Mar 13, 2016 11:50 AM
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My family, including me, visited Kashmir in 2014. Truly proclaimed to be as the ‘Paradise on Earth’, Kashmir encompasses some of the most beautiful scenic beauty and tourists attractions that are devoid in any other state of India. The ideally snow laden lands in the northern most region of India, though amidst a numerous conflicts and disputes, still continues to be the most visited and loved tourist spots in India.
Among the various beauty, the few noticeable aspects of this paradise are the Dal lake, Gulmarg mountain, Apple Gardens, Amarnath Temple and the list goes on. Though we covered each of the above mentioned locations excluding the Amarnath Temple, this review is particularly about the very famous Dal lake of Kashmir.
Dal Lake is located in the Srinagar district of Kashmir. It is among the most visited places in the region. Though the lake is mostly covered with snow for major part of the year which forbids any extracurricular activities like boating and photography, since we visited in the mid summers, the lake was snow-free and hence available for boating.
The entire lake stretches for a good 8 Km’s and houses a numerous number of activities throughout in the lake itself. It is the floating heaven of Kashmir. The lake witnesses huge wooden boats in the form of floating shops that sell exotic artworks and handicrafts exclusively found only in this part of India. The enormous floating boats are a wonder to watch. Also known as houseboats, these boats also act as a shelter or permanent houses for the person owning them. From cloth items to food materials, these boats excel in every item and are a great experience.
Photography is another great feature here and there are professional photographers loitering throughout the region who are ready to click some exceptional photographs for a rate as low as Rs. 10 per copy. The photographers float in the lake in form of drifting boats and for any customer enjoying boating in the lake, they can click photos in the lake itself. Apart from this, people can also click photographs in the traditional Kashmiri attire which is provided by the photographers themselves. This is a unique experience and is surely a must try in this lake.
Besides all these, Dal Lake is also famous as a shooting location for various Bollywood movies. The very famous Bollywood movie Mission Kashmir was shot in this lake which continues to be an all time hit. Moreover recently, the Shah Rukh Khan starrer Jab Tak Hai Jaan also has a song featured in this lake namely Jiya Re featuring Anushka Sharma. So not only tourists, but the Dal Lake also attracts our Bollywood cinemakers.
It is a great place and is a must visit for anyone travelling to this location. The lake is highly attractive for its floating houseboats that sell everything from foods to flowers to handicraft and cloth materials. I think it is a lifetime experience and would be cherished throughout the life. Must visit.
