Nigeen Lake (alternatively spelled as Nageen Lake) is a mildly

eutrophic Eutrophication is the process by which an entire body of water, or parts of it, becomes progressively enriched with minerals and nutrients, particularly nitrogen and phosphorus. It has also been defined as "nutrient-induced increase in phytoplan ...

lake A lake is an area filled with water, localized in a basin, surrounded by land, and distinct from any river or other outlet that serves to feed or drain the lake. Lakes lie on land and are not part of the ocean, although, like the much large ...

located in Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir,

India India, officially the Republic of India (Hindi: ), is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by area, the second-most populous country, and the most populous democracy in the world. Bounded by the Indian Ocean on the so ...

. It is sometimes considered a part of the

Dal In Indian cuisine, ''dal'' (also spelled ''daal'' or ''dhal''; pronunciation: , Hindi: दाल, Urdu: ) are dried, split pulses (e.g., lentils, peas, and beans) that do not require soaking before cooking. India is the largest producer of pu ...

lake and is connected to it via a narrow strait. It is also connected to the

Khushal Sar Khushal Sar ( ; ) is a lake located in Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir (union territory), Jammu and Kashmir, India. It is in a highly environmental degradation, deteriorated condition and has been wikt:encroachment, encroached upon at many places w ...

and

Gil Sar Gil Sar (IPA: /ɡilʲ/ /sar/) is a freshwater lake located in Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, India. It is in a highly deteriorated condition. The lake is sometimes considered a part of the Khushal Sar lake but is separated from it by a narrow st ...

lakes via a channel known as Nallah Amir Khan.Unni,K.S.

Etymology

The Nigeen lake is surrounded by a large number of

willow Willows, also called sallows and osiers, from the genus ''Salix'', comprise around 400 speciesMabberley, D.J. 1997. The Plant Book, Cambridge University Press #2: Cambridge. of typically deciduous trees and shrubs, found primarily on moist so ...

and poplar trees. Hence, it has come to be referred as a "''nageena''", which means "''the jewel in the ring''". The word "''nigeen''" is a local variant of the same word.

Location

The lake is located adjacent to the

Hari Parbat Hari Parbat (), also called Koh-i-Maran (), is a hill overlooking Srinagar, the largest city and the capital of Jammu and Kashmir, India. It is the site of a fort, built by the Durrani Empire, and of a Hindu temple, mosques, and gurdwara. The ...

hillock, to the west of the Dal lake. To its north and west, lie the localities of Baghwanpora and

Lal Bazar Lal Bazar is a locality in the municipal committee of Srinagar in the Indian administered union territory of Jammu and Kashmir. It comes under the Zadibal constituency of the Srinagar Legislative Assembly. Lal Bazar is a well known posh ar ...

while to its north east lies the locality of

Hazratbal Hazratbal is the notified area situated in Srinagar district of Jammu and Kashmir. It is about from Srinagar city center. The early settlements in the area occurred on the banks of Dal Lake and majority of population of area are Hangis (fish ...

, which is known for the famous

shrine A shrine ( la, scrinium "case or chest for books or papers"; Old French: ''escrin'' "box or case") is a sacred or holy space dedicated to a specific deity, ancestor, hero, martyr, saint, daemon, or similar figure of respect, wherein they ...

Present status

The lake is a major tourist attraction in Srinagar, known for its relatively pristine waters as compared to the Dal lake.

Houseboats A houseboat is a boat that has been designed or modified to be used primarily as a home. Most houseboats are not motorized as they are usually moored or kept stationary at a fixed point, and often tethered to land to provide utilities. Ho ...

and

shikara The shikara is a type of wooden boat found on Dal Lake and other water bodies of Srinagar in Jammu and Kashmir Shikaras are of various sizes and are used for multiple purposes, including transportation. A usual shikara seats six people, with th ...

s are a usual sight. Its also ideal for swimming, being deeper and less crowded than the Dal lake. The colonial era Nigeen Club is situated on the eastern shore of the lake. However, as is the problem with other water bodies in the Kashmir Valley, the lake also suffers from encroachments which are deteriorating its water quality and also increasing the risk of floods. As such, the

government A government is the system or group of people governing an organized community, generally a state. In the case of its broad associative definition, government normally consists of legislature, executive, and judiciary. Government is ...

of Jammu and Kashmir is engaged in taking steps to help improve the condition of the lake and restore it to its original glory.

References

{{Kashmir Valley Lakes of Jammu and Kashmir Srinagar Tourist attractions in Srinagar