If you are in the city, water skiing in Srinagar is definitely something you must try out. Tourists with a love or affinity for water sports usually end up trying either this or canoeing in the lakes of the Kashmir, which are large and set against a wonderful backdrop: the Himalayan range stretching across the horizon and often reflected in crystal-blue waters. It is no wonder the J&K (the abbreviation for the Jammu and Kashmir) government has taken steps to promote water sports of this type among both locals and tourists in the area.
If you are wondering where you can do some water skiing in Srinagar, you can just refer to the same spots people go to for canoeing, another water activity rapidly growing in popularity to those in the city. Srinagar has several lakes in and around its boundaries that are the perfect locations for water skiing fanatics. A superb example would be the famous Dal Lake, one of the largest lakes in the Kashmir.
Dal Lake is very well known for the many things it provides to the inhabitants of Srinagar. For one thing, fishing is actually done here. Furthermore, this is where you are going to find the houseboats of Srinagar, floating lodgings that actually make up complete communities, small towns, groups of people who may on occasion spend a week or more without ever needing to set foot on terra firma: they have all they need among the other houseboat dwellers, some of whom actually have set up shops in their houseboats and offer modern services (like medical help, for instance) on the floating abodes. These houseboats are not a hindrance to water skiers, though, because they are constantly tethered to the banks of the lake.
It is not uncommon to see people coming to Dal Lake for water skiing, as well as to the smaller lake that is technically part of it yet often considered a separate lake, Nagin. Nagin Lake is fairly popular with the water skiing crowd as well, but you need to be aware that this place may also see some swimmers every now and then-at least, in the warmer months. Since water skiing in Srinagar takes place in the same months that swimmers take a dip into the waters-May to August, that is-you had best be prepared for that when you go. This means that you should learn to keep an eye out for any swimmers around your area, else you might accidentally smack into them while you have your fun.
Another option for water skiing in Srinagar is Manasbal Lake, which is fairly close to the city but hidden away from sight by several hills. It is a wonderful oasis of calm and used to be known for peace and quiet, but recently there have been more water skiers coming to it, so there is a bit more activity here now. It is still a beautiful place for water skiing, however, so do not be put off by that. If you are wondering where to get your gear, there are many tourist shops that offer water skiing trips with the equipment provided. The government does its part in promoting the activity too, often providing equipment for those interested.
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