There’s something special about Manasbal Lake—something that makes you stop mid-thought, mid-step, and just look. Maybe it’s the stillness of the water, or how the mountains reflect so perfectly in its surface, like a memory you don’t want to forget.

Tucked away in the Ganderbal district of Kashmir, Manasbal isn’t as famous as Dal or Wular, but that’s part of its charm. It’s quieter, more intimate. The kind of place you discover by chance, then never want to leave.

When I visited, lotus flowers floated gently across the lake like tiny pink poems. A fisherman rowed by in his wooden shikara, barely making a ripple. Children laughed in the distance, their voices soft and carried by the breeze. And there I was—just sitting at the edge, feet dangling above the water, watching the sky change colors over the hills.

Locals say it’s the deepest lake in Kashmir. To me, it felt deep in a different way—like it knew how to hold silence, how to cradle peace.

If you ever find yourself in the Valley, don’t miss Manasbal. Go early. Go with time. Let it show you what stillness really feels like.