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.

 

Seasons of Kashmir

four different seasons of kashmir 

Kashmir witness’s four different, distinct, peculiar and challenging seasons these are summarized briefly here.  

(1) Winter or white Kashmir:-

In winter season most of the Kashmir valley is white because snow covers the surface of mother earth and winter season is further sub-divided into many part because winter starts in November which happens to be mild and after 15^th of November and suddenly mercury drops to blow 0 degree. From December to the end of January the average temperature remains -5  to -10 degrees this part of the winter is considered  to be most harsh in Kashmiri this time period is called chelaikalaan. In February temperature eases a bit and mercury level rises to round about 0 degree centigrade till march it remains constant in Kashmiri it is called chele-kharud. Winter tourism of Kashmir is famous all over the world tourists from India and abroad come to enjoy winter sports in Gulmarg.    

(2) Spring or Pink Kashmir:-

Spring of Kashmir starts from march which is accompanied by heavy rains. The grass starts to grow greener, in April flowers and buds start to blossom, most part of valley is pink in this season because of the blossoming flowers and this part of the year is the best time to visit Kashmir. Famous and Asia’s largest tulip garden in Srinagar is opened for tourists. The spring season comes to an end in the mid of May.

(3) Summer or Green Kashmir:-

Summer of Kashmir starts from the mid May till mid of September. This  is the time when Kashmir is full of tourists mostly from India because they come here to enjoy respite from the soaring heat of plains. In summer temperature is moderate generally the temperature remains in-between from 25 degrees to 35 degree centigrade. During summer Kashmir is greenest.

(4) Autumn or Golden Brown Kashmir (Harod):-

In the end of September whole of the Kashmir is golden brown because leaves of the plants start to dry and fall. The leaves of Chinar/Maple tree are the best example of such a scene. This is the time when apple are ripened and Apple picking is done in this season. The temperature remains moderate in the day and generally a slight chill in morning and evening. Above all water is cleanest during autumn one can gaze upon on it for whole day because this is the season when Kashmir witness’s minimum rainfall, water in the streams comes directly from melting of glaciers and snow, this is the reason there no mud or silt in water. During  this season insects like cicada keep on singing melodically  whole day on willow trees.  Also the harvesting of paddy is done in this season.

     

    

   

          

15 facts you should be knowing about world famous tourist destination Gulmarg

sledge ride at Gulmarg 

1:- Gulmarg the most famous tourist destination, a town and a hill station. The word Gulmarg means “meadow of flowers”

2:-Gulmarg is located in the lap of Pir-Panjal  range of Great Himalayas.

3:- Gulmarg has an average elevation of 2690 m or 8825 ft.

4:- Gulmarg is famous for Gondola, Gondola is a ropeway on which cabins of yellow color are pulled up and down the mountain. Gondola comprises of two stages, first stop of Gondola is called Kangdoor which is at the elevation of 3747 m or 12273 ft. and the second stop is called Apharwat at an elevation of 4200 m or 13780 ft.

5:- Gulmarg Gondola is the Asia’s largest cable car project. Around 600 people per hour can travel in it.

6:- Gulmarg is famous for horse riding. Local as well as tourists from abroad come to Gulmarg to enjoy fresh and pleasant air. Since gulmarg is big and hilly place it becomes imperative for tourists to ride on the horse so as to save time and energy.

7:- Sledge or Burf ki Gadi. During winter the streets of Gulmarg become slippery so most of the tourists does not know how to walk downhill on a slippery road, for their rescue Sledge is used to make their walk comfortable. Generally the sledge puller charges rupees 300 per hour.

8:- Gulmarg attracts a hefty 5 lakh tourists per year, so it is quite obvious that so as to accommodate such a large number of tourists there are well equipped hotels throughout the Gulmarg at a reasonable rent. However one should book the rooms beforehand because most of the hotels are houseful during the peak season.

9:-  Gulmarg is known for winter sports. Games like ice skating, skiing, ice hockey are played during winter. Nationwide winter games are held in Gulmarg every year in the month of January.

10:- Gulmarg is a home to lot of golf courses; in the summer beautiful golf courses attract golfers from around the world.

11:- high altitude war fare school is located at Gulmarg.

12:- Baba Atomic Research Centre is located at Gulmarg.

13:- meadows of Gulmarg mainly comprises of pine trees.

14:- jai jai shiv shanker song was posturized in a temple at Gulmarg.

15:- sun rise and sun set at Gulmarg is a delightful event to watch.

    

  

                

  

Twenty Facts you should know about kashmir

Twenty facts you should know about Kashmir.

1:- Kashmir is a valley surrounded by Karakoram Mountains. Pir Panjal mountain range separates Kashmir from India and Pakistan and Zanskar of Ladakh region separates it from China.

2:- Kashmir valley witnesses heavy to moderate snow fall in the month of December and January.

3:- Jammu and Kashmir consists of three sub regions, Jammu, Ladakh and Kashmir.

4:- Jammu and Kashmir is administrated by three countries viz. India in the south, Pakistan in the east and china in North West.

5:- Kashmir is well known for its fresh water.

6:- Kashmir has eleven fresh water lakes viz. Dal lake, Wular Lake, Manasbal lake, Gadsar lake, Gangabal lake, Krishansar lake, Nundkol lake, Satsar lake, Sheshnag lake, Tarsar lake, Vishansar lake.

7:- Wular lake is Asia’s largest fresh water lake, the size of Wular lake varies with seasons in spring season it has a maximum area upto 100 square miles or 260 kilometers.

8:- Kashmir has varied variety of fresh water fish. A substantial chunk of people earn their bread and butter from Fishing.

9:- nowadays farming of fishes like Trout is done extensively in Kashmir.

10:- At least 15 rivers and their important tributaries flow though Jammu and Kashmir. Viz. Jehlem, Indus, Ravi, Dras, Doda, Markha, Nubra, Singo, Tawi, Tsrap, Yapola and zanskar.

11:- According to Hindu Mythology Kashmir was once a large lake and it was Kashyap Rishi who drained off the water.

12:- According to Buddhist writer cultivation of Saffron was introduced by a Buddhist preacher Madhyantika.

13:- Kangri is a typical household item used by Kashmiri to keep them warm during harsh winter cold. The origin of kangri is unknown however kangi has a refrence with an Italian household item which has a similar function. Kangri is made of two parts the inner part consists of earthen part while as the outer part is made up of wicker. The inner part is filled with hot and burning ember and charcoal. In the earlier days when Kangar was the only device to keep oneself warm a typical type of Cancer was common among Kashmiri’s which was known as kangri cancer.  

14:- Kashmiri non-vegetarian food is world famous recipes’ like Gushtab, Kebab, Rista, Rogan Josh, Tabak Nant and many more are served in a typical Kashmiri marriage.

15:- Kashmiri Saag or Haak is the most common vegetable served in Kashmir.

16:- Pheran is an ethnic wear tradition gown type dress worn by Kashmire’s during winter.

17:- most of the revenue in Kashmir is generated by Horticulture, Agriculture, Animal Husbandry, Handy craft and tourism.

18:- Kashmir is the largest producer of Apple and dry fruits.

19:- Kashmir is well known for its forests trees like Dedor (pine) and kairu are found in Kashmir.

20:- Kashmir is famous for Hangul a typical sub specie of Deer.