Dal is a lake in Srinagar, the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir, India. It is one of the main hotspot of visitors. It is extremely beautiful and serene. This is a place so very important for the Srinagar state and therefore is called as the “Jewel in the crown of Kashmir” or “Srinagar’s Jewel”. It is the second largest lake in Jammu and Kashmir. The origin of the lake is unknown to this very day. It is the largest freshwater lake in India. The area of the lake is about 22 km ². it is also one of the world’s famous tourist spot. This lake covers an area of 18 sq. km. with a length of 7.4 km. and a width of 3.5 km. It is a source of commercial operations in fishing and water plant harvesting. People say that a unique holiday experience of staying on a houseboat and a shikara ride should not be missed when visiting Dal. Environmental pollution and garbage from houseboats are posing a major threat to the water quality of the Dal Lake. Over the years, the quality of water has degraded.
