SURINSAR LAKE

Situated at a distance of 42 km from Jammu city, Surinsar Lake is known for its natural bounty and some mythological importance. Surrounded by thickly wooded mountain ranges and it is a popular picnic spot. The beauty and natural splendor of Surinsar Lake can be compared with the magnificence of Dal Lake and Nagin Lake of Srinagar. Surinsar Lake and Mansar Lake are considered to be twin lakes; Mansar is located 30 km away from it. The Surinsar Mansar Wildlife Sanctuary is nestled in the midst of both the lakes and supports 3 mammalian species and 15 avifauna species including crane. According to Hindu mythological legends, the origin of the lake is closely associated with the legendary warrior of Mahabharat, Arjun. It is said to believe that Arjun shot an arrow in to the Mansar and a spring gushed of the earth and now it is known as Surinsar Lake.

Surinsar Lake is one of the twin lakes in Jammu, the other being Mansar Lake located around 30 km away from here. The perimeter of this lake is surrounded by thick mangroves, looming pine trees and beautiful hills. An island situated in the middle of this land is home to thousands of bats. As per Hindu mythology, origin of Surinsar Lake goes back to the time of Mahabharat. It is said that the brave Pandava warrior Arjun shot an arrow into the ground at Mansar which emerged far away at Surinsar. This is how both lakes came into existence.

Surinsar Lake, with its abundant natural beauty, is an ideal getaway for someone looking for tranquility and peace of mind. The quietness of forests around adds to serenity of this lake that is dominated by floating lotuses in summer time. Boating and swimming in this lake is restricted due to religious beliefs. A bird sanctuary around the lake is a favourite among bird watchers.

By Air
The closest airport is at Jammu. Almost all airlines operate regular flights to Jammu from major cities like Delhi, Srinagar, Chandigarh and Leh.

By Rail
Jammu Tawi is the major railway station and closest to Surinsar Lake. There are regular train services from major cities of India like Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai, Chennai and Trivandrum.

By Road
Jammu is well connected with an extensive bus and taxi network. Private tourist buses ply to and fro between Jammu and other major Indian cities like Delhi, Manali, Amritsar, Shimla and Ludhiana. There are many buses from Jammu city going towards Surinsar Lake.

Best Time to Visit
The best time to visit this lake is from April to October.

About 62 km from Jammu, Mansar is a beautiful lake sounded by forest-covered hills with its length more than a mile and width half-a-mile. Besides being a popular excursion destination for tourists in Jammu, it also has provision for boating for which adequate facilities are provided by the J&K Government.

Mansar is a holy site as well, sharing the legend and sanctity of Lake Mansarovar. There are ancient temples on the lake side, which are often visited by devotees in large numbers. Devotees from the region perform Mundan (First hair cut) ceremony of the male baby here.
Sanasar (2079 m), a satellite resort of Patnitop, with a cup-shaped meadow surrounded by gigantic conifers. A place for a quiet holiday, the meadow has now been developed as a golf course.There are several walks in the surrounding hills. The resort itself is ideal for paragliding. Tourists with own vehicle can go on to Sansar from Patnitop and return by the evening.
Located 103 kms from Jammu, on the Jammu-Srinagar highway, this popular resort is situated at an altitude of 1738 m. A number of private hotels also offer various types of accommodation. Accommodation is available in the J&K TDC’s Tourist Bungalow. Batote - Situated at about 125 kms from Jammu, on the Jammu-Srinagar highway, is the resort of Batote (1560m), straddling the forested slopes of the Patnitop mountain range and overlooking the spectacular Chenab gorge. Accommodation is available in Jammu & Kashmir Tourism Development Corporation Huts and Tourist Bungalow.

Other than tranquility of this lake and its beautiful surroundings, this lake does not have any other attractions.