Taken from Back to the East, India, Nepal, Kashmir on Amazon
After breakfast we went on a shikara ride around Dal lake. We were able to stretch out and relax on a mattress with cushions under a canopy. Very relaxing.
The view of the mountains was beautiful and tranquil. Nehru Park was in the middle of the lake, then Rup Lank (gold island) with its four chiner trees. The Nighat Gardens were between the lake and the mountains. We decide to pay them a visit. They had been there since 1833, splendid gardens of grass, flowers and trees, with its own canal and cascades running down the middle and a series of terraces takes one up to the fine lake views.
To our left we saw Hari Parbat Fort on top of Sharika Hill. It was built 1592 to 1598, during the reign of Akbar. Visits were only possible with written permission from the Director of Tourism. Outside was a shrine to the 6th Sikh Guru.
On
our way back, we passed the Hazratbal Mosque.
New and shining white, supposed to house hair from the Prophet. (image found on line)
When we got back to the New Wild Rose, I read in a book that a trip on Dal Lake was a sybaritic experience. None of us actually knew the word but we instinctively knew what it meant - fond of sensuous luxury or pleasure; self-indulgent.
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