about thirty kilometers from srinagar, lies the manasbal lake on the way to wular lake. it is said to be the deepest lake in jammu and kashmir. the lake, tucked away in the lap of untouched nature is bordered some villages. in its northern banks, some ruins of a fort can be seen which was constructed by the mughal rulers in 17th century for enjoying a glimpse of the deep waters and tranquil surroundings of the lake. this place also offers a wonderful break for those travelers who are headed to a distant destination. plenty of birds can be seen around the lake and for the ardent bird watchers and photographers, it's a treasure land. plenty of lotus grows in the lake and their rootstocks are sold in the local markets. another attraction here is the mughal garden, garoka, which was built by nur jahan. the garden overlooking the lake offers an advantageous spot for the bird watcher. the manasbal temple, ruins of a terraced garden built during the mughal era and certain ruins of buddhist shrines can also be seen at the lake's banks. some small snow fed streams drain at this lake and mostly it is used by the locals for fishing and harvesting lotus roods. it's a feast to the eyes to see the calm waters and thickset lotus leaves and blooming flowers.
