DAL LAKE

Dal Lake has rightfully become an icon of the Kashmir tourism industry. A Himalayan urban lake, it has five basins and a number of channels that are well linked with each other. There are plenty of fishes in Dal Lake and fishery is the second largest industry of the region centered on the lake. The sparkling quiet waters of Dal surrounded by snow-capped mountains on its three sides, undoubtedly mark it as one of the most beautiful lakes of India. It is also the second largest lake in the State of Jammu and Kashmir with numerous gardens and orchards all along its shores. Houseboats form an indelible part of the scenery of the Dal Lake that are always ready to take tourists to a romantic and peaceful ride of the lake and soothe their nerves as the houseboat floats over the slightly rippling waters. They also offer some of the most exotic views of the splendid scenery of the Dal Lake.

There are Shikaras that look like small ornate versions of the gondolas of Venice that offers ferry rides to and from the banks of the lake to the houseboats. The shores of the Lake houses the distinct Moghul monuments and the campus of the Kashmir University while the two hillocks overlooking the lake house Shankar Acharya and Hari Parbat temples. The glorious Mughal gardens on its shores contribute to the beauty of the Dal Lake. Out of about five hundred gardens laid down in 16th to 17th century, only a few still survive. There have been controversies about the origin of the Dal Lake. While some geologists believe that the origins of Dal Lake lie in the Pleistocene Oligotrophic Lake that once covered the entire valley of Kashmir, others just believe it to be a flood plain lake. The floating gardens of Dal Lake are considered a beauty in themselves. One can find a number of restaurants and hotels at the lakefront that have sprung up, encouraged by the large influx of tourists here.

The shore line of the lake, is about 15.5 kilometers (9.6 mi), is encompassed by a boulevard lined with Mughal era gardens, parks, houseboats and hotels. Scenic views of the lake can be witnessed from the shore line Mughal gardens, such as Shalimar Bagh andNishat Bagh built during the reign of Mughal Emperor Jahangir and from houseboats cruising along the lake in the colorful shikaras. During the winter season, the temperature sometimes reaches -11 °C (12 °F), freezing the lake. The lake covers an area of 18 square kilometers (6.9 sq. mi) and is part of a natural wetland which covers 21.1 square kilometers (8.1 sq. mi), including its floating gardens. The floating gardens, known as "Rad" in Kashmiri, blossom with lotus flowers during July and August. The wetland is divided by causeways into four basins; Gagribal, Lokut Dal, Bod Dal and Nagin (although Nagin is also considered as an independent lake). Lokut-dal and Bod-dal each have an island in the centre, known as Rup Lank (or Char Chinari) and Sona Lank respectively. At present, the Dal Lake and its Mughal gardens, Shalimar Bagh and the Nishat Bagh on its periphery are undergoing intensive restoration measures to fully address the serious eutrophication problems experienced by the lake. Massive investments of approximately US$275 million (? 11 billion) are being made by the Government of India to restore the lake to its original splendor.

Dal Lake is a lake in Srinagar, the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir. The urban lake, which is the second largest in the state, is integral to tourism and recreation in Kashmir and is named the "Jewel in the crown of Kashmir” or "Srinagar's Jewel". The lake is also an important source for commercial operations in fishing and water plant harvesting.

The tulip is a Eurasian and North African genus of perennial, bulbous plants in the lily family. It is an herbaceous herb with showy flowers, of which around 75 wild species are currently accepted.

The Zabarwan Range is a short (20 mi (32 km) long) sub-mountain range of the Zanskar Range in the central part of the Kashmir in the state of Jammu and Kashmir in India.

Jawaharlal Nehru Memorial Botanical Garden lies in the foothills of the Zabarwan mountain range and overlooks the picturesque Dal Lake. This well-manicured garden covers an area of 80 hectares, of which 17 hectares is occupied by a beautiful lake. It was established in 1969, with the aim of spreading awareness about various varieties of flora and beautifying the city.

There are four main divisions of this sprawling green space, namely Plant Introduction Centre, Research Section, Recreational Garden and Botanical Garden. More than 300 species of flora dot the landscape of this garden, including trees of willow and cedar. Visitors coming to this place can relax in its serene surroundings or enjoy paddle-boat ride on the lake.

Jawaharlal Nehru Memorial Botanical Garden lies in the foothills of the Zabarwan mountain range and overlooks the picturesque Dal Lake. This well-manicured garden covers an area of 80 hectares, of which 17 hectares is occupied by a beautiful lake. It was established in 1969, with the aim of spreading awareness about various varieties of flora and beautifying the city. There are four main divisions of this sprawling green space, namely Plant Introduction Centre, Research Section, Recreational Garden and Botanical Garden. More than 300 species of flora dot the landscape of this garden, including trees of willow and cedar. Visitors coming to this place can relax in its serene surroundings or enjoy paddle-boat ride on the lake.