Home › Destinations › Jammu and Kashmir › Srinagar › Dal Lake

Dal Lake

Overview

•Dal Lake is one of the prime attractions of Srinagar.
•At the very centre of the city, the lake covers an area of 21 km², which includes 3 km² of wetland.

Highlights

Dal Lake is one of the prime attractions of Srinagar.
At the very centre of the city, the lake covers an area of 21 km², which includes 3 km² of wetland.
The lake has a circumference of 15.5 km.
The lake is best explored on a shikara, a beautifully decorated boat that features in the logo of Jammu & Kashmir Tourism.
Apart from open waters the lake also consists of floating markets, locally called rad.

Dress Code

Modest, respectful clothing is expected at this site.

History

•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 bank of the lake, which was sourced by a spring called the Satadhara.
•The name "Sureshwari" refers to the goddess Parvati, suggesting that the lake was once considered sacred and possibly associated with the goddess.

Travel Tips

The lake is best explored on a shikara, a beautifully decorated boat that features in the logo of Jammu & Kashmir Tourism.

Things to Do

Visit Dal Lake

Flexible

Dal Lake is one of the prime attractions of Srinagar. At the very centre of the city, the lake covers an area of 21 km², which includes 3 km² of wetland.

NatureEasy

Frequently Asked Questions

Dal Lake is one of the prime attractions of Srinagar. At the very centre of the city, the lake covers an area of 21 km², which includes 3 km² of wetland.

It is about 8.1 km from central Srinagar.

The most comfortable months are February, May, June, August and September; August is the hottest, with highs around 29°C.