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Nigeen Lake

Nigeen Lake

Jammu & Kashmir

State
Jammu & Kashmir
Type
Other

Nigeen Lake lies in Srinagar adjacent to the Hari Parbat hillock, west of Dal Lake, and is sometimes considered part of Dal Lake, to which it connects via a narrow strait. Its name derives from "nageena" ("jewel in the ring"), referencing the willow and poplar trees that ring its shores.

Nigeen Lake is known for

jewel in the ringless crowded than Dal Lakehouseboats and shikarascolonial-era Nigeen Clubwillow-lined shores

A short history

The lake connects to Khushal Sar and Gil Sar lakes through the Nallah Amir Khan channel. The colonial-era Nigeen Club sits on its eastern shore. [Source: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nigeen_Lake]

Why Nigeen Lake matters

Known for relatively pristine waters compared to Dal Lake, Nigeen is a major Srinagar tourist attraction for houseboats, shikaras, and swimming.

When to go

April to October

How to reach

Located in Srinagar city, a short drive from Dal Lake and Srinagar International Airport (about 15 km).

Nigeen Lake guide & itineraries

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Vaishno Devi (Katra)

Vaishno Devi (Katra)

The shrine of Mata Vaishno Devi stands at 1,585 metres in the Trikuta Mountains of Jammu. Katra is the base town, and from there millions of pilgrims walk 12 km uphill on a well-built mountain path to reach the cave temple, the Bhawan. Inside the natural rock cave there is no idol. The goddess is worshipped as three natural rock Pindis — Maha Kali, Maha Lakshmi and Maha Saraswati, the creating, sustaining and transforming aspects of Shakti. The Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board (SMVDSB) runs the whole operation around the clock, with automated crowd-tracking lanes and shelters along the route.

Srinagar (Dal Lake)

Srinagar (Dal Lake)

Srinagar is a lake city, and the difference between a good stay and a mediocre one is which part of the lake you sleep on. Take a houseboat, but ask where it is moored. The boats near the Boulevard are convenient and noisy with traffic; the ones further out towards Nagin lake are quieter and give you the mornings the place is famous for. Shikara rides are priced by the hour and by negotiation — agree the route and the price before you get in, or you will be taken to a floating handicraft shop instead. The Mughal gardens — Shalimar, Nishat, Chashme Shahi — are terraced up the eastern hillside and are best in the first hour after opening. The vegetable market on the water at dawn is the real thing, and it means being up before five. Papier-mâché and Kashmiri walnut wood are genuine crafts here and worth buying properly rather than roadside. Check current advisories before you book, and do that close to your travel date rather than months out. April and May for the blossom, and June to August is the season most Indians come. Winter is cold, beautiful and quiet.

Amarnath

Amarnath

Mahamaya is the name the Goddess carries here, and Trisandhyeshwar is the Bhairava who guards her. The cave opens for only a few weeks around Shravan, in July and August, and you will need a registration and a medical certificate before you set out — from Pahalgam it is three or four days in, while Baltal is fourteen kilometres and very steep. Neither way in is a stroll.

Dal Lake

Dal Lake

Dal Lake is an urban lake in Srinagar covering about 18 square kilometres (21.2 sq km including floating gardens), with a maximum depth of 6 metres and average depth of 1.42 metres, at an elevation of 1,583 metres. Known as the "Jewel in the crown of Kashmir," it is ringed by Mughal gardens and houseboats.

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