleistocene oligotrophic lake which once covered the entire
valley of Kashmir. A number of fishes are found in the lake. Therefore
fishery is the second largest industry in the region here very much
dependent on the Dal Lake. The water of the lake is to a great extent used
for irrigation of vegetable fields which have grown in number and extent
during the recent years. The maximum depth of the lake is said to be 6 m.
The lake is also a hub of several aquatic plants.
The sparkling rippling of water of the Dal Lake makes the lake one of the
most worth seeing lakes of India. The beauty of the lake knows no
boundaries. There are beautiful long Shikaras that look majestic. These
houseboats offer good scope of riding in the serene waters to all the
tourists. On the lake itself you can witness an entire floating world -
doctors, tailors, bakers, vegetable sellers, flower sellers and even the
postman. And then there are floating gardens, and an island inside the lake,
called as the " Char Chenars".
The location of the Dal Lake is very idyllic. From the city of Srinagar it
is quite nearby about half a kilometre away and takes few minutes to reach
there. The lake is 25 kilometres away from the nearest airport which
connects all the major cities of India. The lake can also be accessed from
the Rail Head. The station is 300 kilometres away from the lake.
Visit Srinagar and enjoy the scenic beauty of the place, sitting in the
gorgeous shikara. If lucky you can also spot a Kingfisher dazzling your eyes
with colour, giving a dive in the water.
