The new revolution of LOVE……..
Dal Lake
Dal
Lake is the most precious jewel of Srinagar. It’s an enticing silver sheet with
a tinge of blue sprinkled with flamboyantly colored shikaras and stylish house
boats. The hues of lake change from dawn to dusk. As soon as evening turns into
night the reflections of twinkling lights of houseboats in the water seem like
grand necklaces of multicolored gems. Whenever a shikara glides along causing
ripples in the water the reflections present a sight as if the gems have been
strewn loose from the string of
necklace.
‘Dal’
is a Tibetan word which means ‘Still’. It is believed that in ancient times,
there was no lake here and instead a large meadow known as Watalanmarg existed
at the place. Later due to a massive earthquake, water gushed into the meadow
and took the shape of a lake.
Dal
Lake is not just any other lake, the uniqueness lies in the fact that it
contains a small dynamic world within its boundaries, full of vitality and
enthusiasm. There is a feeling of joie de vivre everywhere.
It is
like a mini township with complete infrastructure. It has floating markets with
tiny wooden shops selling anything from handicrafts for tourists to groceries
and household items for inhabitants of Dal. There are around 1200 houseboats or
floating hotels offering luxurious stay. A cyber café, a salon, even a post
office exists within the lake. There is a regular traffic of mobile shops in
boats selling eatables like barbecued kebabs, ice creams, and variety of
snacks, fruits, vegetables, flowers, handicrafts and virtually every utility
item.
A
unique and fascinating feature of the Dal Lake consists in a series of floating
farms. Stacks of weeds are entwined into a mass in which soil is placed and
melons, tomatoes, egg plants, tomatoes and other vegetables are planted. The
roots of these plants touch water so no extra watering is needed and they grow
quite well. According to a leading newspaper in the valley, the vegetables
grown in such floating farms are supplied not just to valley but the surplus is
exported to other states too. The turnover of this business is over Rupees 35
crores. These floating farms can move from one place to another.
Nehru
Park, a vibrant spot in the middle of the lake, has a restaurant, hordes of
photographers clicking away photos of tourists in traditional Kashmiri attire
and is a favorite haunt of water sports enthusiasts as it is the preliminary
point for water skiing, surfing and swimming.
Spread
over 18 square kilometers, the lake is divided by causeways into four basins,
called Gagribal, Lokut Dal, Bod Dal and Nagin. Lokut-Dal and Bod-Dal have an
island each in the centre, known as Rup Lank (or Char Chinari) and Sona Lank
respectively. The small islet with four chinars popularly known as Char Chinari
is an excellent venue for short picnics. A JKTDC owned restaurant in the form
of a houseboat is anchored to the island offering delicious Kashmiri food in a
traditional ambience.
The
jewel in the ring is the smallest but the loveliest part of the Dal Lake,
called Nagin. Separated by a causeway and only a short distance from
HazratBal (Dargah), it has deep blue waters and is encircled by a ring of green
trees. This part of the Dal is also famous for water sports. Those who love
solitude prefer staying in houseboats of Nagin due to peace and tranquility in
the atmosphere.
The
location of Dal is so central to the landscape of Srinagar, that many tourist
spots places been developed in its environs. They include famous gardens
like Nishat, Shalimar, Chasma Shahi, Naseem Bagh, Pari Mahal, Jawahar Lal Nehru
Botanical Garden, Zabarwan Park; etc. Overlooking the lake are two hillocks
which house the famous temples of Shankaracharya and Hari Parbat.
The
best remedy for frayed nerves and a stressed out mind is a relaxing shikara
ride in the Dal Lake. Just lie back on the comfortable cushioned seat of a
shikara and hear the soothing sound of oar splashing the water. The birds
provide entertainment by singing melodious songs. In just a single ride you can
enjoy a variety of sights and landscapes. First you see a series of houseboats
in rows with their occupants waving and greeting you as your shikara glides on.
The next sight is the open wide expanse of the lake with reflections of blue
sky and towering mountains. As you move on you see the thick green sheets
interspersed with colorful lilies and lotus blooms and the unfolding of new
vistas continues as your shikara moves on. At sunset, the colors of the sky
change every minute simultaneously altering the hues of the water lake. Every
sight during the ride is a delight.
"Dal Lake is the
cradle of Kashmiri civilization, it has natural, cultural, religious, and
tourist importance, and with its surrounding mix of urban and mountain
environments, we don't have another setting like this in the world."