Srinagar

Dal Lake, a Jewel in the Crown of Kashmir and Srinagar is six kms long and three kms wide. Small, willow covered islands give an ethereal ambience to the lake on misty mornings. Dal Lake is lined by gardens built in the Mughal era and many parks.  It is the most important landmark of Srinagar. The best views of the lake can be seen from the Shalimar Garden and Nishat Garden. Covering an area of 18 sq km, the Dal Lake is part of a natural wetland that covers an area of about 21 sq km which includes floating gardens. The floating gardens are known as ‘Rad’ in Kashmiri language.

Located next to the Dal Lake with the Zabarwan Mountains as its backdrop, Nishat gardens was built in 1633 by Asaf Khan, brother of Empress Noor Jahan. The garden boasts of beautiful terraced layers that have water channels flowing down through them. This 'garden of bliss' commands a magnificent view of the lake and the snow capped Pir Panjal mountain range. 

Shalimar Gardens, Emperor Jahangir’s gift to his wife Noor Jahan is a beautiful Mughal style garden with shallow terraces, sweeping vistas over gardens and lakes, a water feature flowing through the middle. The garden is 539 m by 182 m and has four terraces with uppermost terrace  having black marble pillars, with tiny shelves cut into them. A canal lined with polished stones and supplied with water from Harwan runs through the middle of the garden.

On the northwestern bank of Dal Lake, stands one of Islam’s holiest shrines. The shrine is believed to contain a strand of Prophet Mohammed's hair. The name comes from the Arabic word ‘hazrat’, meaning holy or majestic, and the Kashmiri word ‘bal’, meaning place. Its pristine white marble elegance is reflected in the waters of the lake. Hazratbal is remarkable for being the only domed mosque in Srinagar; the others having distinct pagoda like roofs. The shrine mosque complex is situated on the western shore of the Dal Lake opposite Nishat Bagh and commands a grand view of the lake and the mountain beyond.