Dal Lake
| Author:Laxman Burdak, IFS (R) |
Dal Lake (डल झील) is a lake in Srinagar, the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir.
Variants
Jat clans
- Dal (डल)
History
Dal Lake is mentioned as Mahasarit (महासरित्) in ancient Sanskrit texts. Ancient history records mention that a village named Isabar to the east of Dal was the residence of goddess Durga. This place was known as Sureshwari on the bank of the lake, which was sourced by a spring called the Satadhara.
During the Mughal period, the Mughal rulers of India designated Kashmir, Srinagar in particular, as their summer resort.[1] They developed the precincts of the Dal in Srinagar with sprawling Mughal-type gardens and pavilions as pleasure resorts to enjoy the salubrious cool climate.[2] After the death of Aurangzeb in 1707, which led to the disintegration of the Mughal Empire,[3] Pashtun tribes in the area around the lake and city increased, and the Afghan Durrani Empire ruled the city for several decades.[4] In 1814 a significant part of the Kashmir valley, including Srinagar, was annexed from the Afghans by Maharaja Ranjit Singh to his kingdom, and the Jat Sikhs grew in influence in the region for 27 years.[5][6]
During the Dogra Raj, Srinagar became the capital of Dogra territory, attracted by the cool climate of the Kashmir valley, amidst the back drop of the majestic snow covered Himalayan ranges.
The lake precincts experience temperatures in the range of 1–11 °C (34–52 °F) during winter and 12–30 °C (54–86 °F) during the summer season. The lake freezes when temperatures drop to about −11 °C (12 °F) during severe winter.[7] Although the Dogra Maharaja of Kashmir restricted the building of houses in the valley, the British circumvented this rule by commissioning lavish houseboats to be built on the Dal. The houseboats have been referred to as, "each one a little piece of England afloat on Dal."[8]
After the independence of India, the Kashmiri Hanji people have built, owned and maintained these houseboats, cultivating floating gardens and producing commodities for the market, making them the centre of their livelihoods. The houseboats, closely associated with Dal also provide accommodation in Srinagar. Following the Mughal, Afghan, Sikh and Dogra rule, the place has earned the epithet, "Jewel in the crown of Kashmir".[9]
In Rajatarangini
Dal is mentioned as Mahasarit (महासरित्) in Rajatarangini of Kalhana. [10]
Battle of Hiranyapura: Rajatarangini[11] tells us ...When Bhikshachara was at Mayagrama, the people of Lohara came out and fought with the king's soldiers who were at Amareshvara. In the fierce battle that took place near the town of Hiranyapura, the men of Lohara killed Vinayakadeva and other leaders of the king's army. Early in the battle, the enemy captured a fine mare belonging to the king, and thought that he had got the king's good fortune. On the banks of the [p.63] Kshiptika, near the capital, Prithvihara killed many good soldiers of the king. Though Tilaka was at Vijayesha, the Damaras who dwelt at Svāngāchiholaḍa came and fought a battle on the banks of the Mahasarit (great river.) They besieged the city in some places, they burnt the inhabitants in sonic places, they plundered them and yelled day and night.
Every day there were disorders in the roads on account of the rebellion. The music of soldiers marching out, the entrance of the wounded troops, lamentation for the death of relatives and friends, the retreat of the defeated soldiers, the flight of birds and the falling of arrows, tho carrying of armours, the march of horses and the dust constantly raised by them ; — all these continually disturbed the citizens. Every morning the enemies came ready with, every thing and the people thought they would overcome the king on that very day. Who was more enduring than the king, since he gave no expression of grief when his kingdom was so much disturbed by the enemies? He was seen causing bandages to be bound on the wounds of the wounded, or the blades of arrows &c, to be extracted from the wounds, or causing money to be distributed. Immense sums of money were spent in daily expenses, — such as extra allowance for living in foreign districts, or in distributing good Food and medicine. Thousands of horses and soldiers were daily destroyed in tho field, or wounded in their houses. Mallakoshta and others of Lohara were checked [p.64] in their excesses by the king's army in which there were many horsemen. Advised by their partisans who were gained over by the king, the soldiers carried Bhikshachara to Sureshvari by a certain way. But as they were grossing a pool by a narrow bridge, they had to fight a battle. Bowmen formed the larger portion of their army, and though they were frightened by the king's horse, they gained the victory in the end. The lord of Kampana who had rebelled against the king, came out of Vijayeshvara where he lived and checked the powerful Damaras. He was afraid lest the Lavanya people (Damaras) would come to know his weakness and fall on his rear and harass him in his march ; wishing therefore to conceal his weakness, he fell on the soldiers of Ajaraja who arrived at Vijayeshvara, killed two hundred and fifty men of the enemy, left Vijayakshetra and entered the city. The Damaras, thus terrified, did not pursue him, but with shouts ascended the top of a hill and left him the road free. When leaving Madava, the lord of Kampana entered another province, he remembered the former behaviour of the king towards him and smiled at the welcome which the king now offered to him. But having shown his valor in battle, the lord of Kampana, like other inferior ministers, remained inactive.
At this time all the Damaras came to Madava and reached the banks of the Mahasarit, (great river). All the means which the king employed against the enemy became fruitless, as his plans were betrayed by his own men.
Rajatarangini[12] tells us ... Yashoraja said to Bhikshu : " The Damaras doubt your valor and do not aspire to obtain the kingdom, We have a large army and by creating a fresh disturbance may either conquer the kingdom or should retire to some other country." While they counseled thus, Mallakoshta heard that Chhudda was dead, and returned borne from Daratpura. The new year now commenced, it was a very cruel year of troubles in which many perished, and in which one in a hundred got his meal. In the spring, the Damaras, as before, came by different ways and besieged the king in his capital and the firm Sussala was again immersed in an endless sea of battles day and night. The Damaras well skilled in burning, plundering and fighting caused more serious disturbances and troubles than before. Yashoraja, Bhikshu, Prithvihara and others intended to enter the capital and remained by the Mahasarit (great river) where none troubled them, After some days of fighting Yashoraja was killed by his own men who mistook him for a foe.
Topography
The lake is located within a catchment area covering 316 square kilometres in the Zabarwan mountain valley, in the foothills of the Shankaracharya Hill, which surrounds it on three sides. The lake, which lies to the east and north of Srinagar city covers an area of 18 square kilometres, although including the floating gardens of lotus blooms, it is 21.2 square kilometres. The main basin draining the lake is a complex of five interconnected basins with causeways; the Nehru Park basin, the Nishat basin, the Hazratbal basin, the Nageen basin and the Barari Nambal basin. Navigational channels provide the transportation links to all the five basins.[13]
The average elevation of the lake is 1,583 metres. The depth of water varies from 6 metres at its deepest in Nageen lake to 2.5 metres, the shallowest at Gagribal. The depth ratio between the maximum and minimum depths varies with the season between 0.29 and 0.25, which is interpreted as flat bed slope.[14] The length of the lake is 7.44 kilometres with a width of 3.5 kilometres.[15] The lake has a basin having shore length of 15.5 kilometres and roads run all along the periphery.
Tourism
The shore line of the lake, about 15.5 kilometres , is encompassed by a boulevard lined with Mughal era gardens, parks, houseboats and hotels. Scenic views of the lake can be witnessed from the shore line Mughal gardens, such as Shalimar Bagh and Nishat Bagh built during the reign of Mughal Emperor Jahangir, and from houseboats cruising along the lake in the colourful shikaras.[8] During the winter season, the temperature can sometimes reach as low as −11 °C (12 °F), freezing the lake.
The lake covers an area of 18 square kilometres and is part of a natural wetland which covers 21.1 square kilometres, including its floating gardens. The floating gardens, known as "Rad" in Kashmiri, blossom with lotus flowers during July and August. The wetland is divided by causeways into four basins; Gagribal, Lokut Dal, Bod Dal and Nigeen. Lokut Dal and Bod Dal each have an island in the centre, known as Rupa Lank (or Char Chinari) and Sona Lank respectively.
डल झील, श्रीनगर
डल झील (Dal Lake):
डल झील श्रीनगर, कश्मीर की एक प्रसिद्ध झील है। 18 किलोमीटर क्षेत्र में फैली हुई यह झील तीन दिशाओं से पहाड़ियों से घिरी हुई है। यह जम्मू-कश्मीर की दूसरी सबसे बड़ी झील है। इसमें सोतों से तो जल आता है साथ ही कश्मीर घाटी की अनेक झीलें आकर इसमें मिलती हैं। इसके चार प्रमुख जलाशय हैं गगरीबल, लोकुट डल, बोड डल तथा नागिन। लोकुट डल के मध्य में रूपलंक द्वीप स्थित है तथा बोड डल जलधारा के मध्य में सोनालंक द्वीप स्थित है। भारत की सबसे सुंदर झीलों में इसका नाम लिया जाता है। पास ही स्थित मुगल वाटिका से डल झील का सौंदर्य अप्रतिम नज़र आता है। पर्यटक जम्मू-कश्मीर आएँ और डल झील देखने न जाएँ ऐसा हो ही नहीं सकता।
डल झील श्रीनगर का सबसे बडा आकर्षण है। यहां सुबह से शाम तक रौनक नजर आती है। सैलानी घंटों इसके किनारे घूमते रहते हैं या शिकारे में बैठ नौका विहार का लुत्फउठाते हैं। दिन के हर प्रहर में इस झील की खूबसूरती का कोई अलग रंग दिखाई देता है। देखा जाए तो डल झील अपने आप में एक तैरते नगर के समान है। तैरते आवास यानी हाउसबोट, तैरते बाजार और तैरते वेजीटेबल गार्डन इसकी खासियत हैं। कई लोग तो डल झील के तैरते घरों यानी हाउसबोट में रहने का लुत्फलेने के लिए ही यहां आते हैं। झील के मध्य एक छोटे से टापू पर नेहरू पार्क है। वहां से भी झील का रूप कुछ अलग नजर आता है। दूर सडक के पास लगे सरपत के ऊंचे झाडों की कतार, उनके आगे चलता ऊंचा फव्वारा बडा मनोहारी मंजर प्रस्तुत करता है। झील के आसपास पैदल घूमना भी सुखद लगता है। शाम होने पर भी यह झील जीवंत नजर आती है। सूर्यास्त के समय आकाश का नारंगी रंग झील को अपने रंग में रंग लेता है, तो सूर्यास्त के बाद हाउसबोट की जगमगाती लाइटों का प्रतिबिंब झील के सौंदर्य को दुगना कर देता है। शाम के समय यहां खासी भीड नजर आती है।
डल झील के मुख्य आकर्षण का केन्द्र है यहाँ के शिकारे या हाउसबोट। सैलानी इन हाउसबोटों में रहकर झील का आनंद उठा सकते हैं। नेहरू पार्क, कानुटुर खाना, चारचीनारी आदि द्वीपों तथा हज़रत बल की सैर भी इन शिकारों में की जा सकती है। इसके अतिरिक्त दुकानें भी शिकारों पर ही लगी होती हैं और शिकारे पर सवार होकर विभिन्न प्रकार की वस्तुएँ भी खरीदी जा सकती हैं। तरह तरह की वनस्पति झील की सुंदरता को और निखार देती है। कमल के फूल, पानी में बहती कुमुदनी, झील की सुंदरता में चार चाँद लगा देती है। सैलानियों के लिए विभिन्न प्रकार के मनोरंजन के साधन जैसे कायाकिंग (एक प्रकार का नौका विहार), केनोइंग (डोंगी), पानी पर सर्फिंग करना तथा ऐंगलिंग (मछली पकड़ना) यहाँ पर उपलब्ध कराए गए हैं। डल झील में पर्यटन के अतिरिक्त मुख्य रूप से मछली पकड़ने का काम होता है।
भीड-भाड से परे शांत वातावरण में किसी हाउसबोट में रहने की इछा है तो पर्यटक नागिन लेक या झेलम नदी पर खडे हाउसबोट में ठहर सकते हैं। नागिन झील भी कश्मीर की सुंदर और छोटी-सी झील है। यहां प्राय: विदेशी सैलानी ठहरना पसंद करते हैं। उधर झेलम नदी में छोटे हाउसबोट होते हैं।
हाउसबोट का इतिहास: आज हाउसबोट एक तरह की लग्जरी में तब्दील हो चुके हैं और कुछ लोग दूर-दूर से केवल हाउसबोट में रहने का लुत्फउठाने के लिए ही कश्मीर आते हैं। हाउसबोट में ठहरना सचमुच अपने आपमें एक अनोखा अनुभव है भी। पर इसकी शुरुआत वास्तव में लग्जरी नहीं, बल्कि मजबूरी में हुई थी। कश्मीर में हाउसबोट का प्रचलन डोगरा राजाओं के काल में तब शुरू हुआ था, जब उन्होंने किसी बाहरी व्यक्ति द्वारा कश्मीर में स्थायी संपत्ति खरीदने और घर बनाने पर प्रतिबंध लगा दिया था। उस समय कई अंग्रेजों और अन्य लोगों ने बडी नाव पर लकडी के केबिन बना कर यहां रहना शुरू कर दिया। फिर तो डल झील, नागिन झील और झेलम पर हाउसबोट में रहने का चलन हो गया। बाद में स्थानीय लोग भी हाउसबोट में रहने लगे। आज भी झेलम नदी पर स्थानीय लोगों के हाउसबोट तैरते देखे जा सकते हैं। शुरुआती दौर में बने हाउसबोट बहुत छोटे होते थे, उनमें इतनी सुविधाएं भी नहीं थीं, लेकिन अब वे लग्जरी का रूप ले चुके हैं। सभी सुविधाओं से लैस आधुनिक हाउसबोट किसी छोटे होटल के समान हैं। डबल बेड वाले कमरे, अटैच बाथ, वॉर्डरोब, टीवी, डाइनिंग हॉल, खुली डैक आदि सब पानी पर खडे हाउसबोट में होता है। लकडी के बने हाउसबोट देखने में भी बेहद सुंदर लगते हैं। अपने आकार एवं सुविधाओं के आधार पर ये विभिन्न दर्जे के होते हैं। शहर के मध्य बहती झेलम नदी पर बने पुराने लकडी के पुल भी पर्यटकों के लिए एक आकर्षण है। कई मस्जिदें और अन्य भवन इस नदी के निकट ही स्थित है।
References
- ↑ Singh, Sarina (2005). Lonely Planet India. Lonely Planet. p. 342. ISBN 978-1-74059-694-7. "Pashtun srinagar."
- ↑ Singh, Sarina (2005). Lonely Planet India. Lonely Planet. p. 342. ISBN 978-1-74059-694-7. "Pashtun srinagar."
- ↑ Hunter, William Wilson, The Imperial Gazetteer of India Volume 6 (1886), p.312
- ↑ Muhyi'd Dīn Sūfī, Ghulām (1974). Kashīr, Being a History of Kashmir from the Earliest Times to Our Own. Vol. 1. Light & Life Publishers. p. 297.
- ↑ Singh, Gulcharan (1976). Ranjit Singh and his generals. Sujlana Publishers. p. 62.
- ↑ Thirdworld (1995), Volume 19, S.J. Iqbal
- ↑ Jain, Sharad K; Pushpendra K. Agarwal; Vijay P. Singh (2007). Hydrology and water resources of India. Dal Lake. Springer. p. 978.
- ↑ Singh, Sarina (2005). India, Lonely Planet India. Kashmir. Lonely Planet. p. 342. ISBN 978-1-74059-694-7. Retrieved 28 December 2009. "House boats in Kashmir built during British Raj."
- ↑ Singh p.342
- ↑ Book VIII (p.20, 63, 64, 94, 98)
- ↑ Kings of Kashmira Vol 2 (Rajatarangini of Kalhana)/Book VIII,pp.62-64
- ↑ Kings of Kashmira Vol 2 (Rajatarangini of Kalhana)/Book VIII,p.98
- ↑ Jain, Sharad K; Pushpendra K. Agarwal; Vijay P. Singh (2007). Hydrology and water resources of India. Dal Lake. Springer. p. 978. ISBN 978-1-4020-5179-1.
- ↑ Jain, Sharad K; Pushpendra K. Agarwal; Vijay P. Singh (2007). Hydrology and water resources of India. Dal Lake. Springer. p. 978. ISBN 978-1-4020-5179-1.
- ↑ Jain, Sharad K; Pushpendra K. Agarwal; Vijay P. Singh (2007). Hydrology and water resources of India. Dal Lake. Springer. p. 978. ISBN 978-1-4020-5179-1.