Dal Leke Srinagar

We live in a country where we are used to streets and roads. Even in our houses, there are some kutcha lanes. And that’s why cycling is considered a life skill here. But there is a place in India where there are no roads, no lanes and neither your driving or cycling skills are useful here. This is the Dal Lake Srinagar,  Where there are some houses on the water, there is a market, a vegetable market, an ATM, a post office and a school, that is, the whole city is in this lake. So park your car and cycle and come on a shikara (boat). Because this is the only way to get here.

This Dal Lake is situated in Srinagar in the middle of Kashmir, this lake is so big (22 sq km area) that more than 50000 people live in it. Almost all the daily needs of the people here are fulfilled by these shikaras (boats). This boat is famous by the name Shikara.
When they need something they use this boat just like someone uses a car, they have a boat. This boat is like a car for them. And they take it to the city and then bring food on the boat. Like a car, a boat is also necessary for them.
When they need something they use this boat just like someone uses a car, they have a boat. This boat is like a car for them. And they take it to the city and then bring food on the boat. Like a car, a boat is also necessary for them.

Meena Bazaar – There is also a large floating market called Meena Bazaar. You can shop while sitting in a shikara (boat). The tea here is very tasty, which is called Kahwa. This is the real tea of this place.

When they need something they use this boat just like someone uses a car, they have a boat. This boat is like a car for them. And they take it to the city and then bring food on the boat. Like a car, a boat is also necessary for them.

Floating vegetable market – But what makes this Dal Leke Srinagar unique is the floating vegetable market. This is where the floating market takes place. Like Thailand, it is also a floating market. It is a kind of market of Dal Lake. People living on Dal Lake have their own farms. The fields are also floating here. The group vegetable in the floating form of Dal Lake. And also sell vegetables here on the lake only.

There are about 50 to 60 boats here. And sell different types of vegetables. People plant vegetables on boats and sell vegetables on boats only.
It is nice to see colorful vegetables on the boat. It is a great experience to see them. This is the morning market. If you want to visit this floating market then this is a good time to come. It starts at 5:00 in the morning.
In the calm interior of Dal Lake, it is quite different from the part of Dal Lake that tourists usually visit. If you come to the interiors of Dal Lake, you will see the raw and natural life of the people. When you come here to see the floating market in the interior of Dal Lake.

You cannot imagine a floating market or a vegetable market without a shikara (boat).

Shikara – Shikara plays a very important role in the lives of the people living here. And the amazing thing is that it is also made on the lake. The shikara is made from Cedar (Deodar) wood. And this wood they get from Baramulla, it is very expensive. It survives under water for about 200 to 300 years. That is because of the Cedar (Deodar). It takes 15 days to make it and then 5 days to paint it. The rate of a Shikara is 1.5 lakh to 2.5 lakh. Houseboats are also made from this wood. And it is mostly very expensive. But not everyone can afford this work. Making is a difficult task.

I thought rowing a shikara was a tough job. But it is very difficult to make it. And the local people here get everything from Kashmir. In the journey from wood to a complete shikara, everything is made in Kashmir.

The temperature in Dal Leke Srinagar goes down to minus 5 degree Celsius in winter. It is so low that this lake freezes.
When I talked to the residents of this lake, they told that this lake was frozen in January. It was not very thick. It breaks easily willing boating on the lake. In 1986 they walked on the lake for 3 months, it was frozen. It was a very cold year. They played cricket and football on the lake in 1986. And when the temperature is so cold, the people here keep themselves warm with their portable heaters. Which does not require electricity or charging, this amazing heater is called kangiri (fire pot). This Kangiri has a different tree, it has a different wood. Mostly this tree is found in those areas, in Bandipur region in the upper mountains of the village. Coal is put in it. It keeps the heat as long as the coal is in it. Till then it remains hot. Without it there is no life here. It is made of clay and wood. It is made like an earthen pot kulhad. The elderly people here use it a lot. It must be used. It is used for 3 to 4 months in Srinagar.
When a marriage takes place here, they give this kangiri to the bride. This is very valuable. they are a gift for the bride.

This is very valuable. They used to be a gift for the bride. So once you heat it bring coal from home and it keeps you warm all day long.

He said that if they put two eggs in Kangiri. After 15 minutes it will be removed, you can eat boiled eggs. So it’s so hot. The eggs will definitely be ready. I haven’t tried hard boiling eggs, but yes, this skillet works as a heater.

And along the way found a government school in the island village of Dal Leke Srinagar. I was very fortunate to be a part of this school assembly, where the school children were singing a song which goes like this.

There is no doubt that people live in one of the most beautiful places in India but there is no doubt that their life is much more difficult than ours. I used to think that he has nothing and that he has the most positive attitude towards life.

But is everything so positive here?
Is Kashmir safe?

These Kashmiri people have been fond of tourism since childhood. He used to ride people in Shikara since childhood. This is how they earn. Only politics has created difficulties for him. These houseboats look good only when tourists stay in them. What if people don’t come?

When I was going to Kashmir then many people ask me if it is safe to visit there.
Even I don’t have a simple answer for that. The only thing I know is that the state or city you live in, if not safer than that, then Kashmiri is at least as safe.

The thing is that we have heard a lot about Kashmir, but come here and see for yourself. Maybe then you will understand this place better.

I wish everyone to explore this beautiful world and learn the things to make our world a better place to live. With this, if you enjoyed reading this blog, do comment and share it with your friends and family and keep following Nomad Rahgir..