Kashmir is a beautiful valley – and has lived to its name for many eons. No doubt, poets, explorers, and newlyweds fall in love with this place and etch a million memories of this place in their memory. Today, we will focus on the people of Dal Lake in Srinagar, who they are, and whats their lifestyle like.

Dal Lake, Srinagar

Dal lake is a natural wonder of Kashmir and the most visited tourist destination in the state. The lake lies in the Himalayas at an altitude of 1,583 meters (5,193.57 ft) and has a surface area of 22 square km. This lake is called the ‘Jewel in the crown of Kashmir.’ The highland surrounding dal lake forms part of the Pir Panjal Range that runs parallel to the Jammu and Kashmir border. Dal Lake region experiences heavy snowfall during the winter season.

The people of Dal Lake, Srinagar

The people of Dal lake in Srinagar are a very welcoming and hospitable bunch. They belong to different religions and cultures, but they all share one common bond- their love for their beautiful valley and dal lake. The lifestyle of the people of dal lake is simple, friendly, and content with what they have.

Apart from the locals who own their house boat for tourists on the lake, there are also actual inhabitats of the Dal lake who dwell on the lake for their daily lives and occupation. This blog is dedicated to them, the Dal lake village dwellers.

The torrential rainfall in September 2014 was a disaster. The floods destroyed most of the lake’s houses and floating fields. It was a terrifying scene, and the residents fled to save their lives. 

But even in the face of natural calamities, the people of dal lake remain cheerful and enjoy life to the fullest.

The people here live in small Basti (colonies) on Dal lake and keep themselves busy with mainly three activities.

Fishing

The people of dal lake in Srinagar are celebrated for their skills in fishing. The area around the lake is full of channels that provide ideal conditions for a good catch. The best time to fish here is during July- September when the water temperature reaches 24 degrees Celsius.

Growing vegetables and selling them at the floating vegetable market

Another activity that the people of dal lake are quite good at is growing vegetables on floating lands and selling them at their local floating vegetable market. The popularity of this activity has led to a multiplication of vegetable gardens in the dal lake area.

They grow turnips, spinach and lotus stem during winter, and all the other vegetables, like tomatoes, watermelons, cucumbers, bottle gourds, ridge gourds, etc., the rest of the year.

During winter, the people of Srinagar and the residents of Dal Lake colonies love using sun-dried vegetables like tomatoes, eggplants, and dandelions.

Carpet weaving

Another traditional activity of the people of dal lake in Srinagar is carpet weaving. They use naturally dyed wool and weave beautiful carpets. They sell these at markets all over the valley and even abroad.

At dal lake, the Meena Bazar market is famous and thrives during the tourist season.

Conclusion

The people of dal lake are a special and unique bunch. They share a common bond- their love for the valley and its beautiful and tranquil lakeshore. These simple folk lives a joyful, contented life in small colonies on Dal lake, fishing, growing vegetables, and weaving carpets. Their traditional activity of carpet weaving is a popular tourist attraction.