Dal lake, the Mahasarit (as it is called in some ancient texts) spread over 18 square kilometres comprising a part of wetlands outstretched to 21 square kilometres, including what are known as floating gardens. The lotus flowers, water lilies and Chenar trees on three sides of dal lake are its flaunting beauty spots. The tourists from all around the world are drawn to it for the charming boatmen of shikara, luxurious staying in houseboats, the sacred Shiva temple, surfing, fishing etc.
This story about Dal lake is penned in two parts, one in 2013 and the latter in 2023. It was December 2013, the day was blending into dusk with the colours of twilight and haze, sprawling like a sea creature across the pronounced flanks of the Shankaracharya hills, possessed of moana shadows.
Kashmir was still known to be unsafe in those days and tourists were aware of those news being published in the papers, consequently feeling a kind of threat. 2013 saw a grinding halt in tourism in Jammu & Kashmir due to substantial increase in cross border infiltration, ceasefire violations, targeted attacks on security forces and civilians in aftermath of execution of parliament attack accused Afzal Guru.
Although in Dal lake I could feel the tranquility and beauty of nature, yet somewhere a consequent pain of unrest was wriggling underneath in the valley apparently. The peace and beauty of Dal lake seemed to be the same covering and hiding the crawling pain and agony of innocent victims of unrest.
I felt mesmerised to see, around the three sides of Dal lake, the conspicuously visible Shankaracharya hills, seemingly far, like snow-peaks whittled out of ice, rising above the vapour, gathering the beauty of dusk and looked like a pinion of snow blown high by the squall at it’s summit.
It is very difficult to regain the position of peace and tranquillity in a destination hit by terrorism, however the Government and the locals took up all steps to regain peace. The return of peace revival of tourism.
Today in March 2023, in near freezing scotch mist and predawn of the spring day, an elegant gondola like canopied boat, the shikara, spiralling its way through a series of waterways, is carrying me to the floating market, that begins daily at day break on Dal lake in Srinagar.
Peeping back into the situations of renewed unrest in recent past and considering the sound efforts of government and local people to regain peace, now while enjoying my ride in shikara, I could only sense the rhythmic sounds of shikarawalah’s heart shaped paddle, steadily dipping in waters along with his singing in Kashmiri and occasionally ripple of a waterbird of the beautiful Dal lake .
DoubleSpeak 
The author, Dr. Ruby Sharma has done an excellent work by encompassing all the details of Dal Lake and embracing nuances of nature’s beauty.
Her description of geographical location is significantly related to knowledge.
The article looks nice, illustrated with lovely and lively pictures and is suitable for publication.
Thanks for publishing such a beautiful and befitting article.
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Thank you so much 😊
Everything is inspired by you .
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Quite impressive article.
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Nicely presented the current scenario of Dal lake, Kashmir. Really engrosses readers especially who are young and needs to know this information.
Really liked that you visited the lake before reviewing and the pictures are amazing.
Keep on with the work.
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Thanks for your thoughtful and valuable comments, motivating and reinforcing my strength.
Your views really enhanced my spirits. Look forward to hear more from you in future on my writing.
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Beautiful photographs. very interesting and lively story. looking forward to read many more such stories from your end.
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Thank you so much for the appreciation 🙏😊
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Such a beautiful and rooted description of Dal Lake by Dr Ruby Sharma. In true sense, it’s a blend of pains and sufferings of people and present scenario of Jammu and Kashmir.
Keep writing Ruby👍
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Thank you so much 😊
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Great and deep narration about Dal lake…though never been there but after reading this article felt Iam already there enjoying the mesmerizing beauty of the lake…moreover what Kashmir went through and still going through is a harsh reality…I empathize…the author has described the details wonderfully and penned it down beautifully….congratulations to the author
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Thank you so much sherry 😊 your appointment means a lot 👍
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Nice initiative. Really likead your travel story of Dal Lake in different years and at different times making readers well acquainted with their culture and socio economic scenerio .
With best wishes.
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Thank you so much 🙏 Glad to have your views and appreciation 😊
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Ruby sharma nicely presented the natural beauty of Dal Lake.She has described the details of suffering of tourist in 2013 .&compared this with the scenario of 2023.
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Thanks and regards to my valuable reader
Mrs Amarjeet Kaur . Hope to receive more opinion on my writing in future .
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Congratulations to Dr Ruby .
It is so beautifully narrated that even a person who has never been to Dal lake can also appreciate the beauty of the place.
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Thanks a lot Mrs Poonam singh ji for your beautiful words of motivation .
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Dr Ruby you have beautifuly narrated the serene beauty of Kashmir. You have also explained what Kashmir went through before and how it is now.
Keep writing..may you always rise and shine..good luck 👍
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Thanks a lot Mrs Monika sharma for reading my article and giving your precious time .
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