Manasbal the Deepest Lake of India

  

Manasbal freshwater Lake situated in Safapora village of Ganderbal District in the State of Jammu and Kashmir, this water body lies 30km north of Srinagar.  Manasbal is named after the mythological and sacred  Lake Mansarovar. This Lake is encompassed by three villages viz., Jarokbal, Kondabal  and Ganderbal and is believed  to be the deepest lake of its kind in India and is said to 13 or 43 feet deep this lake is 5km in length and 1 km in width and its catchment area is about 33km². The clear waters of Lake are laced with beautiful flowers of lotus along its periphery which add to the beauty of this lake.   The large growth of lotus of the lake blooms during July and August. 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 also called Nadru in kashmiri grows extensively in the lake are harvested and marketed, and also eaten by the local people.

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 Darogabagh, built by the Moghuls, used in the past by caravans traveling from Punjab to Srinagar. From one of its periphery you can see the crocodile view, one of the mountain is shaped like a crocodile.  

Important vegetation:

 in the catchment of the lake comprise Orchards (apple, mulberry), some Platanus (Chinar trees) and Salix trees. Safar, a nearby village of Safapur which has a grove of Chinar trees, is known as Badshah Boni, royal Chinar, and was planted in imitation of the Nasim Bagh in Srinagar. Maize, mustard and wheat are generally the main crops grown in the agricultural lands of the catchment. In recent years, land use pattern has changed with more land used for horticulture and also diversion of land for construction purposes.

Manasbal Club: The project focuses on the Manasbal Lake. Manasbal Lake is a major tourist attraction and visitors from all over the country are seen enjoying its beauty during summer months. It was proposed to construct the Manasbal Club within the site where the tourism cafeteria-cum-rest-house once existed. There was, therefore, a pressing tourism requirement for exclusive guest accommodation. The site is about 500ft away from the lake shore and situated on a terrace that overlooks the Lake.

Sports Centre:  

A need was felt to provide leisure sports activity in the vicinity of the Manasbal Club with medium sporting facilities like bowling alley, snooker, and table tennis etc.

 Hindu Temple

Wullar-Manasbal Development Authority has reported unearthing of an ancient Hindu 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. 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

The weather is pleasant in the months of May and August, when the lake offers water skiing sport, which is now becoming an increasingly popular activity in many rivers and lakes in India. Jammu & Kashmir Tourism Department (JKTD) provides essential waterskiing equipment and trained instructors to adventure seekers. The lake’s surface sheen and its long length and width attract tourists to water skiing sport. However, the noise and turbulences of waterskiing boats will totally change the environment of this last quiet lake and could risk to take away one of its main attractions: Peace. There is still a discussion going on whether or not a more environmentally sensitive form of sustainable tourism would be more appropriate for this special lake - to not turn it into a second Dal Lake.