Dal
Lake Information
The maximum depth of the lake was reported
to be in the range of 6-9 mts. The maximum
area of the Dal Lake had been estimated
as 24 sq. km., out of which open water area
was estimated to be around 15.42 sq.
Km.
Dal Lake has been the cradle of Kashmiri
civilization from times immemorial. Kashmir,
the beautiful state is known as the Paradise
of India. People have linked the climate
of the valley to that of Switzerland until
the end of May, and of Southern France in
July and August.
Kalhana a 12th Century poet writes in his
Rajtarangini " It is a place where the
sun shines mildly, being the place created
by Kashayapa as if for his glory. The saffron,
iced-water and grapes, which are rare even
in heaven, are common here. Kailasa is the
best place in the three worlds, Himalaya
the best part of Kailasa, and Kashmir the
best place in Hamalaya".
Hassan (1833) in his celebrated history
of Kashmir popularly known as Tarikh-i-Hassan
gives a detailed account of origin and evolution
of Dal lake based on ancient historian Pt.
Ratnakar (Ratnakarpuran) written 300 years
earlier than Kalhan's Rajtarangini. According
to Hassan in olden times at the site of
present Dal lake was a plain desert which
was known as Vitalini Marg. King Pravarsen
closed the river Behat (now the river Jhelum)
from Nowpora side and brought the river
into city by way of the foot of Koh-I-Maran
(also known as Hari Parbat Hillock). After
a great deal of time, the river Jhelum rose
in spate and as a result of the deluge,
during the reign of King Durlab Vardhan
(625-661 AD) desert became a lake. Sultan
Sikandar (1389-1413 AD) constructed a very
strong bund upon it from Nayiyar to Nishat
Bagh along with six bridges viz. Choudhary
Bridge, Dood Phokhri Bridge, Tulkhan Bridge,
Gani Bridge, Oont Bridge and Nishat Bridge.
Another bund from Khwajayarbal to Aishabad
(presently Ashai-Bagh) on Sodrakhun lake
(now the Nagin basin) was
constructed by Saif Khan (Governor of Kashmir
who ruled the valley twice i.e. 1647 AD
to 1667 AD and 1668 AD to 1671 AD during
the reign of Aurangzeb). Consequently the
Dal lake was divided into three parts viz.
Bod Dal (infront of Hazratbal), Lokut Dal
(expanse from Shankryacharya to Nishat
Bagh) and Sodderkhun (situated in front
of Hari Parbat)
Hassan describes the water of the lake
as sweet and delicious and it was so clear
that one could see the fishes down below.
The Sona tank island (presently Teen-Chinari)
in the Bod Dal infront of Hazratbal
was constructed by Sultan Zainul-Abidin
with a three storey Royal Palace. The said
Palace according to Hassan fell down by
an earthquake. Afterwards the Moghul Emperor
built over it a sight-seeing tower. Ameer
Khan renovated it and drew the lake water
to the Chinar Trees and
into the garden of the building through
a Persian water wheel and also raised up
exhilarating fountains, the sight of which
he used to enjoy very often. In the Lokut
Dal Ropa tank island (presently known as
Char-Chinari) was built by Sultan Hassan
Shah (1475-1478 AD) but its building was
destroyed in Sikh period (1819-1843).
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MAP OF DAL LAKE
Walter R. Lawrence, who was Resettlement
Commissioner of Kashmir, in 1887 writes
"Perhaps in the whole world there is no
corner so pleasant as the Dal Lake. The
water of the Dal is clear and soft as
silk, and the people say that the shawls
of Kashmir owe much of their excellence
to being washed in the soft waters of
the lake".
The importance of the lake as a tourist
resort is more than five centuries old.
Several rulers in the past used the lake
for recreation and its beautified surroundings.
 The
famous Moghul
Gardens around the lake have been
laid during 16th -17th century and their
number was about five hundred but only
a few of these have survived. The lake
up to the commencement of 16th century
was in its pristine state containing fresh
waters. In 18th and 19th century the city
of Srinagar started expanding towards
the lake resulting in far reaching changes
in the lake environs. Human interference
by way of settlement in the lake to facilitate
pedestrian traffic and establishment of
lake tourism by providing floating residences
(house-boats) got accelerated.
Nature has done much for the Dal, but the
Mughal emperors have in their time nobly
exerted themselves to enhance the natural
beauties of the lake. The park of plane
trees known as the Nasim Bagh, the garden
of breezes, which was planted in Akbar's
time, is the most beautiful of all the
pleasure places of the royal gardens of
old times. Nothing is perhaps more striking
than the ruined Pari Mahal, standing grandly
on a spur of the Zabarwan mountain, a
memorial of the Moghul love for letters.
The Pari Mahal was built by Prince Dara
Shikoh for his tutor Mulla Shah. Mulla
Shah's tomb is at Mulshahi Bagh, near
the entrance of the Sind valley.
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