Over 15 km around, Dal Lake is Srinagar's jewel, a vast, mirror-flat sheet of water reflecting the carved wooden balconies of the houseboats and the misty peaks of the Pir Panjal Mountain range. It's a colorful spectacle but expects plenty of attention from souvenir vendors. You can hire a Shikara from any boat station along the lakeshore. Spread over a straggling 26 sq. km, it is the most photogenic stretch of this instance of paradise on earth and undoubtedly also the most sought-after of attractions. The Dal Lake consists of four main char chinars in the middle of the lake. The lake is part of a natural wetland & the beautiful floating gardens, also known as "Rad" in Kashmiri, that blossom with lotus flowers during the month of July and August.