The northern front of the Dal Lake in Srinagar, spanning an impressive 5.1 kilometres, is getting ready to welcome visitors just before winter arrives.
The team behind the Srinagar Smart City Project has been tirelessly working on this project all year, and they’re hoping for a grand opening by the end of November.
The CEO of the Smart City Project Amir Ather Khan shared that the 5.1-kilometer lakefront will be finished in the next two months. He also mentioned that this project is nearing completion and will make this area even more appealing.
The CEO said, “The 5.1-kilometre-long lakefront from Nishat to Habbak is one of our most important projects under the Srinagar Smart City Project. The work is almost done, and we hope to open it in the next 40-50 days! This is one of our best projects in Srinagar city. You can walk, cycle, sit, have a coffee, and enjoy the most beautiful part of Dal Lake – the Hazratbal Basin.”
He also assured that the project’s completion timeline will allow visitors to enjoy the area even when it’s covered in snow during winter.
Srinagar, with its 294 square kilometres of area and a population of 13.5 lakhs, was chosen as part of the Smart City Mission, a program launched by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA). The city has seen significant changes, with many successful projects completed before this year’s G20 event.
Some of the notable achievements include renovating the Airport Road, building a flyover, and improving city-wide lighting. The historic Poloview market, which was established in 1952, got a modern makeover as part of the Smart City project and was opened in May. It’s now Srinagar’s first pedestrian-friendly and wire-free market, equipped with underground drainage, electricity, and communication systems. The Clock Tower the MA road and the Jhelum Riverfront development were also big highlights.
Meanwhile, Dal Lake has a new and thrilling addition—water zorbing. This adventure activity allows people to roll inside transparent, inflatable spheres on the lake’s surface. While it was already popular in Sonamarg and Pahalgam, its introduction in Dal Lake has been warmly received by both locals and tourists. Water zorbing involves participants entering large, transparent, inflatable spheres called zorbs. These zorbs are sealed, so participants stay dry as they roll, bounce, and spin on the water.
