Location
: 50-km From Srinagar, Jammu & Kashmir
Famous As: A Picnic Spot
Significance: Said To Be The
Largest Fresh Water Lake In India.
Best Time To Visit: June To
August
Claimed
to be the largest freshwater lake in India, the Wular lake can
spread over nearly 200-sq-kms but its actual surface area
tends to vary during the year. The Jhelum River flows into the
lake, 40-km downstream from Srinagar, and then out again.
The lake, calm though it may appear, is noted for the fierce
winds that sometimes blow up. The deepest part of the lake is
known as Mota Khon, the 'Gulf of corpses', since the bodies of
people drowned in the lake were all supposed to be washed to
this place. At one time there was an artificial island on the
lake, where boatmen could shelter if the weather turned bad,
but silting on that side of the lake has joined the island to
the lakeside. It's now a popular picnic spot.
PLACES
TO LOOK AROUND
There are several large towns or other places of interest
around the shore of the lake.
Sopur
Sopur, at the south end of the lake where the Jhelum leaves
it, is noted for its fruit growing - particularly Apples and
Walnuts. The main resort town for the lake is Ningal Nullah,
5-km from Sopur. From here one can hire sailing boats to
cruise on the lake or for fishing.
Lolab Valley & Bungas
Beyond Sopur is the Lolab valley, reached either by a road
from Sopur or by following the bridal path from Kiuhnus. To
the west of the Lolab valley there is an extensive flat meadow
called Bungas, at 2,896 metres above sea level and 114-km from
Srinagar . It's like an undeveloped Gulmarg.
Kiuhnus Bay
Kiuhnus bay is a small valley 20-km from Sopur and 12-km from
Bandipur. Further up this valley of the Madumati River there
are several waterfalls.
Bandipur
The important town of Bandipur, famous for its woven blankets,
is on the eastern shore of the lake, at the foot of the 3,355
metres Tragbal Pass. On the northwest side of the lake, near
Ashtiung, there is a Ziarat or shrine to Baba Shukur-ud-Din, a
disciple or the saint Nur-ud-Din.
Baramula
Baramula, to the south west of the lake, was on the main route
to Rawalpindi, the chief route from Kashmir to the Indian
plains prior to independence. Roads also run from here to
Gilgit and Hunza, into what is now the restricted zone
controlled by Pakistan. Baramula is the legendary place from
which Vishnu is said to have drained the waters, which once
filled the Kashmir valley.
Shadipur
Close to Shadipur, where the Sindh River flows into the Jhelum,
there are the ruins of a number of Hindu and Buddhist shrines.
Shadipur has a camping site and is noted for the abundant fish
in the waters around it.
Narmarg Narmarg, above the lake, is a popular trekking
centre.
OTHER
ATTRACTIONS
Houseboats,
Doongas and sailing boats can be hired on the lake. The three
main mooring places are at Ningal Nullah, Kiuhnus Bay and at
Ajus Spur on the south east side. Around the lake there are
various canals, which lead through the silt at the river
mouths up into the rivers themselves. One of the best is to
the Erin valley, which starts from Nodhal and winds 6½-km up
to two high altitude lakes.
HOW TO
GET THERE
Road:
Buses leave the tourist
reception centre in Srinagar in the morning for a day trip
around Wular Lake and back. The bus first stops at Anchar
Lake, then on to Safapur, to stop at Manasbal Lake, thence to
Bandipur, 56-km away. This is followed by lunch at Watlab
where there is a government rest house, and a tour of the
mosque of Baba Sakar-ud-Din, then on to Sopur. The lake can be
reached by river as well as road
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