Manasbal
| Author:Laxman Burdak, IFS (R) |
Manasbal Lake is a freshwater lake located in Safapora area of Ganderbal District in Jammu and Kashmir, India.
Variants
Origin of name
The name Manasbal is said to be a derivative of Manasarovar.[1]
Location
Lake is encircled by four villages viz., Jarokbal, Kondabal, Nesbal (also called Kiln place, is situated on the north-eastern side of the lake) and Gratbal.
The large growth of lotus (Nelumbo nucifera) at the periphery of the lake (blooms during July and August) adds to the beauty of the clear waters of the lake. The Mughal garden, called the Jaroka Bagh, (meaning bay window) built by Nur Jahan overlooks the lake.
The lake is a good place for birdwatching as it is one of the largest natural stamping grounds of Aquatic birds in Kashmir and has the sobriquet of "supreme gem of all Kashmir Lakes".The rootstocks of lotus plant which grows extensively in the lake are harvested and marketed, and also eaten by the local people.[2]
Access
The lake is approached from Srinagar by a 30-kilometre road via Shadipora, Nasim and Gandarbal. Road to Wular Lake, the largest lake in Kashmir, passes through this lake, via Safapora.[3] It is also easy to reach to Manasbal from Sonmarg via Ganderbal.
History
It is believed to be an ancient lake by locals but exact dating is yet to be done. Close to the northern shore of the lake are the ruins of a 17th-century fort, called the Jharokha Bagh, built by the Mughals, used in the past by caravans traveling from Punjab to Srinagar.[4]
Topography
The lake is surrounded by the Baladar mountains on the east, by an elevated plateau known as 'Karewa' comprising lacustrine, fluviatile and loessic deposits on the north and bounded by the Ahtung hills in the south, which are used for limestone extraction.
Along the course of the Jhelum River, the Manasbal Lake falls under the third series of high altitude lakes of the Himalayas (designated with respect to their origin, altitudinal situation and nature of biota they contain) as the valley lakes (Dal, Anchar Lake, Manasbal etc.) situated at the altitudinal zone of 1,585–1,600 m; the other two types being the high altitude wetlands (altitude 1,585–4,000 m) of the second series of lakes (Nilnag) in the lower fringes of Pir Panjal ranges right in the midst of pine forests, and the glaciated lakes of the first series situated on the inner Himalayas between 3,000–4,000 m amsl (Alipathar, Sheshnag, Kounsarnag, Tar Sar, Marsar, Vishansar, Gangbal, Kishan Sar, Kyo Tso, Pangong Tso, etc.) which have probably originated during the third Himalayan glaciation.[5]
Manasbal Temple
Wullar-Manasbal Development Authority has reported unearthing of an ancient temple, on the eastern shore of the Manasbal Lake, built in the traditional architectural style of ancient Kashmir. The lower half of the temple, which was buried in earth, was found during the restoration works undertaken for the lake. Dated to 800-900 AD, during Avantivarman or Sankaravarman rule, based on epigraphic writings, the temple, constructed in local grey stone, has a unique pyramid-shaped roof top with Corinthian or floral motifs. It is stated to be a new pilgrimage attraction for pilgrims who visit the cave shrine at Amarnath and the Kheer Bhawani temple at Tulmulla in Ganderbal district.[6] Other tourist attractions in the lake area are the Manasbal Temple, the ruins of a terraced Mughal garden and sculptured stones of some Buddhist shrines on the banks of the lake.[7]
मानसबल झील
मानसबल झील या मनसबल झील जम्मू व कश्मीर राज्य में श्रीनगर से उत्तर में स्थित एक पर्वतीय झील है। मानसबल झील, जम्मू और कश्मीर राज्य के श्रीनगर शहर से 30 किमी दूर झेलम घाटी पर स्थित है। इसके किनारे तीन बस्तियाँ हैं - जरोकबल, कोंडाबल और गान्दरबल। इसके स्वच्छ पानी के किनारे कमल के फूल उगे हुए हैं और 13 मीटर की अधिकतम गहराई के साथ यह जम्मू-कश्मीर की सबसे गहरी झील मानी जाती है। इस झील का नाम प्रसिद्ध कैलाश मानसरोवर के नाम पर है। 'मानसबल' शब्द मानसरोवर से लिया गया है। यह झील समुद्री तल से 1500 किमी की ऊँचाई पर स्थित है। इस झील की लम्बाई 5 किमी और चौड़ाई 1 किमी है। मानसबल कश्मीर की सबसे बड़ी और प्रसिद्ध मीठे पानी की झील है, जो चारों ओर से पहाड़ियों से घिरी है। यह झील गर्मियों में कमल के फूलों तथा सर्दियों में प्रवासी पक्षियों के लिए प्रसिद्ध है। मानसबल झील के उत्तरी और पूर्वी किनारे पर छोटे-छोटे झरने हैं। इस झील पर नूरजहाँ द्वारा निर्मित एक मुग़ल गार्डन (जोरवा या जोरगा) है जो बहुत ख़ूबसूरत है।