Main Info
Wular Lake
Wular Lake, Srinagar Overview
Situated in the Bandipore district of Jammu and Kashmir, Wular Lake is among the largest freshwater lakes in Asia. Its pure blue waters are a sight to behold for tourists from around the world who come to Srinagar to spend time amid natural beauty. Tectonic activity led to the formation of the Wular Lake. This means it was formed due to the movement of plates beneath the Earth’s crust. This is also the reason the area of the lake keeps changing constantly throughout the year. This phenomenon is unique to Wular Lake and makes it very special. The lake usually stays calm, but often strong winds give rise to heavy currents in the lake. The lake looks fierce at such times, but, other than that, the lake is a wonderful tourist destination and is visited by tourists. Tourists also enjoy various activities, such as skiing, water sports, and boating at the Wular Lake.
The source of water for Wular Lake is the river Jhelum that flows across Srinagar. There are 26 wetlands in India and Wular Lake is one of them. Not just tourists from other parts of India but also locals alike visit Wular to enjoy its beauty. Wular Lake is the perfect spot to unwind yourself. Its serene waters and peaceful setting rejuvenates souls. People come here to relax by its side and take a walk around it to sate their souls and breathe in pure air. You can also enjoy boating in the fresh waters of the Wular for a great experience.
More on Wular Lake
Etymology of Wular Lake
Wular Lake has its origin in ancient India and has found mention in ancient Hindu texts as well. In the Nilamata Purana, it was known as Mahapadmasar. The lake can often be fierce in appearance due to strong winds. It was, therefore, called Ullola. The word Ullola is a Sanskrit word and means leaping high rising waves in English. Going changes over the years, the name got changed to Bolor, which was given to it by the Iranian scholar Al-Biruni. Going further changes over hundreds of years, the lake got the name of Wular. The ‘Wul’ in Wular comes from a Kashmiri word ‘Wul’. It means a gap.
Fauna at Wular Lake
Tourists and locals come to Wular to not just enjoy its peaceful setting and pristine waters but also to enjoy watching the amazing aquatic life it harbors. Those who love animals will take a deeper interest in the lake. You can find a wide variety of fishes such as mosquito fish, snow trout, rosy barb, carp, and many more swimming freely in the lake. The lake is also a great source of food for the local people. They rely on the amazing aquatic life for food and earning.
Fishes are not the only lifeform here. The lake is also home to a variety of birds, such as Eurasian sparrowhawk, Himalayan golden eagle, Monal, koklass pheasant, cuckoo, alpine swift, Himalayan woodpecker, hoopoe, oriole, chukar partridge, and rock dove, which keep visiting the vicinity of the Wular lake.
Photography
There are no restrictions on tourists to capture the amazing scenery. You can take your cameras and smartphones to get some marvelous snaps of Wular lake and the surroundings.
Tips For Visiting Wular Lake
- Wular lake has not been commercialized heavily yet, which means you may not find plenty of facilities for tourists. If you are a wanderlust who wants to explore unchartered terrains, this is just the perfect place for you.
- The roads are not very well developed. Drive safely or, better still, hire an experienced driver to drive you to the lake.
How to Reach Wular Lake
It is easy to reach Wular Lake. Since it is situated in the Bandipore district and is close to the beautiful city of Srinagar, you can reach the lake within a few minutes by car.