The lake is located within a catchment area covering 316 square kilometers in the Zabarwan mountain valley, at the foothills of the Shankaracharya Hill, which surrounds it on three sides. The lake, which lies to the east and north of Srinagar city, covers an area of 18 square km, although including the floating gardens of lotus flowers, it is around 22 square km.....
Since Jammu & Kashmir has been open to tourists, of
the numerous tourist spots, Dal Lake is the main attraction in Kashmir for
tourists and visitors. The tourists from all over India and around the world
flock to Dal Lake to see, feel and enjoy the panoramic beauty, the romance, the
Shikara rides on the calm water, or to spend a few days on the houseboats. One
should experience a stay here and enjoy the local cuisine and environment to
soak in the Kashmir atmosphere. The added attraction is the floating market
that sells wares like carpets, shawls, mufflers, dresses, toys, handicrafts, kawa
tea, dry fruits, and many other local items. There are many big floating shops
and emporiums selling various items of interest to tourists.
Dal is a lake in Srinagar, the summer capital of Jammu
and Kashmir. It is an urban lake, the second largest lake in Jammu and Kashmir,
and the most visited place in Srinagar by tourists and locals. It is integral
to tourism and recreation in the Kashmir Valley and is variously known as the
Lake of Flowers, Jewel in the Crown of Kashmir, or Srinagar's Jewel. The lake
is also an important source for commercial activity and source of income for
the locals, including fishing and water plant harvesting. Tourist boom helps
the Kashmiris. Many consider the Shikara rides quite romantic, like the Hindi
movies hero and heroines romancing on the lake, shot here many years ago, like
Kashmir Ki Kali, Jab Jab Phool Khile and others. Apart from the romance, let us
delve into the history and facts of Dal Lake.
The shore line of the lake is about 15.5 km,
encompassed by a boulevard lined with Mughal era gardens, parks, houseboats,
and hotels. Scenic views of the lake can be witnessed from the shoreline.
Mughal gardens, such as Shalimar Bagh and Nishat Bagh, built during the reign
of Mughal Emperor Jahangir, and from houseboats, cruising along the lake is the
small and colorful shikaras. During the winter season, the temperature can
sometimes reach as low as -11 °C, freezing the lake water. Everything comes to
a standstill.
The lake covers an area of 18 square km and is part of
a natural wetland which covers 21.1 square km, 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 Nigeen (although Nigeen is also considered as
an independent lake). Lokut Dal and Bod Dal each have an island in the center
known as Rupa Lank (or Char Chinari) and Sona Lank, respectively.
At present, the Dal and the Mughal gardens on its
periphery are undergoing intensive restoration measures to fully address the
serious problems experienced by the lake. Massive investments of approximately
₹ 11 billion are being made by the Government of India to restore the lake to
its original splendor. With so much activity on the lake, it is bound to create
some ecological issues. Experts are addressing these issues as Dal Lake is a
hub of commercial activity.
Dal is mentioned as Mahasarit in ancient Sanskrit
texts. Ancient history records mention that a village named Isabar to the east
of Dal was the residence of Goddess Durga. This place was known as Sureshwari
on the banks of the lake, which was sourced by a spring called the Satadhara. This many are not aware of but when you delve into the history, you get to many facts.
During the Mughal period, the Mughal rulers designated
Kashmir, Srinagar in particular, as their summer resort. They developed the
precincts of the Dal in Srinagar with sprawling Mughal-type gardens and
pavilions as pleasure resorts to enjoy the salubrious, cool climate. After the
death of Aurangzeb in 1707, which led to the disintegration of the Mughal
Empire, Pashtun tribes in the area around the lake and city increased, and the
Afghan Durrani Empire ruled the city for several decades. In 1814, a significant
part of the Kashmir Valley, including Srinagar, was annexed from the Afghans by
Maharaja Ranjit Singh to his kingdom, and the Sikhs grew in influence in the
region for 27 years.
During the Dogra rule, Srinagar became the capital of
Dogra territory, attracted by the cool climate of the Kashmir valley, amidst
the back drop of the majestic snow-covered Himalayan ranges. The lake precincts
experience temperatures in the range of 1–11 °C during winter and 12–30 °C
during the summer season. The lake freezes when temperatures drop to about -11
°C during severe winter. Although the Dogra Maharaja of Kashmir restricted the construction
and building of houses in the valley, the British circumvented this rule by
commissioning lavish houseboats to be built on the Dal. The houseboats have
been referred to as, "each one a little piece of England afloat on
Dal."
After the independence of India, the Kashmiri Hanji
people have built, owned, and maintained these houseboats, cultivating floating
gardens and producing commodities for the market, making them the centre of
their livelihoods. The houseboats, closely associated with Dal, also provide
accommodation with modern amenities in Srinagar. Following Mughal, Afghan,
Sikh, and Dogra rule, the place has earned the epithet, "Jewel in the
crown of Kashmir."
The lake is located within a catchment area covering
316 square kilometers in the Zabarwan mountain valley, at the foothills of the
Shankaracharya Hill, which surrounds it on three sides. The lake, which lies to
the east and north of Srinagar city, covers an area of 18 square km, although
including the floating gardens of lotus flowers, it is around 22 square km. The
main basin draining the lake is a complex of five interconnected basins with
causeways; the Nehru Park basin, the Nishat basin, the Hazratbal basin, the
Nigeen basin, and the Barari Nambal basin. Navigational channels provide the
transportation links to all five basins.
The average elevation of the lake is 1,583 meters. The
depth of water varies from 6 meters at its deepest in Nigeen Lake to 2.5
meters, the shallowest at Gagribal. The depth ratio between the maximum and
minimum depths varies with the season between 0.29 and 0.25, which is
interpreted as flatbed slope. The length of the lake is 7.44 km, with a width
of 3.5 km. The lake has a basin having a shore length of 15.5 km, and roads run
all along the periphery. Irreversible changes through urban developments have
placed further restrictions on the flow of the lake, and as a result, marshy
lands have emerged on the peripheral zones, notably in the foothill areas of
the Shankaracharya and Zaharbwan hills. These marshy lands have since been
reclaimed and converted into large residential complexes.
Multiple theories explaining the origin of this lake
have been formulated. One version is that it is the remnants of a post-glacial
lake, which has undergone drastic changes in size over the years, and the other
theory is that it is of fluvial origin from an old flood spill channel or
ox-bows of the Jhelum River. The dendritic drainage pattern of the catchment
signifies that its rock strata have low levels of porosity. Lithologically, a
variety of rock types have been discerned, namely, igneous, metamorphic, and
sedimentary. The Dachigam Telbal Nallah system is conjectured to follow two
major lineaments. Discontinuous surfaces seen in the terrain are attributed to
the angular and parallel drainage pattern. The water table cuts the hill
slopes, which is evidenced by the occurrence of numerous springs in the valley.
Seismic activity in the valley is recorded under Zone V of the Seismic Zoning
Map of India, the most severe zone where frequent damaging earthquakes of
intensity IX could be expected. In the year 2005, the Kashmir Valley
experienced one of the severe earthquakes measured at 7.6 on the Richter's
scale, which resulted in deaths and the destruction of many properties, leaving
many homeless. With this varied history, the fact remains Dal Lake is a major
tourist attraction and a hub of activity.
Why can't China go for an all-out war or attack
against India considering it won the Sino-Indian War in 1962? China is aware
that the India of 1962 has passed into history, as has the China of 1962. India
is no longer what it was then and is capable of hitting back hard.
Yet five years later, after 1962, when China faced off
with India again, the outcome was very different. The Sino-Indian clash of
1967, fought at the Nathu La Pass over a four-day period and over the Cho La
Pass for a daylong period, resulted in an Indian victory and India inflicting
heavy casualties on the Chinese. The Chinese never visualized this scenario,
thinking India had been subdued and wouldn't retaliate. India felt betrayed by
the Chinese leaders and was waiting to give it back to the Chinese. The India
of 1962 was already gone, and China was not really prepared for the India of
1967. After this, the Chinese never dared, but continued to test India in
different sectors. They try to provoke India from time to time.
Then Galwan happened. India responded forcefully.
China realized it's not in their interest to provoke India. There's no question
about an all-out war with India. It will harm their own economy and interrupt
their growth. Though they might try to test India from time to time, they
create an impediment to India’s progress. They consider India as their
potential competitor. After recent developments, they feel India can pose a
challenge to their economic rise. On the geopolitical chessboard, it is China 1
and India 1. With all this, India-China trade continues.
However, with the present calm, they will test India’s
defenses and political leadership from time to time when things get hot
internally for the Chinese leadership. This is their diversionary tactic.
Informed sources say China will avoid a full-scale war with India as it will
damage the economic growth of both countries, and they all know India can hit
back hard, disturbing their plans for economic growth and development, and
label China as the aggressor. An on a lighter note, a retired General during a television
interview said, the smaller Chinese are no match for our robust and big Punjabi
and Jat soldiers!
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