Dal Lake, you haven’t truly seen Kashmir. And after spending just one quiet morning there, I understood why.

Dal Lake isn’t just water—it’s a way of life. It's where Srinagar wakes up gently, with shikaras gliding through the mist like floating dreams. I remember sitting in one of them, wrapped in a blanket, watching the sun slowly rise behind the mountains. Everything felt soft—the light, the air, even time itself.

As we floated past floating gardens, wooden houseboats, and old willow trees dipping into the water, I couldn’t help but feel like I was inside a painting. The lake mirrors the sky so perfectly, it’s sometimes hard to tell where one ends and the other begins.

What made Dal even more special were the quiet moments. A saffron seller paddling by with a warm smile. A child waving from a houseboat window. A couple sipping noon chai under a carved wooden awning. There’s life here, simple and beautiful, held gently by the lake.

Dal Lake isn’t just a place to visit. It’s a place to feel, to slow down, and to watch the world float by—one ripple at a time.