Location
: Srinagar, Kashmir
Attractions: Islands, Houseboats
& Floating Gardens
Best Time To Visit: June To
August
Dal - A Lake Made Of Lakes
Dal Lake is, initially, one of the most confusing parts of
Srinagar for it's not really one lake at all, but three.
Further more much of it is hardly what one would expect a lake
to be like - it's a maze of intricate waterways and channels,
floating islands of vegetation, houseboats that look so firmly
moored they could almost be islands and hotels on islands which
look like they could simply float away.
Dal Lake lies immediately to the east and north of Srinagar and
stretches over 5-km. The lake is divided into Gagribal, Lokut
Dal and Bod Dal by a series of causeways.
Houseboats
The largest group of houseboats lies along the western edge of
the lake near the lakeside boulevard, towards Dal gate. They
are lined in looping rows and around small islands. Several
hotels can also be found on flat islands in the lake. Beyond
the houseboats to the northwest are the floating gardens.
Attractions Around Dal Lake
There are three islands in the lake; three real islands anyway,
there are other sorts of islands joined by causeways. Around
the lake are many of Srinagar's most interesting sights, in
particular the pleasant Mughal gardens. It's also flanked by
hills, particularly along its east bank. The Shankaracharya
hill provides a very fine view over the lake.
Have A Swim!
The waters of Dal Lake are amazingly clear. Nevertheless one is
advised not to go swimming in the lake although the swimming
houseboats, equipped with diving boards and chutes, are moored
in a deeper part of the lake, 'upstream' from the concentration
of houseboats. Swimming here can be quite refreshing,
especially on a hot afternoon. One will undoubtedly be joined
by a number of Indians, including Hindu women who swim in their
saris.
Floating Gardens
The lake is probably at its most beautiful when the lotus
flowers bloom in July and August. The floating gardens, known
as "Rad" in Kashmiri, are one of the stranger aspects
of Dal Lake. They're composed of matted vegetation and earth,
which are cut away from the lake bottom and towed to a
convenient location where they are moored. Tomatoes, Cucumbers
and Melons all grow amazingly well in these gardens, if one
look underneath one can see that they do literally float on the
lake. One can also approach the floating gardens by road; the
boulevard runs along the eastern edge of the lake, providing
fine views all the way.
One will often see weeds being pulled up out of the lake - this
serves a double purpose. The lake waterways are kept clear and
the weeds are rotted until they form excellent compost for the
gardens. The shallowness of the lake and its heavy growth of
waterweeds is probably the main reason there are so very few
powered boats on the water. Dal Lake would be nowhere near as
pleasant if there were powerboats rushing back and forth across
its tranquil surface.
Shikaras
There are many tours around the lake but by far the best way to
see it is to take a Shikara for a day and do a circuit of the
Mughal gardens. At a reasonable price, there's hardly any other
lazier and more pleasurable way of getting into the swing of
Srinagar.
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