Wular Lake

Wular Lake is the largest freshwater lake in India and lies in the Kashmir Valley, 40 km northwest of Srinagar City in the Northwest of India. With a size of 189 sq. km, Wular Lake is also one of the largest freshwater lakes in Asia. The lake lies at an altitude of 1,580 m. Its maximum depth is 14 metres, it has a length of 16 km and a breadth of 10 km.



Wular Lake plays a significant role in the hydrographic system of the Kashmir Valley by acting as huge absorption basin for annual floodwater. The lake and its surrounding extensive marshes have an important natural wildlife. The rivers Bohnar, Madamati and Erin from the mountain ranges and the rivers Vetasta (Jhelum) and the Ningal from the south bring hundreds of tons of silt into the lake every year. This rampant siltation and the human encroachments have devastating effects on the lake.



In recognition of its biological, hydrological and socio-economic values, the lake was included in 1986 as a Wetland of National Importance under the Wetlands Programme of the Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India for intensive conservation and management purposes. Subsequently in 1990, it was designated as a Wetland of International Importance under the Ramsar Convention.
Wular Lake is also an important habitat for fish and contributes about 60 percent of the fish yield of the Kashmir Valley. The dominant fish species found in the lake are: Cyprinus carpio, Barbus conchonius, Gambusia affinis, Nemacheilus sp., Crossocheilus latius, Schizothorax curvifrons, S. esocinus, S. planifrons, S. micropogon, S. longipinus and S. niger. More than 8,000 fishermen earn their livelihood from Wular Lake. Location : 68-km From Srinagar, Jammu & Kashmir
Famous As: A Picnic Spot
Significance: Said To Be The Largest Fresh Water Lake In India.
Best Time To Visit: June To August

Claimed to be the largest freshwater lake in India, the Wular lake can spread over nearly 200-sq-kms but its actual surface area tends to vary during the year. The Jhelum River flows into the lake, 40-km downstream from Srinagar, and then out again.

The lake, calm though it may appear, is noted for the fierce winds that sometimes blow up. The deepest part of the lake is known as Mota Khon, the 'Gulf of corpses', since the bodies of people drowned in the lake were all supposed to be washed to this place. At one time there was an artificial island on the lake, where boatmen could shelter if the weather turned bad, but silting on that side of the lake has joined the island to the lakeside. It's now a popular picnic spot.

PLACES TO LOOK AROUND
There are several large towns or other places of interest around the shore of the lake.

Watlab
Watlab: Gradually, the panoply of the 'real Kashmir', miles away from well-traversed areas, will unfold before you, and you will reach Watlab. Here, high on a hilltop is the shrine of a Muslim mystic, Baba Shukurddin. From here, the Wular Lake stretches away as far as the eye can see, edged by picturesque villages around terraced breeze-rippled fields of paddy, in a riotous burst of colour. At Watlab there is a Forest Rest House amidst sprawling apple orchards. You can rest here to enjoy the sheer grandeur of the spectacular countryside at leisure.plus a cafe where you can enjoy fast food,kashmiri wazwaan and different varieties of fishes......


Sopur
Sopur, at the south end of the lake where the Jhelum leaves it, is noted for its fruit growing - particularly Apples and Walnuts. The main resort town for the lake is Ningal Nullah, 5-km from Sopur. From here one can hire sailing boats to cruise on the lake or for fishing.

Lolab Valley & Bungas
Beyond Sopur is the Lolab valley, reached either by a road from Sopur or by following the bridal path from Kiuhnus. To the west of the Lolab valley there is an extensive flat meadow called Bungas, at 2,896 metres above sea level and 114-km from Srinagar . It's like an undeveloped Gulmarg.

Kiuhnus Bay
Kiuhnus bay is a small valley 20-km from Sopur and 12-km from Bandipur. Further up this valley of the Madumati River there are several waterfalls.

Bandipur
The important town of Bandipur, famous for its woven blankets, is on the eastern shore of the lake, at the foot of the 3,355 metres Tragbal Pass. On the northwest side of the lake, near Ashtiung, there is a Ziarat or shrine to Baba Shukur-ud-Din, a disciple or the saint Nur-ud-Din.

Baramula
Baramula, to the south west of the lake, was on the main route to Rawalpindi, the chief route from Kashmir to the Indian plains prior to independence. Roads also run from here to Gilgit and Hunza, into what is now the restricted zone controlled by Pakistan. Baramula is the legendary place from which Vishnu is said to have drained the waters, which once filled the Kashmir valley.

Shadipur
Close to Shadipur, where the Sindh River flows into the Jhelum, there are the ruins of a number of Hindu and Buddhist shrines. Shadipur has a camping site and is noted for the abundant fish in the waters around it.

Narmarg Narmarg, above the lake, is a popular trekking centre.
OTHER ATTRACTIONS
Houseboats, Doongas and sailing boats can be hired on the lake. The three main mooring places are at Ningal Nullah, Kiuhnus Bay and at Ajus Spur on the south east side. Around the lake there are various canals, which lead through the silt at the river mouths up into the rivers themselves. One of the best is to the Erin valley, which starts from Nodhal and winds 6½-km up to two high altitude lakes.
HOW TO GET THERE
Road: Buses leave the tourist reception centre in Srinagar in the morning for a day trip around Wular Lake and back. The bus first stops at Anchar Lake, then on to Safapur, to stop at Manasbal Lake, thence to Bandipur, 56-km away. This is followed by lunch at Watlab where there is a government rest house, and a tour of the mosque of Baba Sakar-ud-Din, then on to Sopur. The lake can be reached by river as well as road.
Other convenient way to go there i from Srinagar is to take a bus or cab from batamaloo to sopur and then from sopur take a cab to watlab .

watlab:
If you want to experience the real Kashmir then a trip to Watlab is a must for you. As you move away from the well-traversed areas of the valley, slowly and steadily, you will get to see the Kashmir you have never seen before. There, unfolding before you will be Watlab in the Kashmir valley of India. Apart from the untamed beauty, Watlab in Kashmir is famous for its hilltop Muslim shrine. The shrine was built in the memory of Baba Shukurddin, a Muslim mystic.

This place offers you a beautiful view of the Wular Lake, stretching out as far as the eye can see. The picturesque villages edging around the lake further enhance the scenery. Also adding a touch of color to the landscape, are the fields of paddy nearby. As far as the accommodation at Watlab is concerned, there is a Forest rest house situated amongst beautiful apple orchards. Watlab: Gradually, the panoply of the 'real Kashmir', miles away from well-traversed areas, will unfold before you, and you will reach Watlab. Here, high on a hilltop is the shrine of a Muslim mystic, Baba Shukurddin. From here, the Wular Lake stretches away as far as the eye can see, edged by picturesque villages around terraced breeze-rippled fields of paddy, in a riotous burst of colour. At Watlab there is a Forest Rest House amidst sprawling apple orchards. You can rest here to enjoy the sheer grandeur of the spectacular countryside at leisure.If you want to experience the real Kashmir then a trip to
Watlab
is a must for you.
Watlab
is situated on the Sopore-Bandipore road, about 56 km from Srinagar and 8 km from Sopore in Jammu and Kashmir As you move away from the well-traversed areas of the valley, slowly and steadily, you will get to see the Kashmir you have never seen before. There, unfolding before you will be
Watlab
in the Kashmir valley of India. Apart from the untamed beauty,
Watlab
in Kashmir is famous for its hilltop Muslim shrine. The shrine was built in the memory of Baba Shukurddin, a Muslim mystic.

This place offers you a beautiful view of the Wular Lake, stretching out as far as the eye can see. The picturesque villages edging around the lake further enhance the scenery. Also adding a touch of color to the landscape, are the fields of paddy nearby. As far as the accommodation at
Watlab
is concerned, there is a Forest rest house situated amongst beautiful apple orchards.

Gradually, the panoply of the 'real Kashmir ', miles away from well-traversed areas, will unfold before you, and you will reach
Watlab
. Here, high on a hilltop is the shrine of a Muslim mystic, Baba Shukurddin. From here, the Wular Lake stretches away as far as the eye can see, edged by picturesque villages around terraced breeze-rippled fields of paddy, in a riotous burst of colour. At
Watlab
there is a Forest Rest House amidst sprawling apple orchards. You can rest here to enjoy the sheer grandeur of the spectacular countryside at leisure.

Watbal kashmir is a beautiful place to watch we offers various kashmir tour which includes watlab visit. watlab is also known for its apple orchards so come and Watlab is a city in the State of Jammu & Kashmir with a population of approximately 58,887. The closest tourism destination to Watlab is Baramula. Other close by tourism destinations include Kupwara, Gulmarg and Daachigam. The nearest major railway station to Watlab is Jammu (JAT) which is at a distance of 14.4 kilometres. The nearest airport is at Srinagar which is at a distance of 49 kilometres. Lying at an elevation of 5088 m, it is one of the highest cities in India.
(author: fouzul azim. email: pfouzul999@gmail.com)