Dal Lake

Common info

Dal Lake is located in Srinagar, the capital of the state of Jammu and Kashmir. The lake is spread over an area of 18 square kilometres and is divided into four various parts namely, Gagribal, Lokut Dal, Bod Dal and Nagin Lake (this is a separate smaller water body close to the Dal Lake). The lake is located at an altitude of over 1,500 metres above the sea level. The beautiful lake has a big ecological and socio-economic significance. The richness and the charm of the Dal Lake eco-system attract tourists from all across the world every year. The lake is surrounded on three sides by mountains and gardens laid along the shore. The houseboats are the unique attractions of the Dal.

Flora

The beautiful lake is dotted with thousands of lotus, water lilies and water chestnuts. It is also surrounded by chinar, willow and poplar groves. Vegetables are also grown in the water of the Dal Lake and are sold in the local markets.

Fauna

Dal Lake is also known for its diverse avifauna. Little grebes, kingfishers, herons are some of the common birds found here. The other animal residents of this place include grasshoppers, lizards and mice.

Time to visit

March to October is the best time to visit the Dal Lake. This period includes three seasons, namely, spring, summer and autumn. During the winter (December to early March), the entire valley region remains under snow. However, for those who want to enjoy the chill and skiing, this is the time to visit Kashmir.

Jammu and Kashmir

Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) is the northern-most province of India and is located largely in the Western Himalayan mountain system. The state has borders with Himachal Pradesh and Punjab in the south, China in the north and east and Pakistan in the west. J&K is a territory of great political dispute between India and Pakistan and India and China. The state features three main areas, namely, Jammu, Kashmir valley and Ladakh. Srinagar is the summer capital while Jammu is the winter capital. J&K is quite rightly defined as the ‘Paradise on Earth’ for its sublime natural beauty.

Kashmir climate

Kashmir mainly experiences four types of climate, namely, spring (March till May), summer (May to August), autumn (September till November) and winter (December till March). Spring can witness brief showers while summer is not much hot (temperature vary between 25 and 35 degrees Celsius during this time). Snowfall is common during winter.

How to reach

By air
Srinagar airport is near about 14 km from the city. Srinagar is connected with all the major cities of the country.

By rail
JammuTawi is the nearest railway station to Srinagar and it is connected from New Delhi, Kolkata, Pune, Mumbai and other cities.

By road
National Highway 1-A (from Uri in Kashmir  to Jalandhar in Paunjab) is the main road communication to this region. It connects Srinagar to Jammu and the rest of India. Several state and private buses and taxis operate on this route. The famous Jawahar tunnel falls on this route. NH 1-D connects Srinagar with Leh.

Attractions

• Shikaras and the houseboats
• Beautiful Nagin Lake
• Floating market in the lake. The vendors ferry goods on boat. Everything from fruits, nuts, flowers, leather goods, shawls are sold.
• Sona lank and Rupa lank, two islands, located in the middle of the Lokut Dal and Bod Dal.
• Mughal gardens like Nishat Garden, Shalimar Garden
• Chasmashahi
• Pari Mahal
• Harwan
• Shankaracharya’s shrine and Hari Parbat temple on the hillocks adjacent to the lake.
• Shiva Temple
• University of Kashmir campus
• Royal Springs Golf Club

Activities at the Dal Lake

• Shikara rides
• Living in the houseboats in the lake in a pristine and serene atmosphere is a lifetime experience
• Kayaking
• Canoeing
• Boating
• Water surfing
• Fishing (Dal Lake supports a huge flourishing fishing industry)
• Water skiing
• Trekking in the city forest area

Accommodation

• Houseboats (there are various categories of houseboats like Deluxe, A Class, B Class, C Class and so on). Meenabazar Group of Houseboats, Persian Palace Group of Houseboats

• Hotels in Srinagar like: Akbar Hotel, Broadway Hotel, Centaur Lake View Hotel, Lake Isle Hotel, Grand Palace Hotel, Hotel Diplomat, Hotel Sadaf, Hotel Ahdoo’s, Green Acre Hotel, Hotel Vikram, Ruby Hotel
• Guesthouses

Problems

Popularity of Dal Lake took a heavy beating in the late 1980s and 1990s owing to the rising disturbance of terrorism. However, that situation has improved significantly in recent times. Uncontrolled growth of macrophytes is another major problem that has affected the lake’s ecosystem.