Dal Lake is huge. If you start from Dal Gate, drive around the lake on Boulevard road all the way to Hazratbal, it is a total of 16 kilometers. That is how big it is. Even then, you haven’t driven around the lake completely. It is really a city in itself.
During this entire 16-kilometer-long drive, you will notice gazebos and stops on the shores of the lake. These are called Ghats. I do not know the exact number but I think there are more than 30 ghats on Dal Lake.
These ghats serve as viewpoints, as well as Shikara stands. Just drive around the lake, stop at any of the ghats and you can board a Shikara from there. A ride usually lasts 30 to 45 minutes at most. You can do it for a longer period of time as well but then you will have to pay more. You just sit on the Shikara, relax, click pictures, and enjoy the view as the boatman rows it around. How will your ride be will depend on the time and the point you started it from.
The sun is quite harsh in Srinagar and you will be surprised at how hot it can get in the months from April to September. If you go for a Shikara ride during the day, you will just do it for the sake of it. It won’t be as fun as it would be either in the morning or evening.
- One of the most famous boat rides on the scintillating Dal Lake is the Shikara boat ride. It is regarded as one of the most relaxing and serene aspects of a Kashmir holiday, offering a relaxing sightseeing tour of the interior and calm parts of Dal Lake
Awantipura remained a major pilgrim center for Hindus until Sultan Sikandar Butshikan, an Afghan ruler took over the reign of Kashmir. At the behest of an Islamic spiritual leader Syed Ali Hamadani, Sultan Sikandar engaged himself in a crusade and ended up in the massacre of Kashmiri people and destroying their holy places ruthlessly. Like many other temples, the temples of Awantipura were destroyed almost to rubbles. It is said that the construction of the temples was so strong that it took over a year to demolish them.
The sky is almost clear except for a few puffs of clouds. The midday sun shines brightly above us. The lawn on either side of the pathway leading to the ruins would have been lush green had it been spring but the scene we see is quite the contrary. Along with rendering all the trees bare, the winter chills have also withered the grass to an unappealing brown.
As we drive along the National Highway1 from Srinagar to Pahalgam in the state of Jammu and Kashmir of India, we see multiple contoured fields on either side of the road. During the months of October and November, the fields would be awash with purple hues of saffron spreading sweet fragrance throughout the region. Since the harvest season is long gone, there are no crops in the fields. The farmers are busy toiling in the fields preparing them for the next season.We are near a place named Pampore popular for growing the best quality saffron in India. All through our drive along the National Highway 1 ( which is now renamed as NH 44), we see soldiers and military vehicles on patrol. I wonder if all the security is for some VIP movement happening only to learn soon that the security is to ensure no agitations happen on the highway and to support the smooth movement of traffic. The highway is very crucial for Kashmir as it connects the valley to the rest of India. Within a few miles after passing Pampore, our car stops by the side of the road as other vehicles zip past us. A nondescript board near a garden gate by the side of the road reads that we are at Awantipura, a town which was once the capital of Kashmir valley.
- As documented in Rajatarangini, a historical chronicle of North-west India composed by Kalhana, the town of Awantipura was built by the King Awantivarman, the founder of Utpala dynasty which ruled the region of Kashmir during the 9th century. Awantivarman was a believer of Vaishnava Cult and hence got a grand temple constructed dedicated to Lord Vishnu. The diety was named as Lord Awantiswamin.
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