Wular Lake

Wular offers a very different Kashmir experience from the tourist lakes of Srinagar: it is vast, working, and largely unvisited by outsiders. Boat trips here reveal fishing life, floating willow groves, and huge numbers of birds rather than manicured gardens, making it a rewarding stop for travellers interested in ecology and everyday Kashmiri life. Wular Lake, near Bandipora, is one of the largest freshwater lakes in Asia, formed by the Jhelum River as it widens out before continuing towards Baramulla. Its size shifts dramatically with the seasons, and its shores support thousands of fishing families along with willow plantations and wide reed beds. The lake is a designated Ramsar wetland of international importance and a major wintering ground for migratory waterfowl.