Dal Lake

A shikara ride or a night on a houseboat on Dal Lake is the single most iconic Kashmir experience, framed by gardens, hills and the old city skyline. 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.