Dal Lake

4.7

Location: Srinagar

Estimated Visiting Time: 4 hours.

Dal is a lake in Srinagar the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir. This urban lake is integral to tourism and recreation in Kashmir and is named the “Jewel in the crown of Kashmir” or “Srinagar’s Jewel” this lake is also an important source for commercial operations in fishing and water plant harvesting.

Attraction

Visitors will be surprised that Dal Lake is a single body of water as it looks like many different lakes and pools connected and divided by numerous causeways, stilt houses, floating gardens, and houseboats. The lake actually consists of five lake basins namely Nehru Park, Nishat, Hazratbal, Nagin, and Brari. The lake is shallow with a depth of around 6 m and currently has an area of around 16 square kilometers, although previously it covered an area of around 22, square kilometers.

History

Nicely decorated Sikara - Boat at Dal lake Srinagar - Kashmir in which tourist are enjoying the rides.

Dal is known as Mahasarit in ancient Sanskrit texts. Ancient history records mention that a village named Isabar to the east of Dal was the residence of the goddess Durga. This place was known as Sureshwari on the bank of the lake, which was sourced by a spring called the Sahara.

Inside/Outside Views

A view of Dal Lake in winter, and the beautiful mountain range in the background in the city of Srinagar, Kashmir, India.

The lake covers an area of 18 square kilometres. Its part of a natural wetland that covers 21.1 square kilometres including its floating gardens The floating gardens, known as “Raad” in Kashmiri, blossom with lotus flowers during July and August, and The wetland is divided by causeways into four basins; Lokut Dal, Gagribal, Bod Dal and Nagin (although Nagin is also considered as an independent lake). Lokuta-dal and Bod-dal each have an island in the centre.