Overview
About Dal Lake
Dal Lake is Srinagar's best-known urban lake, covering about 18 square kilometres between the city and the Zabarwan hills. A 15-kilometre shoreline boulevard links the Mughal-era Shalimar and Nishat gardens, and the lake itself is divided into basins dotted with floating vegetable gardens, houseboats and the island of Char Chinar.
Shikaras ferry visitors and traders across the water, including the floating vegetable market that still trades on the lake each morning.
Good to know
Visitor essentials
Lake≈ 1h visit
On the ground
What to look for
- Char Chinar island and the floating vegetable market
- Houseboat stays along the shoreline boulevard
Best time
When to go
In season now
Best months: Apr–Oct.
Getting there
From Srinagar
- Road ends at
- Boulevard Road / Dal Gate, Srinagar
Location
On the map
Around here
Nearby
APR – OCTSRINAGAR · 8 KM AWAY
Srinagar
Summer capital of Kashmir on the shores of Dal Lake
APR – OCTANANTNAG · 32 KM AWAY
Pahalgam
Riverside hill town on the Lidder, and the traditional start of the Amarnath Yatra
Distances are straight-line, not by road.