Surrounded by snow-capped mountains, stunning valleys, and chinar trees that turn golden-red in autumn, the tranquil Dal lake has an unearthly beauty. Along the iconic lake, covering an area of 21sq km, a long and cheery boulevard lines the waters on one side, and a series of tourist interest spots on the other &ndash the Shankaracharya Hill (with a 6th-century Jyeshtheshvara temple on top), an entertainment park, the Mughal Gardens, numerous shops, restaurants and hotels. The colourful shikaras and houseboats attract your attention with their bright yellow canopies and dark maroon carpets.