Sheshnag Lake

Sheshnag Lake
Sheshnag Lake
	Sheshnag Lake
Location	Anantnag, Jammu and Kashmir, India
Coordinates	34°05′37″N 75°29′48″E / 34.093697°N 75.496686°E
Type	Oligotrophic lake
Primary inflows	Melting of snow
Primary outflows	A tributary of Lidder River
Max. length	1.1 kilometres (0.68 mi)
Max. width	0.7 kilometres (0.43 mi)
Surface elevation	3,590 metres (11,780 ft)
Frozen	December to March

Sheshnag Lake (Urdu pronunciation: [ʃeːʃnɑːɡ] ; Kashmiri pronunciation: [ʃiːʃinaːɡ]) is an alpine high elevation oligotrophic lake^[1] located in Anantnag district of Kashmir Valley in Jammu and Kashmir, India at an elevation of 3590 meters. It is situated on the track leading to the Amarnath cave, about 23 km from Pahalgam. It has a maximum length of 1.1 km and maximum width of 0.7 km.

Etymology, geography

In ancient times, cloud bursts at the site caused a deep groove lined by mountains. Those mountains are covered with snow and ice sheets which melt slowly so that water flows into the deep groove and forms a lake. It was named Sheshnag because Sheshanaga (Śeṣanāga) is the nagaraja or King of all Nāgas and one of the primal beings of creation in Hinduism. An hour's drive away from Srinagar city lies a fabled spring from a popular Kashmiri folk tale, “Himal and Nagrai”. A stone marker there commemorates the lore and with it, the original, aboriginals inhabitants of Kashmir, the Nagas. The protagonist of this story was Nagrai, a Naga, the serpent king. Sheshnag Lake is home to many types of fish^[2] among which is the brown trout.^[3] It freezes during winter, and is inaccessible during this season due to heavy snowfall. It is surrounded by green lush meadows and mountains covered by snow.^[4] Sheshnag Lake is one of the famous tourist destinations in Kashmir Valley. It is mostly fed by melting of snow and streams coming down from mountaintops. It drains out through a stream that joins Lidder River at Pahalgam.

Access

Sheshnag Lake is situated 120 kilometers east from Srinagar and 23 km from Pahalgam. It can be accessed^[5] 113 km by road up to Chandanwari from which ponies can be hired to cover a trek of 7 km upslope to reach the Sheshnag Lake. Amarnath Temple is situated 20 kilometers north of this lake.

Gallery

References

^ Raina, HS; KK Vass (May–June 2006). "Some biological features of a freshwater fairy shrimp, Branchinecta schantzi, Mackin, 1952 in the Northwestern Himalayas, India" (PDF). J. Indian Inst. Sci. 86: 287–291. Retrieved 23 April 2012.^{[permanent dead link‍]}
^ "Fishes and Fisheries in high elevation lakes, Vishansar, Gadsar, Gangabal, Krishansar". Fao.org. 1999.
^ Petr, T., ed. (1999). Fish and fisheries at higher altitudes: Asia. Rome: FAO. p. 72. ISBN 92-5-104309-4.
^ "Pahalgam Sheshnag". cambaytours.com. Retrieved 23 April 2012.
^ "Travel to Sheshnag lake". travelomy.com. Retrieved 23 April 2012.

[1] Raina, HS; KK Vass (May–June 2006). "Some biological features of a freshwater fairy shrimp, Branchinecta schantzi, Mackin, 1952 in the Northwestern Himalayas, India" (PDF). J. Indian Inst. Sci. 86: 287–291. Retrieved 23 April 2012.^{[permanent dead link‍]}

[2] "Fishes and Fisheries in high elevation lakes, Vishansar, Gadsar, Gangabal, Krishansar". Fao.org. 1999.

[3] Petr, T., ed. (1999). Fish and fisheries at higher altitudes: Asia. Rome: FAO. p. 72. ISBN 92-5-104309-4.

[4] "Pahalgam Sheshnag". cambaytours.com. Retrieved 23 April 2012.

[5] "Travel to Sheshnag lake". travelomy.com. Retrieved 23 April 2012.

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v t e Kashmir Valley
Passes	Banihal Pass Zojila Burzil Pass Sinthan top Margan Top
Valleys	Sind Valley Lidder Valley Lolab Valley Betaab Valley
Cities	Srinagar Anantnag Baramulla
Towns	Akingam Achabal Pulwama Budgam Ganderbal Shopian Bandipore Kulgam Downtown Nowshera Gurez Pattan Kangan Hazratbal Awantipora Tral Qazigund Kokernag Shangus Bijbehara Doru Pahalgam Pattan Uri Kreeri Boniyar Tangmarg Sopore Rafaiabad Karnah Kupwara Lolab Handwara Langate Charari Sharief Beerwah Chadoora Bagh e Mehtab Sumbal Sonawari Quimoh Pahloo D.H.Pora Soura Buchpora Jawahar Nagar Srinagar Rajbagh Bemina Maisuma Karan Nagar Indira Nagar, Srinagar Hazratbal Lal Chowk Sonwar Bagh Nowhatta Hazratbal Shalimar Bagh, Srinagar Lal Bazar Zukura Munawar Abad Badami Bagh Nowshera, Srinagar Singhpora Magam Kokernag Daksum
Rivers	Jehlum Sind Lidder Kishanganga Veshaw Rambi Ara
Glaciers	Kolhoi Glacier Machoi Glacier
Lakes	Anchar Lake Dal Lake Nigeen Lake Manasbal Lake Wular Lake Vishansar Lake Krishansar Lake Gangabal Lake Gadsar Lake Sheshnag Lake Tarsar Lake Nundkol Lake Satsar Lake Kausar Nag Brari Nambal Khushal Sar Gil Sar Khanpursar
Mountains	Harmukh Kolhoi Peak Machoi Peak Amarnath Peak Sirbal Peak Tatakooti Peak Sunset Peak Mahadev
Hill stations and Mughal gardens	Pahalgam Sonamarg Yusmarg Gulmarg Aharbal Nishat Bagh Shalimar Bagh Chashme Shahi Verinag Kokernag Naseem Bagh Pari Mahal Achabal
Protected areas	Dachigam Hokersar Hirpora Overa-Aru Rajparian Gulmarg
See also	History of Kashmir Kashmir conflict The Valley Of Kashmir (1895 book) Line of Control Jammu–Baramulla line Kashmiri language

v t e Hydrography of Jammu and Kashmir
Rivers	Chenab Doda Dras Jhelum Poonch Lidder Markha Nala Palkhu Kishanganga Ravi Rambi Ara Shingo Sind Suru Tawi Tsarap Veshaw Yapola Zanskar
Lakes	Dal Lake Nigeen Lake Anchar Lake Gadsar Lake Gangabal Lake Krishansar Lake Manasbal Lake Mansar Lake Sheshnag Lake Tulian Lake Vishansar Lake Wular Lake Kausar Nag Satsar Nundkol Brari Nambal Khushal Sar Gil Sar Khanpursar
Glaciers	Kolahoi Glacier Machoi Glacier Shafat Glacier
Dams, barrages	Baglihar Dam Pakal Dul Dam Dul Hasti Dam Dumkhar Dam Kishanganga Dam Nimoo Bazgo Dam Ratle Dam Salal Dam Uri Dam