Dal Lake, known as the jewel in the Crown of Kashmir is an 18 square kilometre wide lake in the heart of Srinagar. It is the most popular tourist attraction of Kashmir. Along its periphery, there are numerous places that are worth exploring namely, Shalimar Bagh, Nishat Bagh, Shankracharya temple, Chashme Shahi Garden and Hazrat Bal Mosque.
There is another fascinating activity that takes place in Dal Lake every day which is the morning floating Vegetable Market. Unlike other regular street markets where locals put up sheds to sell vegetables/fruits etc., here the vendors load their small boats/shikaras with the stuff and row them to the marked place for this floating market. You can just take your shikara near the other ones and explore the stuff on the go and buy in between. You will also find shikaras loaded with flowers to sell which are not sold much locally and are mainly purchased by the tourists only. Another fact to know is that it is one of those rare markets where the barter system is still followed locally.
The lake is known for producing a wide variety of veggies like tomatoes, cucumbers, water chestnuts ,carrots, turnips, radishes and a variety of fruits also. The famous lotus stems which are an important part of Kashmiri cuisine are also grown here.
The market starts at the break of day and gets wrapped up just as the sunlight touches the water. So, if you want to capture the essence of this market, visit during the golden hour of the dawn.
The floating vegetable market is set against a beautiful backdrop consisting of lush green forest cover and snow laden mountains, making it a photographer's paradise and a must visit place while exploring Kashmir.
The colorful layers of shikaras, the portraits of locals and the activities happening there make it a perfect spot offering a variety of shots that can be captured by everyone.
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