Dal Lake

When there is Kashmir to come to, why go anywhere else, see Kashmir capturing within its territories the quintessence of all elements that poetry demands of nature.

Location – Jammu & Kashmir
Best Time To visit – May to October and November to February

The valley of Kashmir is gifted with exotic natural and scenic beauty. The paradisical beauty of the place can be attributed to its outlandish natural charm, pretty landscape and mesmerising water bodies. The magic of Kashmir actually begins with the trees- the huge, stately chinars, apple orchards, with gleaming green apples, walnuts, almonds, pears and cherries. But somehow it is the Dal Lake that steals the show and surprises many by its heavenly bliss. The Dal Lake is great and tranquil, stretching out into the distance framed by tall rustling poplars. You can find long thin shikaras floating slowly on water and ancient houseboats standing still. The entire lake is surrounded by majestic mountains that adds to the whole aura of the place.

The Dal Lake In View
The Dal Lake is one of the most beautiful lakes of India and also the second largest in the state of Jammu & Kashmir. This lake with its multi-faceted eco-system and grandeur has been inviting the attention of national as well as international 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 three sides of the lake are surrounded by majestic mountains and a large number of gardens and orchards have been laid along the shores. The campus of University of Kashmir is also located along the shores of the lake. Dal Lake is the pride owner of hundreds of houseboats, which afford an opportunity to tourists to reside on the lake in an atmosphere of peace and tranquillity. The areas around the lake are clustered with sloping roofed houses on islands, while other parts appear lush and green like well-tended gardens. As the eye travels onwards, houseboats, houses and vegetation cease abruptly, and two enormous sheet-like expanses of water, the Bod Dal & Lokut Dal, come into view. The lake is truly of great ecological and socio- economic significance.

Accessibility
By Air -Indian Airlines operate regular daily flights to Srinagar from Delhi, Mumbai and Jammu. They leave from Delhi directly, from Delhi via Jammu, and from Bombay via New Delhi and Jammu.
By Rail - The nearest railhead for Srinagar is Jammu Tawi (305 kms) where trains arrive from Delhi, Kolkata, Pune, Mumbai, Kanyakumari, Ahmedabad, etc. As with flights, train bookings have to be made well in advance. During the holiday season, there is a facility of additional trains that operate to and from various parts of the country.
By Road – Jammu & Kahmir is well connected by good quality roads.