Dal Lake

Jammu & Kashmir Cities - Leh-Ladakh

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.